Who of you?

[Hucky]

Hi,

Is it correct to say: "Who of you can help me?"
Thanks

Hucky

 

[RonBee]

Say: "Which of you can help me?"

 

[probus]

"Who of you can help me?" sounds fine to me. It is old fashioned but in my opinion far from obsolete.

 

[5jj]

I go with RonBee.

'Who of you' sounds strange to me.

 

[Vidor]

not a teacher

"Who of you can help me?" might be gramatically correct but it sounds weird.

"Which of you can help me?" is what you'd actually hear in conversation. However it does carry the connotation that someone in the group you're addressing can and should help you.

"Can anyone help me?" is the best usage.

 

[Hucky]

Hi there,

To begin with, thanks to all of you! What I properly wanted to know is if a native speaker would ever say "Who of you...?" In other words, is it idiomatic or not, apart from the grammar.

Best greetings from Hucky

 

[Raymott]

Hi there,

To begin with, thanks to all of you! What I properly wanted to know is if a native speaker would ever say "Who of you...?" In other words, is it idiomatic or not, apart from the grammar.

Best greetings from Hucky

"Whosoever amongst you can render me aid, may he step forward."
Either that, or Vidor's suggestion.

 

[petit_minou]

Hi there,

To begin with, thanks to all of you! What I properly wanted to know is if a native speaker would ever say "Who of you...?" In other words, is it idiomatic or not, apart from the grammar.

Best greetings from Hucky

A native speaker would not use that phrase. They would say "Which of you...". An older person might use "Who of you..." but it is unlikely.

 

[probus]

A native speaker would not use that phrase. They would say "Which of you...". An older person might use "Who of you..." but it is unlikely.

I am definitely an older native speaker and while I would not say "who of you" I do not consider it incorrect.

 

[5jj]

I am definitely an older native speaker and while I would not say "who of you" I do not consider it incorrect.

I, too, am closer to the grave than the cradle. Whilst I would hesitate to label 'who of you' incorrect, I don't know of anyone, even people as senile as I, who would use it.

 

[BobK]

Speaking as another 'crepuscular' person (OK, it doesn't mean that, don't use it, but you get the point) I would use both:

Which of you will help me?
Who of you is supposed to help me [because it's your turn on the agreed rota]?

Raymott's tongue-in-cheek suggestion points at the reason for this choice. 'Who among you...?' is a familiar biblical phrase.

b

 

[petit_minou]

Haha ;-) Sorry, I should have said a younger native speaker would not use that phrase, not all native speakers. Clearly that is incorrect although older native speakers would probably not say it. There is nothing grammatically incorrect about it.

I am far from the grave (27) but still have a lot to learn :lol:

 

[Vidor]

not a teacher

"Who here can help me?" is also acceptable. Or simply "Who can help me?" Although like "Which of you can help me?" it carries an air of expectation with it.

"Who of you" I'm pretty sure is not used in modern idiomatic English.