What are the differences between the usage of 'it' and 'they'?
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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
edited 26 mins ago
Don B.
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asked 2 hours ago
ayushi groverayushi grover
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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
edited 26 mins ago
Don B.
1,741315
asked 2 hours ago
ayushi groverayushi grover
61
New contributor
ayushi grover is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
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
18 mins 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
edited 26 mins ago
Don B.
1,741315
asked 2 hours ago
ayushi groverayushi grover
61
New contributor
ayushi grover is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
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
edited 26 mins ago
Don B.
1,741315
asked 2 hours ago
ayushi groverayushi grover
61
New contributor
ayushi grover is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
edited 26 mins ago
Don B.
1,741315
asked 2 hours ago
ayushi groverayushi grover
61
New contributor
ayushi grover is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
edited 26 mins ago
Don B.
1,741315
edited 26 mins ago
Don B.
1,741315
edited 26 mins ago
Don B.
1,741315
1,741315
asked 2 hours ago
ayushi groverayushi grover
61
New contributor
ayushi grover is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked 2 hours ago
ayushi groverayushi grover
61
asked 2 hours ago
ayushi groverayushi grover
61
61
New contributor
ayushi grover is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
New contributor
ayushi grover is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
ayushi grover is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
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
18 mins ago
add a comment |
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
18 mins 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
18 mins 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
18 mins ago
add a comment |
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.
answered 2 hours ago
Colin FineColin Fine
31.6k24560
1
Oh, I've heard it used for an animal - some people object to thinking about them as less than human, somehow.
– SamBC
1 hour ago
add a comment |
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1 Answer
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1 Answer
1
active
oldest
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active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
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 2 hours ago
Colin FineColin Fine
31.6k24560
1
Oh, I've heard it used for an animal - some people object to thinking about them as less than human, somehow.
– SamBC
1 hour 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.
answered 2 hours ago
Colin FineColin Fine
31.6k24560
1
Oh, I've heard it used for an animal - some people object to thinking about them as less than human, somehow.
– SamBC
1 hour 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.
answered 2 hours ago
Colin FineColin Fine
31.6k24560
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 2 hours ago
Colin FineColin Fine
31.6k24560
answered 2 hours ago
Colin FineColin Fine
31.6k24560
answered 2 hours ago
Colin FineColin Fine
31.6k24560
answered 2 hours ago
Colin FineColin Fine
31.6k24560
31.6k24560
1
Oh, I've heard it used for an animal - some people object to thinking about them as less than human, somehow.
– SamBC
1 hour 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
1 hour 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
1 hour ago
Oh, I've heard it used for an animal - some people object to thinking about them as less than human, somehow.
– SamBC
1 hour ago
add a comment |
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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
18 mins ago