The pronoun who is of the masculine or feminine gender, referring to persons, male or female. The pronoun which is neuter. That is common to the three genders.
| Sing. and Plur. | Sing. and Plur. | |
| Nom. | Who[34] | Which |
| Gen. | Whose | Whose |
| Obj. | Whom | Which. |
Lowth and several other grammarians have asserted that the pronoun which admits no variation. Numberless examples, however, from the best authors might be cited to disprove this assertion. Shakspeare occasionally uses whose as the genitive of which; and, since his time, writers of the highest eminence have employed it in the same manner.
“Of man’s first disobedience, and the fruit
Of that forbidden tree, whose mortal taste.”—Milton.
“The lights and shades, whose well-accorded strife
Gives all the strength and colour of our life.”—Pope.
“A true critic is like a dog at a feast, whose thoughts and stomach are wholly set on what the guests fling away.”—Swift.
This usage is favourable to conciseness, and can very seldom create ambiguity. Where obscurity indeed is apprehended, the periphrasis, of which, should be adopted. I have, therefore, given whose as the genitive of which; not only because this usage is sanctioned by classical authority, but likewise, because the other form, of which, is frequently awkward and inelegant.