Question Word 谁( shéi/shuí )【HSK Grammar Points】

HSK Grammar Points >谁( shéi/shuí )

谁 can be pronounced as shéi or shuí. Both pronunciations are correct.
As an interrogative pronoun, 谁 can express subjective, objective or possessive cases in questions. That's to say, it can be used to express who, whom or whose.
谁 can also refer to everyone, anyone or someone in sentences.
In some phrases, 谁 can express Negation.
Let's learn them in context:

1. 谁-[who]
   【是+谁 | 谁+Predicate】
   used in questions as the subject or object
   • Shuí gàosu nǐ de?
     谁告诉你的?
     Who told you that? 104
     Nǐ shì shéi?
     你是谁？
     Who are you? 1383
2. 谁-[whom]
   【Predicate + 谁】
   used to express Whom
   • Wǒmen yīnggāi xiāngxìn shéi ne?
     我们应该相信谁呢？
     Whom should we believe? 13101
3. 谁的-[whose]
   【谁 + 的】
   used in questions to ask about which person owns or is responsible for something
   • Nǐ zhīdào nà shì shéi de chē ma?
     你知道那是谁的车吗？
     Do you know whose car that is? 13105
4. 谁-[everyone]
   【谁 + 都】
   referring to every person
   • Shéi dōu yīnggāi zūnshǒu fǎlǜ.
     谁都应该遵守法律。
     Everyone should abide by the law. 13103
5. 谁-[someone]
   referring to someone
   • Wǒ zhīdào kěndìng yǒu shéi zài bāng tā.
     我知道肯定有谁在帮他。
     I know someone must be helping him. 13106
6. 谁-[anyone]
   referring to any person
   • Shéi dōu kěyǐ qù, yòng bùzháo yāoqǐng.
     谁都可以去，用不着邀请。
     Anyone can go, you don't have to be invited. 13102
7. 谁知道 | 谁在乎
   【NEGATION: Who knows | Who cares】
   (NEGATION)谁知道：no one knows | 谁在乎：I don't care
   • “Wǒmen jiù yào shūle.”“Shéi zàihū!”
     “我们就要输了。”“谁在乎!”
     "We are going to lose." "Who cares!" 13108
     Shéi zhīdào jiānglái huì fāshēng shénme?
     谁知道将来会发生什么？
     Who knows what will happen in the future ? 13109