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Silver Willow Posted 20 years ago
Grammar
A person and...his or her child?
I've always wondered, when you talk about a person in general, how do you decide the gender?
For example, should I say "A person and his child" or "A person and her child"? Or is it the same thing?
Please, enlighten me!
For example, should I say "A person and his child" or "A person and her child"? Or is it the same thing?
Please, enlighten me!
Top answer
Hello Silver Willow, and what a pretty name you have chosen! You raise a point that creates difficulties for many native speakers as well. If you are speaking of someone in particular, of course, you know the gender.
- Hello Silver Willow, and what a pretty name you have chosen!
- You raise a point that creates difficulties for many native speakers as well.
- If you are speaking of someone in particular, of course, you know the gender.
- Often, you can overcome the problem of gender by making it plural: Parents and their children.
- I prefer to avoid the awkward "his or her" whenever possible, but sometimes it does work best.
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2 Answers
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Hello Silver Willow, and what a pretty name you have chosen!
You raise a point that creates difficulties for many native speakers as well. If you are speaking of someone in particular, of course, you know the gender.
Often, you can overcome the problem of gender by making it plural: Parents and their children. I prefer to avoid the awkward "his or her" whenever possible, but so
You raise a point that creates difficulties for many native speakers as well. If you are speaking of someone in particular, of course, you know the gender.
Often, you can overcome the problem of gender by making it plural: Parents and their children. I prefer to avoid the awkward "his or her" whenever possible, but so
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