Singular they

2 weeks ago - Singular they, along with its inflected or derivative forms, them, their, theirs, and themselves (also themself and theirself for nonstandard usage), is a gender-neutral third-person pronoun derived from plural they. It typically occurs with an indeterminate antecedent, to refer to an unknown ...

To be consistent, it is a good practice to try to avoid they and its variants (e.g., them, their, themselves) with previously singular nouns or pronouns. Not consistent: Someone has to do it, and they have to do it well. The problem is that someone is singular, but they is plural. If we change they to he or she, we get a rather clumsy sentence, even if it is technically correct. Technically correct: Someone has to do it, and he or she has to do it well. Replacing an inconsistent sentence with a poorly written one is a bad bargain.

The alternative pronoun most commonly used is they, often referred to as singular they. Here’s an example: Someone left his or her backpack behind. → Someone left their backpack behind. Since we don’t know the gender of the person who left their backpack behind, we use they to include all genders as possibilities for that mystery person. In addition to being respectful of people of all genders, this makes the sentence shorter and easier to say.

2 weeks ago - 'They' and 'their' are both third-person plural personal pronouns. But one of them is a subject pronoun and the other is considered a determiner.

The words 'he', 'she', 'they', ... View this answer · While the word 'their' has similarities with the word 'they', which is a pronoun, 'their' does not act as a pronoun....

February 19, 2025 - Use the pronoun “their” for one or multiple subjects of whose gender is unknown or for a subject whose preferred pronouns are they/them. For sentences that feature compound subjects (more than one subject), separate the two subjects to determine ...

Demonstrative pronouns are either singular or plural. ... This book is hers. That is a big spider. Plural: These books are theirs. Those spiders are huge. However, some indefinite pronouns are always singular, some are always plural, and some may be

It’s not the only third-person ... your life. Here is an example: A person should enjoy their vacation. The noun in this sentence is “person,” and the pronoun is “their.”...

A good trick for remembering the ... you see that (one)? Those (ones) belong to Danny. Possessive pronouns – those designating possession or ownership. Examples include: mine, its, hers, his, yours, ours, theirs, whose....

January 16, 2024 - If you’re using a pronoun as an object but it refers to an antecedent that is not the subject of the sentence or clause, you use an object pronoun instead: He asked myself to go for a bike ride. He asked me to go for a bike ride. I had promised myself I would accept more invitations. Intensive pronouns look the same as reflexive pronouns, but their purpose is different.

September 5, 2024 - Like nouns, pronouns commonly serve as the subject of a sentence, followed by a verb (a word expressing an action). Examples: Pronouns as subjectsI like to play chess. We have never been to Germany before. It is difficult to stay calm in stressful situations.

They, them, and theirs are all pronouns that can be used as either singular or plural. ... Since pronouns stand in place of a noun, it must be clear which antecedent you are referring to. ... James told Mike his bike had been stolen. (Whose bike was stolen?) She put her lunch and purse on the ...

June 23, 2023 - As homonyms, the words there, their, and they’re are all pronounced exactly the same but have different and distinct meanings. There means “at that place” and is used to talk about a specific location. Their indicates ownership and is the possessive form of they. Finally, they’re means they are and is a contraction similar to you’re for you are. If you are introducing a sentence or talking about a certain location, the correct word is there.

U.S. regional (chiefly southern and south Midland), Caribbean, and in African American use. As possessive pronoun: = their, adj. A.I.1. ... Modifying a noun of action with which their is in objective relation: of, for, or to them.

June 12, 2023 - (If you can make your whole sentence plural, then the problem goes away. This is a tidy option.) (Option 2) Use a singular "their." Each team leader is responsible for their team. They must report to the race marshal by 9 o'clock.

Possessive pronouns replace possessive nouns as either the subject or the object of a clause. Because the noun being replaced doesn't appear in the sentence, it must be clear from the context. This bag is mine. Yours is not blue. That bag looks like his. These shoes are not hers. That car is ours. Theirs is parked in the garage.

Note: For the pronouns that can be both singular and plural, their number depends on the noun they refer to: More of the students leave early this semester. (plural) None of his cereal was finished. (singular) On a final note with these pronouns, consider the placement. If the pronoun is included immediately before a noun (i.e. All dogs go to heaven.), then the pronoun acts as an adjective. The verb of the sentence must agree with the noun that is its subject (dogs).

Pronouns are words that replace nouns in a sentence, such as “you,” “we,” or “they.” Most of the

The meaning of THEIR is of or relating to them or themselves especially as possessors, agents, or objects of an action. How to use their in a sentence. There vs. They're vs. Their Can they, their, theirs, them, themself, and themselves be used to refer to one person?: Usage Guide