Can You Refer To A Country As Who?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

, , , ,

Generally, one uses

who or that when talking directly about people

, and which or that when talking about anything else. When referring indirectly to groups of people via collective terms, then who is probably also OK.

What pronoun we use for country?

Why is

she

used for a country? We call a country “she” because we are from there, like you are from your mom. We use the pronoun “she” for calling a country because it is our homeland. Usually, a mother is the one at home and the father is at work.

Can I use who for countries?

There

seems to be no rhyme or reason

as far as the usage of who or that where countries are concerned in those Google listings, but I would use countries who when there is an indirect reference to the people of that country and countries that in every other case.

Can you use who for institutions?

Which, that, and who may be used to refer to organizations. … However, when you are thinking of the organization in terms of the

individuals who make up the organization

(in other words, when you think of the organization as they), you may use who or that.

Which relative pronoun is used for countries?

I would use the relative pronoun

“who”

with countries if you are talking about the people / government, the thought behind it is what decisions the people / leaders have made. If you’re referring to the actual land, the country, where the focus is not on people, I’d use “which”..

Can I use her for a country?

Historically, “her” was commonly used as a pronoun for not only women, but also

for both countries and ships

(e.g. sailing vessels). However, that usage has more or less fallen out of favor, and instead “its” has become the preferred pronoun.

Can I use she for a country?

Q. Should she or it be used as a pronoun for a country? …

Never use she to refer to a country

. You’ll sound as if you either don’t know English or last studied it in 1950.

Can which be used for a person?


Yes

, of course “which” can refer to people, although usually it is paired with something else indicating a selection is being made.

Who or which usage?


“Who” is used for people

. “Which” is used for things, and “that” can be used for either. (Note, however, that using “that” for people is considered informal.)

Which relative pronoun is used only for things?

Relative Pronoun Usage whose shows possession or relationship whom replaces object pronouns like

me

, her, him
which used for objects and animals (typically non-defining clauses) that used for people and things (typically defining clauses)

What is emphatic pronoun?

Emphatic pronouns are

compound personal pronouns

such as ‘himself’, ‘myself’ and ‘yourself’ used for emphasis. Eg: I will build the house myself. We will watch the show ourselves. You yourself can tell us about the situation.

What is relative pronoun and its examples?

A relative pronoun is a pronoun that heads an adjective clause. The relative pronouns are

“that,” “which,” “who,” “whom,” and “whose

.” Here are some simple examples: That. The dog that stole the pie is back.

What gender are countries?

“Stand beside her, and guide her,” we sing in “God Bless America.” Come to think of it, most nations of the world are referred to in the

female gender

. Why is that? English is one of the few languages that does not distinguish between masculine and feminine nouns.

Is country a he or she?


Usually a country is an it

, though there are exceptions every once in a while. Sometimes people refer to a country as a she to give it an element of importance and personality.

Are English cities feminine?


Cities and countries don’t have gender in English

. Sometimes, however, the a city or country is referred to as “she”, especially in poetic contexts. Ships also are sometimes referred to as “she”, even if they’re named after men, like the ore carrier Edmund Fitzgerald in the famous song (1975) by Gordon Lightfoot.

Rachel Ostrander
Author
Rachel Ostrander
Rachel is a career coach and HR consultant with over 5 years of experience working with job seekers and employers. She holds a degree in human resources management and has worked with leading companies such as Google and Amazon. Rachel is passionate about helping people find fulfilling careers and providing practical advice for navigating the job market.