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Sarah88 Posted 17 years ago
Grammar
Plural ??
Please help me to understand the following,
1) Both Tina and Penny have found a job ( Not "jobs", right? since each of them gets one job.), so they are no longer available.
2) Everyone has his / her list. <-- Can I also say " They have their lists." or " They have their own list." ?
I always have problem with Plural / Singular in this kind of situations. Could you come up some simple rules that I can easily remember what to use ?
Many thanks,
Sarah
1) Both Tina and Penny have found a job ( Not "jobs", right? since each of them gets one job.), so they are no longer available.
2) Everyone has his / her list. <-- Can I also say " They have their lists." or " They have their own list." ?
I always have problem with Plural / Singular in this kind of situations. Could you come up some simple rules that I can easily remember what to use ?
Many thanks,
Sarah
Top answer
-- Either is fine; the reader knows that unless specified, one person = one job. 2) Everyone has his or her list. -- Yes, it is easier and popularly used.
- -- Either is fine; the reader knows that unless specified, one person = one job.
- 2) Everyone has his or her list.
- -- Yes, it is easier and popularly used.
- Some grammarians still frown on it use in formal composition and insist on something more awkward like 'his or her' I always have problem with Plural / Singular in this kind of situations.
- -- The simplest rule is common sense.
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1 Answers
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1) Both Tina and Penny have found jobs/ a job.-- Either is fine; the reader knows that unless specified, one person = one job.
2) Everyone has his or her list. Can I also say " They have their lists." or " They have their own list." ?-- Yes, it is easier and popularly used. Some grammarians still frown on it use in formal composition and insist on something more
2) Everyone has his or her list. Can I also say " They have their lists." or " They have their own list." ?-- Yes, it is easier and popularly used. Some grammarians still frown on it use in formal composition and insist on something more
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