What are the differences between the usage of 'it' and 'they'? [closed]
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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.
word-meaning pronouns relative-pronouns singular-they
edited Apr 7 at 2:09
Jasper
20.1k44174
asked Apr 6 at 18:08
ayushi groverayushi grover
161
closed as off-topic by fred2, SamBC, Varun Nair, choster, virolino Apr 11 at 12:18
This question appears to be off-topic. The users who voted to close gave this specific reason:
- "This question should include more details than have been provided here. Please edit to add the research you have done in your efforts to answer the question, or provide more context. See: Details, Please." – fred2, SamBC, Varun Nair, virolino
If this question can be reworded to fit the rules in the help center, please edit the question.
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.
word-meaning pronouns relative-pronouns singular-they
edited Apr 7 at 2:09
Jasper
20.1k44174
asked Apr 6 at 18:08
ayushi groverayushi grover
161
closed as off-topic by fred2, SamBC, Varun Nair, choster, virolino Apr 11 at 12:18
This question appears to be off-topic. The users who voted to close gave this specific reason:
- "This question should include more details than have been provided here. Please edit to add the research you have done in your efforts to answer the question, or provide more context. See: Details, Please." – fred2, SamBC, Varun Nair, virolino
If this question can be reworded to fit the rules in the help center, please edit the question.
Comments are not for extended discussion; this conversation has been moved to chat.
– ColleenV♦
Apr 8 at 17:24
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.
word-meaning pronouns relative-pronouns singular-they
edited Apr 7 at 2:09
Jasper
20.1k44174
asked Apr 6 at 18:08
ayushi groverayushi grover
161
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.
word-meaning pronouns relative-pronouns singular-they
word-meaning pronouns relative-pronouns singular-they
edited Apr 7 at 2:09
Jasper
20.1k44174
asked Apr 6 at 18:08
ayushi groverayushi grover
161
edited Apr 7 at 2:09
Jasper
20.1k44174
asked Apr 6 at 18:08
ayushi groverayushi grover
161
edited Apr 7 at 2:09
Jasper
20.1k44174
edited Apr 7 at 2:09
Jasper
20.1k44174
edited Apr 7 at 2:09
Jasper
20.1k44174
20.1k44174
asked Apr 6 at 18:08
ayushi groverayushi grover
161
asked Apr 6 at 18:08
ayushi groverayushi grover
161
asked Apr 6 at 18:08
ayushi groverayushi grover
161
161
closed as off-topic by fred2, SamBC, Varun Nair, choster, virolino Apr 11 at 12:18
This question appears to be off-topic. The users who voted to close gave this specific reason:
- "This question should include more details than have been provided here. Please edit to add the research you have done in your efforts to answer the question, or provide more context. See: Details, Please." – fred2, SamBC, Varun Nair, virolino
If this question can be reworded to fit the rules in the help center, please edit the question.
closed as off-topic by fred2, SamBC, Varun Nair, choster, virolino Apr 11 at 12:18
This question appears to be off-topic. The users who voted to close gave this specific reason:
- "This question should include more details than have been provided here. Please edit to add the research you have done in your efforts to answer the question, or provide more context. See: Details, Please." – fred2, SamBC, Varun Nair, virolino
If this question can be reworded to fit the rules in the help center, please edit the question.
Comments are not for extended discussion; this conversation has been moved to chat.
– ColleenV♦
Apr 8 at 17:24
add a comment |
Comments are not for extended discussion; this conversation has been moved to chat.
– ColleenV♦
Apr 8 at 17:24
Comments are not for extended discussion; this conversation has been moved to chat.
– ColleenV♦
Apr 8 at 17:24
Comments are not for extended discussion; this conversation has been moved to chat.
– ColleenV♦
Apr 8 at 17:24
add a comment |
1 Answer
1
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 Apr 6 at 18:16
Colin FineColin Fine
32.1k24561
3
Oh, I've heard it used for an animal - some people object to thinking about them as less than human, somehow.
– SamBC
Apr 6 at 19:26
3
I use "they" for animals exclusively. At least for mammals, birds, and reptiles; I tend to lean towards "it" for insects. The exact line varies from person to person, some only using they for humans and some using it for humans and pets, others for all animate things, etc. Also of note is that singular they can be used for a specific nonbinary person as well, so it doesn't have to be an unspecified person or a person of unknown gender.
– Hearth
Apr 6 at 22:59
add a comment |
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
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 Apr 6 at 18:16
Colin FineColin Fine
32.1k24561
3
Oh, I've heard it used for an animal - some people object to thinking about them as less than human, somehow.
– SamBC
Apr 6 at 19:26
3
I use "they" for animals exclusively. At least for mammals, birds, and reptiles; I tend to lean towards "it" for insects. The exact line varies from person to person, some only using they for humans and some using it for humans and pets, others for all animate things, etc. Also of note is that singular they can be used for a specific nonbinary person as well, so it doesn't have to be an unspecified person or a person of unknown gender.
– Hearth
Apr 6 at 22:59
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 Apr 6 at 18:16
Colin FineColin Fine
32.1k24561
3
Oh, I've heard it used for an animal - some people object to thinking about them as less than human, somehow.
– SamBC
Apr 6 at 19:26
3
I use "they" for animals exclusively. At least for mammals, birds, and reptiles; I tend to lean towards "it" for insects. The exact line varies from person to person, some only using they for humans and some using it for humans and pets, others for all animate things, etc. Also of note is that singular they can be used for a specific nonbinary person as well, so it doesn't have to be an unspecified person or a person of unknown gender.
– Hearth
Apr 6 at 22:59
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 Apr 6 at 18:16
Colin FineColin Fine
32.1k24561
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 Apr 6 at 18:16
Colin FineColin Fine
32.1k24561
answered Apr 6 at 18:16
Colin FineColin Fine
32.1k24561
answered Apr 6 at 18:16
Colin FineColin Fine
32.1k24561
answered Apr 6 at 18:16
Colin FineColin Fine
32.1k24561
32.1k24561
3
Oh, I've heard it used for an animal - some people object to thinking about them as less than human, somehow.
– SamBC
Apr 6 at 19:26
3
I use "they" for animals exclusively. At least for mammals, birds, and reptiles; I tend to lean towards "it" for insects. The exact line varies from person to person, some only using they for humans and some using it for humans and pets, others for all animate things, etc. Also of note is that singular they can be used for a specific nonbinary person as well, so it doesn't have to be an unspecified person or a person of unknown gender.
– Hearth
Apr 6 at 22:59
add a comment |
3
Oh, I've heard it used for an animal - some people object to thinking about them as less than human, somehow.
– SamBC
Apr 6 at 19:26
3
I use "they" for animals exclusively. At least for mammals, birds, and reptiles; I tend to lean towards "it" for insects. The exact line varies from person to person, some only using they for humans and some using it for humans and pets, others for all animate things, etc. Also of note is that singular they can be used for a specific nonbinary person as well, so it doesn't have to be an unspecified person or a person of unknown gender.
– Hearth
Apr 6 at 22:59
3
3
Oh, I've heard it used for an animal - some people object to thinking about them as less than human, somehow.
– SamBC
Apr 6 at 19:26
Oh, I've heard it used for an animal - some people object to thinking about them as less than human, somehow.
– SamBC
Apr 6 at 19:26
3
3
I use "they" for animals exclusively. At least for mammals, birds, and reptiles; I tend to lean towards "it" for insects. The exact line varies from person to person, some only using they for humans and some using it for humans and pets, others for all animate things, etc. Also of note is that singular they can be used for a specific nonbinary person as well, so it doesn't have to be an unspecified person or a person of unknown gender.
– Hearth
Apr 6 at 22:59
I use "they" for animals exclusively. At least for mammals, birds, and reptiles; I tend to lean towards "it" for insects. The exact line varies from person to person, some only using they for humans and some using it for humans and pets, others for all animate things, etc. Also of note is that singular they can be used for a specific nonbinary person as well, so it doesn't have to be an unspecified person or a person of unknown gender.
– Hearth
Apr 6 at 22:59
add a comment |
Comments are not for extended discussion; this conversation has been moved to chat.
– ColleenV♦
Apr 8 at 17:24