life or lives?

Question

What sentence do you guys think is right?

1) I've owned more shoes in those years than a lot of people would own in their entire life.

2) I've owned more shoes in those years than a lot of people would own in their entire lives.

I think #2 is correct because "people" is plural thus requiring the plural possessive noun, "lives."

Vorpar · Accepted Answer

I agree, the plural should match.

Clive · Answer

Hi,

They are both OK, you can say it either way.

Obviously, a person has only one life. But consider: I've owned more shoes than a lot of people have ever had in their closets. It's unclear here whether we are thinking that each person has one or more than one closet. If only one, we can make this clear by saying I've owned more shoes than a lot of people have ever had in their closet.

('In those years' does not really fit with the present perfect tense in your sentences.)

Best wishes, Clive

Formergreat · Answer

Clive
Hi,

They are both OK, you can say it either way.

Obviously, a person has only one life. But consider: I've owned more shoes than a lot of people have ever had in their closets. It's unclear here whether we are thinking that each person has one or more than one closet. If only one, we can make this clear by saying I've owned more shoes than a lot of people have ever had in their closet.

('In those years' does not really fit with the present perfect tense in your sentences.)

Best wishes, Clive

Hi Clive.

Most people prefer #1 as well. Unfortunately to me it sounds like there's only one life/closet that all the "people" are sharing. I guess this is just one of those situations where the the correct sentence is the one that rolls off the tongue better.

Thanks!

life or lives?

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