WHO ARE YOU and WHAT ARE YOU
(Who / What + (to be) + Pronoun)
Who are youand what are you have different functions. Sometimes the beginner of English student is confused to treat them differently.
The functions of “Who are you” are:
The name (identity) of someone
Example: who are you? I’m Betty
Connection (function) of someone with other person
Example: who is she? She is my friend
The functions of “what are you” are:
Used to ask about somebody’s job (profession)
Example: what are you? I’m a doctor
Used to ask about activities of subject
Example: what is she? She is a student of UNIQOD (Al-Qodiri University)
Conversation
Last week, Ali’s father was sick. Ali took him to see a doctor, but the clinic was closed. Ali tried knocking the door and the doctor opened the door. Then he asked Ali.
The doctor : Who are you?
Ali : I’m Ali
The doctor : And, who is he?
Ali : he is my father
The doctor : What can I do for you, sir?
Ali : My father is sick
The doctor : come in, please!
(After checking)
The doctor : By the way, what is your father?
Ali : He is a teacher
The doctor : He is getting heart attack and he needs to take a rest much