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Seagull Posted 12 years ago
Grammar
Singular or plural
There are many people who use their car unnecessarily.
There are many people who use their cars unnecessarily.
People who enjoy their job are happy.
People who enjoy their jobs are happy.
I'm always puzzled whenever I try to write an English sentence like these. Should we always use the plural (cars, jobs) in these cases? I think the singular form (car, job) is also a rational choice because one person usually has only one car and one job. What is your opinion?
There are many people who use their cars unnecessarily.
People who enjoy their job are happy.
People who enjoy their jobs are happy.
I'm always puzzled whenever I try to write an English sentence like these. Should we always use the plural (cars, jobs) in these cases? I think the singular form (car, job) is also a rational choice because one person usually has only one car and one job. What is your opinion?
Top answer
, people normally have only a single car and job) then it is not critical; for style, it is better to match singular with singular and plural with plural: People who enjoy their jobs are happy. A person who enjoys his job is happy.
- , people normally have only a single car and job) then it is not critical; for style, it is better to match singular with singular and plural with plural: People who enjoy their jobs are happy.
- A person who enjoys his job is happy.
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2 Answers
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As long as the reader's reason is not challenged (i.e., people normally have only a single car and job) then it is not critical; for style, it is better to match singular with singular and plural with plural:
People who enjoy their jobs are happy.
A person who enjoys his job is happy.
People who enjoy their jobs are happy.
A person who enjoys his job is happy.
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