The pronoun problem...

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Stenka25

#517609 Fri, 23 May 08 01:27 AM

StartFragment>

Mothers spent most of her time preparing meals, washing and ironing, and cleaning the house.

I have a question about a pronoun "HER." In the above sentence we can easily infer that 'her' implies 'mothers.'

But while 'her' is single, 'mothers' is plural noun.

Is that still OK, or should we substitute 'their' for 'her,' or are both OK?

Stenka25

Joined on Thu, Jul 13 2006

Seoul, South Korea

Full Member (186)

Plurals, Nouns, Pronouns

Grammar Geek

#517611 Fri, 23 May 08 01:31 AM

No, that's just not okay.

Mothers spend most of their time...

My mother spends most of her time...

(It's also inaccurate. I spend most of my time in my place of work. The rest gets fit in around that and going to the children's events outside of the house. I think the last time I ironed was some time in 2006.)

Grammar Geek

Joined on Tue, Jan 10 2006

Pennsylvania, USA

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Nouns, Pronouns

Mister Micawber

#517612 Fri, 23 May 08 01:31 AM

.
Either the pronoun or the noun in your fragment is in error. I presume it should have read 'Mother'.

Mister Micawber

Joined on Wed, Aug 4 2004

Yokohama

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'The question is,' said Humpty Dumpty, 'which is to be master-- that's all.'

Resume, Nouns, Pronouns

Clive

#517647 Fri, 23 May 08 03:21 AM

Hi guys,

Mothers spent most of her time preparing meals, washing and ironing, and cleaning the house.

I wonder if the original sentence just had an apostophe? That would cause it to make sense.

Mother's spent most of her time preparing meals, washing and ironing, and cleaning the house.

( ie Mother has spent . . .)

Best wishes, Clive

Clive

Joined on Thu, Oct 28 2004

Canada

Veteran Member (20,324)

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

Nouns, Pronouns

Stenka25

#517876 Fri, 23 May 08 02:18 PM

Thanks.

Now I got the clear picture of the question.

Stenka25

Nouns, Pronouns

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