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Singular and plural in this sentence...?


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ESL Forums | English Vocabulary, Grammar and Idioms
oriented lifestyle | Expression: "Reach one's ambition"
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Singular and plural in this sentence...? Tue Aug 07, 2007 14:42 pm  Singular and plural in this sentence...?
 

G'morning!

What's wrong with this sentence?

"Everyone turned in early since they had a big day ahead of them."

I know it's technically incorrect, but how else can one say this? TIA - Jesse.
Jesse
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Singular and plural in this sentence...? Tue Aug 07, 2007 15:32 pm  Singular and plural in this sentence...?
 

Jesse wrote:
G'morning!

What's wrong with this sentence?

"Everyone turned in early since they had a big day ahead of them."

I know it's technically incorrect, but how else can one say this? TIA - Jesse.

It souds ok. I'd say like this: Everyone came early as they had a big day ahead.
Harry Smiith
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Singular and plural in this sentence...? Tue Aug 07, 2007 15:49 pm  Singular and plural in this sentence...?
 

Thank you for responding, Mr. Smith.

It's not okay though, that's the trouble. We're speaking of a group that is performing a collective action, in this case, going to bed, or "turning in." There are several in the group so *they* have a big or busy day ahead of *them.* The group, being *a* group is singular, but the people in it are *all* performing an action, which makes it plural. (THEY are performing an action.

I have no problem with the original sentence in speech or in writing but I'm assured that it is technically incorrect. - Jesse.
Jesse
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Singular and plural in this sentence...? Tue Aug 07, 2007 17:54 pm  Singular and plural in this sentence...?
 

yeah

I'd say "Everyone... his" or "Everyone... her", so that you have the singular/singular match. "Everyone" is singular, of course.

What we really need -- in the English language -- is a singular unisex possessive pronoun, like "heir".
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Singular and plural in this sentence...? Tue Aug 07, 2007 18:05 pm  Singular and plural in this sentence...?
 

Precisely, that's why 'they' is the best on offer.

Alan
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Singular and plural in this sentence...? Tue Aug 07, 2007 18:14 pm  Singular and plural in this sentence...?
 

Thank you gentlemen, I think I love you! Very Happy

I've been engaged in an ongoing fight with my publisher's proofreaders for years. They can't tell me a way to get around it yet they object to sentences such as the above one. I don't write reports (often), I write novels. And darn it, my guys, well, everyone turned in for the night since they all had a big day ahead of 'em! Razz

Thanks again - Jesse.
Jesse
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Singular and plural in this sentence...? Tue Aug 07, 2007 22:01 pm  Singular and plural in this sentence...?
 

But Alan (beating the dead horse), "they" is plural! Wink
--

Of course, so is "y'all", but that doesn't stop Southerners from saying it to one person.

The following was a common scene until I got used to it (and grudgingly sort of accepted it):

Southerner: "How y'all doin'?"

Tom (looks around for other people to whom this guy might be referring): "Um... fine, thanks."

hehehehe
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Singular and plural in this sentence...? Tue Aug 07, 2007 22:50 pm  Singular and plural in this sentence...?
 

Hi,

Quote:
Precisely, that's why 'they' is the best on offer.

Alan is so right!

All the best

EU
Englishuser
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Singular and plural in this sentence...? Wed Aug 08, 2007 10:26 am  Singular and plural in this sentence...?
 

if i hear some people making noise in my room what ca i say?
Who is there?
who are there?
Sultano
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Singular and plural in this sentence...? Wed Aug 08, 2007 13:20 pm  Singular and plural in this sentence...?
 

G'morning!

It's nice to know I'm not crazy, regarding this point anyway. Laughing Obviously, the English language is in need of remedial refining. Perhaps that's why grammaticians fight over what is and isn't correct so often. I find they're a lot like doctors that way. Put twenty of them in a room and you'll get twenty differing opinions on any given subject. Give them an hour alone and they'll go 360 degrees on it. I can say this with reasonable certainly since I R one. Wink Shhh! - Jesse.

P.S. Sorry if this shatters the confidence of any of you who are trusting enough to put your faith in doctors. There's a reason we call it a practice, y'know. What you may *not* know is that you are the rats in the maze. We all are, and it's (quite literally) discouraging.

I love this forum!
Jesse
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Singular and plural in this sentence...? Wed Aug 08, 2007 14:40 pm  Singular and plural in this sentence...?
 

Variation on this theme:

A couple of changes of clothes is all that is necessary. (Singular, even though there are several items of clothing.)

OR

A couple of changes of clothes are all that is necessary. (Going with the plural because of the clothing.)

Which is correct? - Jesse.
Jesse
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Singular and plural in this sentence...? Wed Aug 08, 2007 14:45 pm  Singular and plural in this sentence...?
 

Sultano wrote:
if i hear some people making noise in my room what ca i say?
Who is there?
who are there?

Who's there? (standard query)

You might also say something like, "Shut up!"

hehe
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Singular and plural in this sentence...? Wed Aug 08, 2007 14:49 pm  Singular and plural in this sentence...?
 

Hi,

Both are fine. It's like the old, old story. Your government is crazy but my government are a fine group of men and women. It depends, in your sentence, if you're thinking about the small quantity (a couple of) or the actual clothes. Life's really not that complicated!

Alan
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Singular and plural in this sentence...? Wed Aug 08, 2007 16:11 pm  Singular and plural in this sentence...?
 

Strange in deed, for me the correct sentence would be the first, the verb goes with "a couple" which is singular
so that would be a couple of........... is....., that's how it works in french actually.
But i guess you're right Alan, you should know much more than me on the subject.
Allyx
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Singular and plural in this sentence...? Wed Aug 08, 2007 16:12 pm  Singular and plural in this sentence...?
 

prezbucky wrote:
Sultano wrote:
if i hear some people making noise in my room what ca i say?
Who is there?
who are there?

Who's there? (standard query)

You might also say something like, "Shut up!"

hehe

that's sooo right!! Smile
Allyx
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Joined: 07 Aug 2007
Posts: 4
Location: France

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