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Anonymous Posted 13 years ago
Grammar

Reflect on their lifestyle or lifestyles?

Hi. Please tell me why it has to be the word "lifestyle" instead of "lifestyles" if it is the case for the example sentence below.

I think people should reflect on their lifestyle (not "lifestyles"?) once in awhile to gain a better perspective on life.

I think for the example sentence below we have to use the plural "lives" instead of the singular "life." Thank you for your help in advance.

He thinks the people around him should take time to look into their lives more closely once in while.
  

Top answer

Anonymous Please tell me why it has to be the word "lifestyle" instead of "lifestyles" It doesn't have to be either one. Native speakers are very forgiving on this point. As it is ( lifestyle ), it implies that each person should reflect on his or her own lifestyle.

— CalifJim

  • Anonymous Please tell me why it has to be the word "lifestyle" instead of "lifestyles" It doesn't have to be either one.
  • Native speakers are very forgiving on this point.
  • As it is ( lifestyle ), it implies that each person should reflect on his or her own lifestyle.
  • lifestyles could be used if the writer was thinking that each person had more than one lifestyle.
  • For me, it's a tossup.
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4 Answers
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AnonymousPlease tell me why it has to be the word "lifestyle" instead of "lifestyles"
It doesn't have to be either one. Native speakers are very forgiving on this point. As it is (lifestyle), it implies that each person should reflect on his or her own lifestyle. lifestyles could be used if the writer was thinking that each person had more tha
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Hi. Thank you for your help. Would you say the sentence you wrote in your response was informal? The formal being the subjunctive for a second conditional sentence? Thank you again for your help in advance.

You wrote:

lifestyles could be used if the writer was thinking that each person had more than one lifestyle.
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AnonymousWould you say the sentence you wrote in your response was informal?
Yes, that sentence might be considered somewhat informal because it uses 'was' instead of 'were'.

CJ
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Hi. I know this is an old thread but please help.

You wrote:
AnonymousPlease tell me why it has to be the word "lifestyle" instead of "lifestyles"
It doesn't have to be either one. Native speakers are very forgiving on this point. As it is (lifestyle), it implies that each person should reflect on his or her own lifestyle. lifestyles co
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