Who was vs who is

Both "who was" and "who is" are correct, but they are used in different contexts. "Who was" is used when referring to someone in the past, while "who is" is used when referring to someone in the present.

Last updated: April 08, 2024 • 114 views

Who was

This phrase is correct when referring to someone in the past.

Use "who was" when asking about the identity of someone in the past.

Examples:

Who was the first president of the United States?
Do you know who was at the party last night?

Show examples from the web [+]

Who was much smaller than Wayne.
Who was childhood sweethearts with your niece,
Who was that lady? tell me.
Who was the director of Traffiic Jam?
Who was sent to St. Claire's.
Jiminy Christmas! ...Who was trampled to death late yesterday while working at Manchester downs.
Who was that? Captain Wainwright.
Who was that woman in Roman...
Who was also my beloved child.
Who was harassed every day by Count Spaghetti.
Who was this fellow I killed?
Who was... afraid of the incredibly intense feelings he has for your sister.
Who was in alabama making omelettes With a racist sorority...
Who was too weak to raise his sword.
Who was a missionary over in Korea.
Who was your army in Bosnia?
Who was the target? Let's start there.
Who was the Bajoran that attacked you?
Who was a newborn, last time I checked.
Who was your muse, Lucious?

Alternatives:

who used to be
who had been

who is

This phrase is correct when referring to someone in the present.

Use "who is" when asking about the identity of someone in the present.

Examples:

Who is the current president of the United States?
Do you know who is coming to the party tonight?

Show examples from the web [+]

The one who is right never uses violence.
Monitor Network ActivityKnow what and who is connected.
Guy named Michael Donacosta, who is...
You shall be a stunt man who is an actor, who is a character in a movie, who is an enemy soldier.
Never leave someone who is struggling to breathe.
Dagley, who is connected to Cook... who is connected to Hutchinson... who is connected to Hubert... who coincidentally hires Dagley after his time in the military.
When I meet with one of you, who is in jail, who is moving toward reintegration, but who is imprisoned, I sincerely wonder: why him and not me? I feel this way. It's a mystery.
But Jenny, who is - who is - who is is generous and kind and has never hurt anyone isn't normal and right, because she wants to marry the woman she loves.
He worked under an assumed name, nobody knew him, - except Laurent who is dead, and Dresden, who is in China.
This elf tells Santa who is being naughty and who is being nice.
This device analyzes the genetic code of a person's DNA and enables you to tell immediately who is human and who is Hairy.
So you wouldn't be able to tell who is light, who is dark.
So, I have three minutes to find out who is with the Cause and who is innocent.
Stefan realizes that there is someone else in town who is like him and who is also responsible for the first two attacks and he runs back home.
Every child who is well, every mother who is willing to leave her ailing children with Queenie, will leaze in the fields.
Only who is in the Holy Spirit, who is touched by Him, will know which of these two statements is true.
Since the Church does not know who is in purgatory and who is in eternal perdition, she prays for all souls, without any distinction.
However, excepting Rufinus, who is practically only a translator, St. Jerome is perhaps the Latin writer who is most indebted to Origen.
Here society does not instinctively banish a part of the citizens, but instead plans a minute web of control, to establish who is sick and who is healthy.
We earlier spoke of who is an orphan and who is a widow.

Alternatives:

who currently is
who exists as

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