Plurals?

Question

I'd like to make sure whether my understanding is correct.

A: Westerners celebrate (. ). regardless of their age.

If I want to put "birthday" in the blank, both expressions are possible, 1) and 2).
1) their birthdays
2) birthday

I wonder whether it's possible to say, "their birthday" , without 's'? Or if I use "their,"is it more natural to say "birthdays" , with 's'?

GPY · Accepted Answer

(2) is wrong. Judging by your subsequent question, I suspect you may have intended to type "their birthday".

"their birthdays" is natural here. "their birthday" sounds inferior.

TeacherJapan · Answer

Thank you very much for your quick answer:) What about "birthday" by itself without "their?"  Still, their birthdays is the best answer?

GPY · Answer

teacherJapanThank you very much for your quick answer:) What about "birthday" by itself without "their?"

You mean "Westerners celebrate birthday regardless of their age"? No, that is incorrect.

TeacherJapan · Answer

Ah, I see!  Thanks again! <img class='emoticon' style='Width:19px;Height:19px;' data-delaysrc='https://uat-englishforward-forums-backend.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/Emoticons/1.gif' src='https://uat-englishforward-forums-backend.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/Emoticons/1.gif' alt='Emotion: smile'/>

CalifJim · Answer

teacherJapanWhat about "birthday" by itself without "their?"

Singular countable common nouns require a determiner, so you can't do that.

Typical determiners are 'a', 'an', 'the', 'this', 'that', and the possessives (my, your, our, their, Jane's, ...).

CJ

TeacherJapan · Answer

OK! I'll keep that in mind:)

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