Singular or Plural of object.

Question

Hi,This following sentence is in my text book.They both gave him a kiss.I think that they, maybe girls, kiss a boy.So I think that word kiss become plural and the following sentences is correct.They both gave him kisses.Is that right?Thanks in advance.

Cool Breeze · Accepted Answer

Takehisa TanakaThey both gave him a kiss.

Each girl kissed him once.

Takehisa TanakaThey both gave him kisses.

Each girl kissed him at least twice.

CB

Takehisa Tanaka · Answer

So does "They both" mean "Each of them"?

Cool Breeze · Answer

In this case they both means that there were two girls. Both can only refer to two people or two things:

Both books are interesting.
There are two books.

Both girls gave him a kiss.
There were two girls.

Each can refer to more than two, but it can be used to refer to two as well:
There were trees on each side of the road.
A road only has two sides.

I gave each man a book.
There's no knowing how many men there were. There were probably more than two.

CB

Takehisa Tanaka · Answer

Thanks CB.

I understand the use of each.
But,
If I use present tense, that becomes,
They both gives him a kiss,
Is that right?

Cool Breeze · Answer

Takehisa TanakaIf I use present tense, that becomes,They both gives him a kiss,Is that right?

No. They both give him a kiss.

CB

Takehisa Tanaka · Answer

Thanks<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'/>

Singular or Plural of object.

Top answer

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

Related Questions