he/he or she

Share on Facebook

New2grammar

#529201 Wed, 18 Jun 08 04:42 PM

If a teacher hits a students, [he/ he or she/they] may get sued.

In casual conversation, which pronoun is used?
Thanks

New2grammar

Joined on Tue, Nov 21 2006

Veteran Member (7,670)

Who wants to go sailing around the world with me?

Conversations, Nouns, Pronouns

Clive

#529233 Wed, 18 Jun 08 05:19 PM

Hi,
If a teacher hits a student, [he/ he or she/they] may get sued.

In casual conversation, which pronoun is used?
Hard to say. eg Primary school teachers are usually women.

'They' is often used.

Clive

Clive

Joined on Thu, Oct 28 2004

Canada

Veteran Member (20,464)

El tango argentino es un pensamiento triste que se puede bailar (The tango argentino is a sad thought which can be danced) Enrique Santos Discépolo

Conversations, Nouns, Pronouns

New2grammar

#529249 Wed, 18 Jun 08 05:37 PM

Thanks for the correction and answer, Clive

If a student is behind his/her/their class, he/she/he or she/they will normally do bad in the exams.

How about the above?

New2grammar

Yoong Liat

#529320 Wed, 18 Jun 08 08:18 PM

New2grammar
Thanks for the correction and answer, Clive

If a student is behind his/her/their class, he/she/he or she/they will normally do bad in the exams.

If a student is behind his/her class, he/she will normally do badly in the exams.

If a student is behind his or her class, he or she will normally do badly in the exams.

If a student is behind his or her class, s/he they will normally do badly in the exams.

If a student is behind his or her class, they will normally do badly in the exams. (the gender-neutral way)

Students who are behind their class will normally do badly in the exams. (Using the plural does away with the awkward constructions.)

Yoong Liat

Joined on Mon, Sep 4 2006

Singapore

Veteran Member (5,861)

Yoong Liat

Grammar, Plurals, Constructions, Genders

Kooyeen

#529334 Wed, 18 Jun 08 09:56 PM

New2grammar
In casual conversation, which pronoun is used?

In casual conversation you can use "they". Or you can use either "he" (or "she") if you think it's likely to be a male (or a female).

A student left the door open. They should have closed it.
A truck driver left the door open. He should have closed it.

Smile

Kooyeen

Joined on Thu, Dec 22 2005

Italy

Senior Member (3,833)

If you don't have a sense of humor already, it's about time you buy one.

Grammar, Conversations, Nouns, Pronouns

Clive

#529337 Wed, 18 Jun 08 10:02 PM

Hi,

You'll often hear

If a student is behind the / their class, they will normally do badly in their exams.

In everyday speaking, you don't usually hear people fuss with saying 'he or she', 'his or her'.

Best wishes, Clive

Clive

RSS Feed: ESL General English Grammar Questions