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Thread: What or who?

  1. #1
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    What or who?

    Perhaps it's a too simple question for my level of English but I'm not sure about the difference between "who I am" and "what I am". When should I use its? Could you help me with it?

    PS: thanks.
    PPS: correct my mistakes if there are some ones in my message, please
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    Почтенный гражданин Volk's Avatar
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    Re: What or who?

    Quote Originally Posted by Zaya
    Perhaps it's a too simple question for my level of English but I'm not sure about the difference between "who I am" and "what I am". When should I use its? Could you help me with it?

    PS: thanks.
    PPS: correct my mistakes if there are some ones in my message, please
    You use "who am I" when you are talking about yourself as a person, who has an identity, or someone who is known.

    And, you use "what am I" if you are describing yourself as a thing, an object.

    Who > person (he/she)
    What > object/thing (it)


    Examples:

    "Who am I"

    Think of someone who has lost their memory:

    Person 1: Who am I?
    Person 2: You are John.

    "What am I"

    Think of someone who is describing themselves as an object:

    Person 1: I am used when it rains, what am I?
    Person 2: You are an umbrella.
    Please correct any Russian language mistakes I make.

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    You may see it used sometimes in terms of mood/characteristics, but it's more informal speech, usually:
    -"What am I! I'm MAD! You sent my package to the WRONG ADDRESS AGAIN!!!"


    "What" is also used in terms of profession. That is, in Russian when talking about your profession (кто вы по профессии?) you use "who", not "what"; in English the opposite is true.

    -"What do you want to be when you grow up?"
    -"I want to be an astronaut!"
    Заранее благодарю всех за исправление ошибок в моём русском.

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    "You are an umbrella."

    Oh my God, I rolled on my floor laughing...
    «И всё, что сейчас происходит внутре — тоже является частью вселенной».

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    Who am I: What sort of person are you (I am a sensetive Norwegian with a great interest in dust)
    What am I: Hard to explian, it is kind of your "state". I am an Engineer, I am happy.
    Hei, rett norsken min og du er død.
    I am a notourriouse misspeller. Be easy on me.
    Пожалуйста! Исправляйте мои глупые ошибки (но оставьте умные)!
    Yo hablo español mejor que tú.
    Trusnse kal'rt eturule sikay!!! ))

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    Quote Originally Posted by kalinka_vinnie
    Who am I: What sort of person are you (I am a sensetive Norwegian with a great interest in dust)
    What am I: Hard to explian, it is kind of your "state". I am an Engineer, I am happy.
    Please. Do you know any engineers who are truly happy? Norwegians undoubtedly do appreciate dust, though, since it's the closest to tropical beach as they'll ever get...
    Заранее благодарю всех за исправление ошибок в моём русском.

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    Hey! We Norwegians have beaches! And they DO become tropical, it just depends on how much Aquavit you drink beforehand!
    Hei, rett norsken min og du er død.
    I am a notourriouse misspeller. Be easy on me.
    Пожалуйста! Исправляйте мои глупые ошибки (но оставьте умные)!
    Yo hablo español mejor que tú.
    Trusnse kal'rt eturule sikay!!! ))

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    MrB
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    Re: What or who?

    Quote Originally Posted by Zaya
    PPS: correct my mistakes if there are some ones in my message, please
    should be "any"

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    Quote Originally Posted by Zaya
    Perhaps it's a too simple question for my level of English but I'm not sure about the difference between "who I am" and "what I am". When should I use its? Could you help me with it?
    You can say "who I am" or "what I am" for emphasis.

    Who are you?
    I am an engineer - that's who I am.
    I am an engineer - that's what I am. (colloquial)
    Какая разница, умереть богатым или бедным?

    Какой толк от богатства если ты не счастлив.

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    should be "any"
    Could you explain me why it is so?
    If you have problems with both posting new messages and sending PMs, you can send an e-mail to the Forum Administrator here:
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    У меня что-то с почтой, на ЛС ответить не могу. (

  11. #11
    Почтенный гражданин Volk's Avatar
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    Re: What or who?

    Quote Originally Posted by MrB
    Quote Originally Posted by Zaya
    PPS: correct my mistakes if there are some ones in my message, please
    should be "any"
    Or: 'correct my mistakes if there are some in my messages, please'.

    'Some ones' doesn't make sense, it sounds too much like 'someone's' in everyday speech.

    You could only really use it for example, if you are talking about a maths (or math if you prefer) problem like 'there are some ones on this side of the equation'. But you would have to put emphasis/stress on the word 'ones', to make it more distinguishable from saying 'someone's'.
    Please correct any Russian language mistakes I make.

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    007
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    Quote Originally Posted by Barmaley
    You may see it used sometimes in terms of mood/characteristics, but it's more informal speech, usually:
    -"What am I! I'm MAD! You sent my package to the WRONG ADDRESS AGAIN!!!"


    "What" is also used in terms of profession. That is, in Russian when talking about your profession (кто вы по профессии?) you use "who", not "what"; in English the opposite is true.

    -"What do you want to be when you grow up?"
    -"I want to be an astronaut!"
    So If I want to know what your profession is, can I ask you "What are you?"
    Correct my English, please.

  13. #13
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    Quote Originally Posted by 007
    So If I want to know what your profession is, can I ask you "What are you?"
    Какая разница, умереть богатым или бедным?

    Какой толк от богатства если ты не счастлив.

  14. #14
    007
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    Quote Originally Posted by kwatts59
    Quote Originally Posted by 007
    So If I want to know what your profession is, can I ask you "What are you?"
    I'm serious! We learned at school that "Who is your mother?" means "What's your mother's name?" and "What is your mother?" means "What is your mother's profession?". So it is wrong???
    Correct my English, please.

  15. #15
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    Quote Originally Posted by 007
    Quote Originally Posted by kwatts59
    Quote Originally Posted by 007
    So If I want to know what your profession is, can I ask you "What are you?"
    I'm serious! We learned at school that "Who is your mother?" means "What's your mother's name?" and "What is your mother?" means "What is your mother's profession?". So it is wrong???
    If you ask "What are you?" you are asking what kind of creature they are.

    Example
    Question: What are you?
    Answer: I am a werewolf.

    If you want to find out somebody's profession, I normally say "What do you do for a living?" or simply "What is your profession?"
    Какая разница, умереть богатым или бедным?

    Какой толк от богатства если ты не счастлив.

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    In England, we'd often say "What does your mum do?" or "Where does your mum work?".
    Ленин пил
    Ленин пьёт
    Ленин будет пить

  17. #17
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    Quote Originally Posted by 007
    So If I want to know what your profession is, can I ask you "What are you?"
    That would be like saying in Russian: "ты - что?"
    Hei, rett norsken min og du er død.
    I am a notourriouse misspeller. Be easy on me.
    Пожалуйста! Исправляйте мои глупые ошибки (но оставьте умные)!
    Yo hablo español mejor que tú.
    Trusnse kal'rt eturule sikay!!! ))

  18. #18
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    You can say "What are you?" to enquire about profession, although other methods would probably be preferred.

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