What are the differences between the usage of 'it' and 'they'?Difference or similarity between today, these...
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What are the differences between the usage of 'it' and 'they'?
What are the differences between the usage of 'it' and 'they'?
Difference or similarity between today, these days and nowadaysDistinction between singular “like” and plural “likes”That vs Which in plural contextsDo we have two “any pronouns”- one is plural and the other is singular?Omission of “from which”“something which” or “something that”Where is the word “commodity” used?Antecedent of pronounWhat is meant by “Singular rejection”What's different between “so … that” and “so that” sentence
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I need to understand the following with respect to correct grammar not everyday usage:
1. The number to the antecedent that both pronouns can refer to (Singular/Plural)
2. Can the pronouns refer to living and non-living creatures both?
3. Any other rules that distinguish the two.
sentence-construction word-meaning pronouns relative-pronouns
New contributor
add a comment |
I need to understand the following with respect to correct grammar not everyday usage:
1. The number to the antecedent that both pronouns can refer to (Singular/Plural)
2. Can the pronouns refer to living and non-living creatures both?
3. Any other rules that distinguish the two.
sentence-construction word-meaning pronouns relative-pronouns
New contributor
1
Correct grammar and everyday usage: enlighten me as far as the difference between the two goes. Of course, I assume that by everyday usage you're referring to English as spoken by native speakers of English, and not, say, the majority of Indians or Chinese.
– userr2684291
1 hour ago
add a comment |
I need to understand the following with respect to correct grammar not everyday usage:
1. The number to the antecedent that both pronouns can refer to (Singular/Plural)
2. Can the pronouns refer to living and non-living creatures both?
3. Any other rules that distinguish the two.
sentence-construction word-meaning pronouns relative-pronouns
New contributor
I need to understand the following with respect to correct grammar not everyday usage:
1. The number to the antecedent that both pronouns can refer to (Singular/Plural)
2. Can the pronouns refer to living and non-living creatures both?
3. Any other rules that distinguish the two.
sentence-construction word-meaning pronouns relative-pronouns
sentence-construction word-meaning pronouns relative-pronouns
New contributor
New contributor
edited 1 hour ago
Don B.
1,741315
1,741315
New contributor
asked 3 hours ago
ayushi groverayushi grover
61
61
New contributor
New contributor
1
Correct grammar and everyday usage: enlighten me as far as the difference between the two goes. Of course, I assume that by everyday usage you're referring to English as spoken by native speakers of English, and not, say, the majority of Indians or Chinese.
– userr2684291
1 hour ago
add a comment |
1
Correct grammar and everyday usage: enlighten me as far as the difference between the two goes. Of course, I assume that by everyday usage you're referring to English as spoken by native speakers of English, and not, say, the majority of Indians or Chinese.
– userr2684291
1 hour ago
1
1
Correct grammar and everyday usage: enlighten me as far as the difference between the two goes. Of course, I assume that by everyday usage you're referring to English as spoken by native speakers of English, and not, say, the majority of Indians or Chinese.
– userr2684291
1 hour ago
Correct grammar and everyday usage: enlighten me as far as the difference between the two goes. Of course, I assume that by everyday usage you're referring to English as spoken by native speakers of English, and not, say, the majority of Indians or Chinese.
– userr2684291
1 hour ago
add a comment |
1 Answer
1
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oldest
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It is always singular, and hardly ever used of humans (some people refer to a baby whose sex they don't know as "it", but others find that offensive). It is often used of animals, but many people use "he" or "she" if they know the sex of the animal.
They is plural, and may refer to anything: people, animals, inanimate objects. Many people (including me) also use it in the singular to refer to a person when they don't know the person's gender, or are referring to an unspecified person who might be of any gender. Some people object to this use, but it has been around for centuries.
I don't remember ever having heard singular "they" used of an animal - most people would use "it" in such cases. As far as I know, singular "they" is never used for inanimate objects.
1
Oh, I've heard it used for an animal - some people object to thinking about them as less than human, somehow.
– SamBC
2 hours ago
add a comment |
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1 Answer
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It is always singular, and hardly ever used of humans (some people refer to a baby whose sex they don't know as "it", but others find that offensive). It is often used of animals, but many people use "he" or "she" if they know the sex of the animal.
They is plural, and may refer to anything: people, animals, inanimate objects. Many people (including me) also use it in the singular to refer to a person when they don't know the person's gender, or are referring to an unspecified person who might be of any gender. Some people object to this use, but it has been around for centuries.
I don't remember ever having heard singular "they" used of an animal - most people would use "it" in such cases. As far as I know, singular "they" is never used for inanimate objects.
1
Oh, I've heard it used for an animal - some people object to thinking about them as less than human, somehow.
– SamBC
2 hours ago
add a comment |
It is always singular, and hardly ever used of humans (some people refer to a baby whose sex they don't know as "it", but others find that offensive). It is often used of animals, but many people use "he" or "she" if they know the sex of the animal.
They is plural, and may refer to anything: people, animals, inanimate objects. Many people (including me) also use it in the singular to refer to a person when they don't know the person's gender, or are referring to an unspecified person who might be of any gender. Some people object to this use, but it has been around for centuries.
I don't remember ever having heard singular "they" used of an animal - most people would use "it" in such cases. As far as I know, singular "they" is never used for inanimate objects.
1
Oh, I've heard it used for an animal - some people object to thinking about them as less than human, somehow.
– SamBC
2 hours ago
add a comment |
It is always singular, and hardly ever used of humans (some people refer to a baby whose sex they don't know as "it", but others find that offensive). It is often used of animals, but many people use "he" or "she" if they know the sex of the animal.
They is plural, and may refer to anything: people, animals, inanimate objects. Many people (including me) also use it in the singular to refer to a person when they don't know the person's gender, or are referring to an unspecified person who might be of any gender. Some people object to this use, but it has been around for centuries.
I don't remember ever having heard singular "they" used of an animal - most people would use "it" in such cases. As far as I know, singular "they" is never used for inanimate objects.
It is always singular, and hardly ever used of humans (some people refer to a baby whose sex they don't know as "it", but others find that offensive). It is often used of animals, but many people use "he" or "she" if they know the sex of the animal.
They is plural, and may refer to anything: people, animals, inanimate objects. Many people (including me) also use it in the singular to refer to a person when they don't know the person's gender, or are referring to an unspecified person who might be of any gender. Some people object to this use, but it has been around for centuries.
I don't remember ever having heard singular "they" used of an animal - most people would use "it" in such cases. As far as I know, singular "they" is never used for inanimate objects.
answered 3 hours ago
Colin FineColin Fine
31.7k24560
31.7k24560
1
Oh, I've heard it used for an animal - some people object to thinking about them as less than human, somehow.
– SamBC
2 hours ago
add a comment |
1
Oh, I've heard it used for an animal - some people object to thinking about them as less than human, somehow.
– SamBC
2 hours ago
1
1
Oh, I've heard it used for an animal - some people object to thinking about them as less than human, somehow.
– SamBC
2 hours ago
Oh, I've heard it used for an animal - some people object to thinking about them as less than human, somehow.
– SamBC
2 hours ago
add a comment |
ayushi grover is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
ayushi grover is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
ayushi grover is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
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Correct grammar and everyday usage: enlighten me as far as the difference between the two goes. Of course, I assume that by everyday usage you're referring to English as spoken by native speakers of English, and not, say, the majority of Indians or Chinese.
– userr2684291
1 hour ago