Texas Court Reporter Practice Exam

What is the correct usage for asking about ownership: "(Whose, Who's) book is this?"

1. Whose

2. Who's

3. Both are correct

4. None are correct

The correct answer is: Whose

The correct choice in this context is "Whose." This term is used to indicate possession or ownership, making it appropriate for the question about the ownership of the book. In this case, the sentence is inquiring whose book it is, implying a need to know to whom the book belongs. On the other hand, "Who's" is a contraction for "who is" or "who has." It does not indicate ownership and would not make sense in the context of asking about possession. Therefore, using "Who's" in the question would be grammatically incorrect. Thus, "Whose" fits perfectly to convey the intended meaning of asking about ownership, establishing it as the right answer.