A cousin/one of his cousins/someone
Which are correct:
1) Tom doesn't know if one of his cousins talks behind his back, so when that cousin is around, Tom is very careful about what he says.
2) Tom doesn't know if a cousin talks behind his back, so when that cousin is around, Tom is very careful about what he says.
3) Tom doesn't know if somebody talks behind his back, so when that person is around, Tom is very careful about what he says.
I think '1' works and '3' doesn't ('somebody' cannot be somebody specific. It is general.)
I have greater doubts about '2'. I think within this context it would be understandable, but 'a cousin' seems general.
Gratefully,
Navi
Top answer
navitasan I think '1' works and '3' doesn't ('somebody' cannot be somebody specific. ) Yes, '1' works. 3) Tom doesn't know if somebody anybody talks behind his back, so when that person is around, so when people are around, Tom is very careful about what he says.
- navitasan I think '1' works and '3' doesn't ('somebody' cannot be somebody specific.
- ) Yes, '1' works.
- 3) Tom doesn't know if somebody anybody talks behind his back, so when that person is around, so when people are around, Tom is very careful about what he says.
- Yes, '3' is general, but even if you want it to be general, write it as shown above.
- Whether you leave it as originally written, or you change it as above, it doesn't have the same meaning as 1).
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navitasanI think '1' works and '3' doesn't ('somebody' cannot be somebody specific. It is general.) Yes, '1' works.
3) Tom doesn't know ifsomebodyanybody talks behind his back,so when that person is around,
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