Usage singular vs plural for “in their hands” and “on their face”

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Considering that Sam and his brother are waiting together for a movie to start, and each of them has a sugar candy in their hand, and each of them smiles… what will be the most grammatically correct way to say:

Sam and his brother used to wait with a sugar candy in their hand and a smile on their face.

Sam and his brother used to wait with sugar candies in their hands and a smile on their face.

Sam and his brother used to wait with sugar candies in their hands and smiles on their face.

Sam and his brother used to wait with sugar candies in their hands and smiles on their faces.

Tnx!

asked Nov 2 at 23:59

Tommy

744

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up vote
2
down vote

favorite

Sam and his brother used to wait with a sugar candy in their hand and a smile on their face.

Sam and his brother used to wait with sugar candies in their hands and a smile on their face.

Sam and his brother used to wait with sugar candies in their hands and smiles on their face.

Sam and his brother used to wait with sugar candies in their hands and smiles on their faces.

Tnx!

asked Nov 2 at 23:59

Tommy

744

add a comment |

up vote
2
down vote

favorite

Sam and his brother used to wait with a sugar candy in their hand and a smile on their face.

Sam and his brother used to wait with sugar candies in their hands and a smile on their face.

Sam and his brother used to wait with sugar candies in their hands and smiles on their face.

Sam and his brother used to wait with sugar candies in their hands and smiles on their faces.

Tnx!

asked Nov 2 at 23:59

Tommy

744

Sam and his brother used to wait with a sugar candy in their hand and a smile on their face.

Sam and his brother used to wait with sugar candies in their hands and a smile on their face.

Sam and his brother used to wait with sugar candies in their hands and smiles on their face.

Sam and his brother used to wait with sugar candies in their hands and smiles on their faces.

Tnx!

grammar grammaticality grammatical-number agreement

asked Nov 2 at 23:59

Tommy

744

asked Nov 2 at 23:59

Tommy

744

asked Nov 2 at 23:59

Tommy

744

asked Nov 2 at 23:59

Tommy

744

asked Nov 2 at 23:59

Tommy

744

add a comment |

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The fact that they are both male makes it simpler.

Barring context that hasn't been provided, I would phrase it in the following way:

Sam and his brother used to wait, each with a sugar candy in his hand and a smile on his face.

From a comment, I was asked what if it were a brother and sister.

If we don't specify that each has a candy in one hand (which the first sentence in the question seems to imply), then the form of the fourth sentence in the question will work:

Sam and his sister used to wait with sugar candies in their hands and smiles on their faces.

If the singular gender-neutral third person is allowed, then the following can be used:

Sam and his sister used to wait, each with a sugar candy in hand and a smile on their face.

Note that we can say "in hand" rather than "in a hand" because there is only a single sugar candy, so it would be held in just one hand.

This, however, is awkward. The use of their face doesn't sound entirely natural.

If we specify one candy and one hand and the singular gender-neutral third person is not allowed, the sentence can be easily reworded if face is dropped:

Sam and his sister used to wait, each with a sugar candy in hand and a smile.

Finally, the sentence can be extended so as not to drop any element:

Sam and his sister used to wait, each with a sugar candy in hand and both with smiles on their faces.

edited Nov 3 at 2:46

answered Nov 3 at 0:24

Jason Bassford

15k31941

Thanks ;-) and what if Sam was waiting with his sister? "Sam and his sister used to wait with a sugar candy in their hand and a smile on their face." - can this one work? Tnx!
– Tommy
Nov 3 at 0:58

@Tommy I have expanded my answer to include several different possibilities. The main point is that if you refer to a single person, you use singular nouns; if you refer to multiple people, you use plural nouns.
– Jason Bassford
Nov 3 at 2:36

Great ;-) Many thanks Jason Bassford! I was wondering, what if "each" is dropped in the below option -- won't it still be assumed? Instead of *** "Sam and his sister used to wait, EACH with a sugar candy in hand and a smile on their face." *** *** this option: "Sam and his sister used to wait with a sugar candy in hand and a smile on their face."
– Tommy
Nov 3 at 14:24

@ommy It would likely be understood, but it would be ambiguous and awkward. In whose hand? And the use of their face makes it sound like they share a face.
– Jason Bassford
Nov 3 at 14:32

Tnx @Jason Bassford, you are the best ;-)
– Tommy
Nov 3 at 14:44

add a comment |

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1 Answer
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active

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votes

1 Answer
1

active

oldest

votes

up vote
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down vote

The fact that they are both male makes it simpler.

Barring context that hasn't been provided, I would phrase it in the following way:

Sam and his brother used to wait, each with a sugar candy in his hand and a smile on his face.

From a comment, I was asked what if it were a brother and sister.

If we don't specify that each has a candy in one hand (which the first sentence in the question seems to imply), then the form of the fourth sentence in the question will work:

Sam and his sister used to wait with sugar candies in their hands and smiles on their faces.

If the singular gender-neutral third person is allowed, then the following can be used:

Sam and his sister used to wait, each with a sugar candy in hand and a smile on their face.

Note that we can say "in hand" rather than "in a hand" because there is only a single sugar candy, so it would be held in just one hand.

This, however, is awkward. The use of their face doesn't sound entirely natural.

If we specify one candy and one hand and the singular gender-neutral third person is not allowed, the sentence can be easily reworded if face is dropped:

Sam and his sister used to wait, each with a sugar candy in hand and a smile.

Finally, the sentence can be extended so as not to drop any element:

Sam and his sister used to wait, each with a sugar candy in hand and both with smiles on their faces.

edited Nov 3 at 2:46

answered Nov 3 at 0:24

Jason Bassford

15k31941

Thanks ;-) and what if Sam was waiting with his sister? "Sam and his sister used to wait with a sugar candy in their hand and a smile on their face." - can this one work? Tnx!
– Tommy
Nov 3 at 0:58

@Tommy I have expanded my answer to include several different possibilities. The main point is that if you refer to a single person, you use singular nouns; if you refer to multiple people, you use plural nouns.
– Jason Bassford
Nov 3 at 2:36

Great ;-) Many thanks Jason Bassford! I was wondering, what if "each" is dropped in the below option -- won't it still be assumed? Instead of *** "Sam and his sister used to wait, EACH with a sugar candy in hand and a smile on their face." *** *** this option: "Sam and his sister used to wait with a sugar candy in hand and a smile on their face."
– Tommy
Nov 3 at 14:24

@ommy It would likely be understood, but it would be ambiguous and awkward. In whose hand? And the use of their face makes it sound like they share a face.
– Jason Bassford
Nov 3 at 14:32

Tnx @Jason Bassford, you are the best ;-)
– Tommy
Nov 3 at 14:44

add a comment |

up vote
0
down vote

The fact that they are both male makes it simpler.

Barring context that hasn't been provided, I would phrase it in the following way:

Sam and his brother used to wait, each with a sugar candy in his hand and a smile on his face.

From a comment, I was asked what if it were a brother and sister.

If we don't specify that each has a candy in one hand (which the first sentence in the question seems to imply), then the form of the fourth sentence in the question will work:

Sam and his sister used to wait with sugar candies in their hands and smiles on their faces.

If the singular gender-neutral third person is allowed, then the following can be used:

Sam and his sister used to wait, each with a sugar candy in hand and a smile on their face.

Note that we can say "in hand" rather than "in a hand" because there is only a single sugar candy, so it would be held in just one hand.

This, however, is awkward. The use of their face doesn't sound entirely natural.

If we specify one candy and one hand and the singular gender-neutral third person is not allowed, the sentence can be easily reworded if face is dropped:

Sam and his sister used to wait, each with a sugar candy in hand and a smile.

Finally, the sentence can be extended so as not to drop any element:

Sam and his sister used to wait, each with a sugar candy in hand and both with smiles on their faces.

edited Nov 3 at 2:46

answered Nov 3 at 0:24

Jason Bassford

15k31941

Thanks ;-) and what if Sam was waiting with his sister? "Sam and his sister used to wait with a sugar candy in their hand and a smile on their face." - can this one work? Tnx!
– Tommy
Nov 3 at 0:58

@Tommy I have expanded my answer to include several different possibilities. The main point is that if you refer to a single person, you use singular nouns; if you refer to multiple people, you use plural nouns.
– Jason Bassford
Nov 3 at 2:36

Great ;-) Many thanks Jason Bassford! I was wondering, what if "each" is dropped in the below option -- won't it still be assumed? Instead of *** "Sam and his sister used to wait, EACH with a sugar candy in hand and a smile on their face." *** *** this option: "Sam and his sister used to wait with a sugar candy in hand and a smile on their face."
– Tommy
Nov 3 at 14:24

@ommy It would likely be understood, but it would be ambiguous and awkward. In whose hand? And the use of their face makes it sound like they share a face.
– Jason Bassford
Nov 3 at 14:32

Tnx @Jason Bassford, you are the best ;-)
– Tommy
Nov 3 at 14:44

add a comment |

up vote
0
down vote

The fact that they are both male makes it simpler.

Barring context that hasn't been provided, I would phrase it in the following way:

Sam and his brother used to wait, each with a sugar candy in his hand and a smile on his face.

From a comment, I was asked what if it were a brother and sister.

If we don't specify that each has a candy in one hand (which the first sentence in the question seems to imply), then the form of the fourth sentence in the question will work:

Sam and his sister used to wait with sugar candies in their hands and smiles on their faces.

If the singular gender-neutral third person is allowed, then the following can be used:

Sam and his sister used to wait, each with a sugar candy in hand and a smile on their face.

Note that we can say "in hand" rather than "in a hand" because there is only a single sugar candy, so it would be held in just one hand.

This, however, is awkward. The use of their face doesn't sound entirely natural.

If we specify one candy and one hand and the singular gender-neutral third person is not allowed, the sentence can be easily reworded if face is dropped:

Sam and his sister used to wait, each with a sugar candy in hand and a smile.

Finally, the sentence can be extended so as not to drop any element:

Sam and his sister used to wait, each with a sugar candy in hand and both with smiles on their faces.

edited Nov 3 at 2:46

answered Nov 3 at 0:24

Jason Bassford

15k31941

The fact that they are both male makes it simpler.

Barring context that hasn't been provided, I would phrase it in the following way:

Sam and his brother used to wait, each with a sugar candy in his hand and a smile on his face.

From a comment, I was asked what if it were a brother and sister.

If we don't specify that each has a candy in one hand (which the first sentence in the question seems to imply), then the form of the fourth sentence in the question will work:

Sam and his sister used to wait with sugar candies in their hands and smiles on their faces.

If the singular gender-neutral third person is allowed, then the following can be used:

Sam and his sister used to wait, each with a sugar candy in hand and a smile on their face.

Note that we can say "in hand" rather than "in a hand" because there is only a single sugar candy, so it would be held in just one hand.

This, however, is awkward. The use of their face doesn't sound entirely natural.

If we specify one candy and one hand and the singular gender-neutral third person is not allowed, the sentence can be easily reworded if face is dropped:

Sam and his sister used to wait, each with a sugar candy in hand and a smile.

Finally, the sentence can be extended so as not to drop any element:

Sam and his sister used to wait, each with a sugar candy in hand and both with smiles on their faces.

edited Nov 3 at 2:46

answered Nov 3 at 0:24

Jason Bassford

15k31941

edited Nov 3 at 2:46

answered Nov 3 at 0:24

Jason Bassford

15k31941

answered Nov 3 at 0:24

Jason Bassford

15k31941

answered Nov 3 at 0:24

Jason Bassford

15k31941

Thanks ;-) and what if Sam was waiting with his sister? "Sam and his sister used to wait with a sugar candy in their hand and a smile on their face." - can this one work? Tnx!
– Tommy
Nov 3 at 0:58

@Tommy I have expanded my answer to include several different possibilities. The main point is that if you refer to a single person, you use singular nouns; if you refer to multiple people, you use plural nouns.
– Jason Bassford
Nov 3 at 2:36

Great ;-) Many thanks Jason Bassford! I was wondering, what if "each" is dropped in the below option -- won't it still be assumed? Instead of *** "Sam and his sister used to wait, EACH with a sugar candy in hand and a smile on their face." *** *** this option: "Sam and his sister used to wait with a sugar candy in hand and a smile on their face."
– Tommy
Nov 3 at 14:24

@ommy It would likely be understood, but it would be ambiguous and awkward. In whose hand? And the use of their face makes it sound like they share a face.
– Jason Bassford
Nov 3 at 14:32

Tnx @Jason Bassford, you are the best ;-)
– Tommy
Nov 3 at 14:44

add a comment |

Thanks ;-) and what if Sam was waiting with his sister? "Sam and his sister used to wait with a sugar candy in their hand and a smile on their face." - can this one work? Tnx!
– Tommy
Nov 3 at 0:58

@Tommy I have expanded my answer to include several different possibilities. The main point is that if you refer to a single person, you use singular nouns; if you refer to multiple people, you use plural nouns.
– Jason Bassford
Nov 3 at 2:36

Great ;-) Many thanks Jason Bassford! I was wondering, what if "each" is dropped in the below option -- won't it still be assumed? Instead of *** "Sam and his sister used to wait, EACH with a sugar candy in hand and a smile on their face." *** *** this option: "Sam and his sister used to wait with a sugar candy in hand and a smile on their face."
– Tommy
Nov 3 at 14:24

@ommy It would likely be understood, but it would be ambiguous and awkward. In whose hand? And the use of their face makes it sound like they share a face.
– Jason Bassford
Nov 3 at 14:32

Tnx @Jason Bassford, you are the best ;-)
– Tommy
Nov 3 at 14:44

Thanks ;-) and what if Sam was waiting with his sister? "Sam and his sister used to wait with a sugar candy in their hand and a smile on their face." - can this one work? Tnx!
– Tommy
Nov 3 at 0:58

@Tommy I have expanded my answer to include several different possibilities. The main point is that if you refer to a single person, you use singular nouns; if you refer to multiple people, you use plural nouns.
– Jason Bassford
Nov 3 at 2:36

Great ;-) Many thanks Jason Bassford! I was wondering, what if "each" is dropped in the below option -- won't it still be assumed? Instead of *** "Sam and his sister used to wait, EACH with a sugar candy in hand and a smile on their face." *** *** this option: "Sam and his sister used to wait with a sugar candy in hand and a smile on their face."
– Tommy
Nov 3 at 14:24

@ommy It would likely be understood, but it would be ambiguous and awkward. In whose hand? And the use of their face makes it sound like they share a face.
– Jason Bassford
Nov 3 at 14:32

Tnx @Jason Bassford, you are the best ;-)
– Tommy
Nov 3 at 14:44

add a comment |

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