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+--- Thread: is the word "everyone" a singular or plural (/Thread-is-the-word-everyone-a-singular-or-plural)
is the word "everyone" a singular or plural - evoamac - 10-17-2012
on instantcert.com, one of the exercises says the following:
Detailed Explanation:
Let's look at the answer choices:
choice (b) is wrong. "know" refers to "everyone", which is a plural noun, and requires a plural verb.
choice © is wrong. "company" is a generic word, so it doesn't need to be capitalized. It's only capitalized if it's part of a name; i.e. "Ford Motor Company" choice (d) is the correct answer. "president of the company" is a job title, and doesn't need to be capitalized unless it includes the person's name.
my question is that I thought the word "everyone" is a singular noun, example: we say "is everyone here?" instead of "are everyone here?"
your thoughts?
is the word "everyone" a singular or plural - LaceyLady - 10-17-2012
My understanding is that "everyone" is a singular pronoun. Everyone means every individual and therefore is singular.
is the word "everyone" a singular or plural - LaterBloomer - 10-17-2012
Singular. And, since I have to use 100 characters, can folks still stop using "their" when they mean "his or her" or "he or she?"
is the word "everyone" a singular or plural - evoamac - 10-17-2012
ya, that's what i thought. So InstantCert.com was WRONG on this?
is the word "everyone" a singular or plural - LaceyLady - 10-17-2012
LaterBloomer Wrote:Singular. And, since I have to use 100 characters, can folks still stop using "their" when they mean "his or her" or "he or she?"
Yes, I agree, and I could go on and on about frequently used grammar errors! But I sometimes knowingly do that mistake myself, when I get tired of having to repeat "his or her".
is the word "everyone" a singular or plural - OE800_85 - 10-18-2012
In British English it could be considered plural in some cases. Perhaps that's where the confusion arises.
Grammar Girl : Everybody: Singular or Plural :: Quick and Dirty Tips â¢
is the word "everyone" a singular or plural - LaterBloomer - 10-18-2012
Laceylady, please I make enough gramatical and spelling errors (and typographical ones, too) to fill a book. What gets me is when professionally published works have the gramatical errors. I think that most of the grammar I've learned is simply from absorbing well-edited books. Don't get me wrong. I'm not talking great works of art. Harlequin Romances. Now, not only are the stories light-weight, but the editing is non-existent. Unfortunately, I'm now absorbing the bad, too.
is the word "everyone" a singular or plural - SuZQ2 - 10-18-2012
Since I'm right in the middle of dealing with this subject, I thought I'd chime in...
"The following words, known as 'indefinite pronouns' always take singular verbs: one, anyone, everyone, someone, nobody, anybody, everybody, somebody, nothing, anything, everything, something, each, either, neither. 'Both' always takes a plural verb" (Langan 495).
Langan, John. College Writing Skills. 7th ed. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2008. Print.
Hope this helps!
is the word "everyone" a singular or plural - LaceyLady - 10-22-2012
LaterBloomer Wrote:Laceylady, please I make enough gramatical and spelling errors (and typographical ones, too) to fill a book. What gets me is when professionally published works have the gramatical errors. I think that most of the grammar I've learned is simply from absorbing well-edited books. Don't get me wrong. I'm not talking great works of art. Harlequin Romances. Now, not only are the stories light-weight, but the editing is non-existent. Unfortunately, I'm now absorbing the bad, too.
LaterBloomer, I was agreeing with you. We all make grammar and spelling errors frequently and I certainly make my share of them. I wouldn't expect forum posts or emails to be completely grammatically correct, but in published, "edited" writing I would expect better. I agree, the grammar in professionally published books and magazines can be disappointing.
is the word "everyone" a singular or plural - bluebooger - 10-29-2012
Grammar Girl says ...
Grammar Girl : Everybody: Singular or Plural :: Quick and Dirty Tips â¢