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Stephenlearner Posted 14 years ago
Grammar
They or it?
Hi,
When you describe lots of uncountable stuff (e.g. lots of paper on the desk, a bowl of sugar), do you use they or it?
They are paper vs it is paper.
They are sugar vs it is sugar.
Thanks.
When you describe lots of uncountable stuff (e.g. lots of paper on the desk, a bowl of sugar), do you use they or it?
They are paper vs it is paper.
They are sugar vs it is sugar.
Thanks.
Top answer
I believe it should be "they"! Thanks!
- I believe it should be "they"!
- Thanks!
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4 Answers
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Thank for your help.
Concerning the bottles of beer, should the dialogue be like this:
What are they (or these)?
They are beer.
Concerning the bottles of beer, should the dialogue be like this:
What are they (or these)?
They are beer.
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Paper and sugar when used this way are singular non-count nouns (they describe the product as a whole), so the correct version is It is paper/sugar.
Beer can be a count noun or a non-count noun:
Q. What are they/these? A. They/these are beers (count) ~ They/these are bottles of beer (non-count).
Bes
Beer can be a count noun or a non-count noun:
Q. What are they/these? A. They/these are beers (count) ~ They/these are bottles of beer (non-count).
Bes
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Thanks.
So when you see pile of paper on the desk, you say
What is this/it? It is paper.
Logically I understand, but I feel uncomfortable with it.
So when you see pile of paper on the desk, you say
What is this/it? It is paper.
Logically I understand, but I feel uncomfortable with it.
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