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Jackson6612 Posted 19 years ago
Grammar
If someone condescends to do something, they agree to do it...
condescend:
1: If someone condescends to do something, they agree to do it, but in a way which shows that they think they are better than other people and should not have to do it.
[Collins COBUILD Dictionary]
I always thought of someone as singular gender-neutral pronoun. But in the above definition, they is plural while someone is singular, though the referent of the both is same.
1: If someone condescends to do something, they agree to do it, but in a way which shows that they think they are better than other people and should not have to do it.
[Collins COBUILD Dictionary]
I always thought of someone as singular gender-neutral pronoun. But in the above definition, they is plural while someone is singular, though the referent of the both is same.
Top answer
I think one/someone/they are quite impersonal here, could be seen as both singular and plural.
- I think one/someone/they are quite impersonal here, could be seen as both singular and plural.
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2 Answers
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I think one/someone/they are quite impersonal here, could be seen as both singular and plural.
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Hi Jackson
The word 'they' is often used instead of having to use the more awkward-sounding "he or she" or "he/she" or "that someone".
The word 'they' is often used instead of having to use the more awkward-sounding "he or she" or "he/she" or "that someone".
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