Any problem to say "His occupation is an insurance agent."?

[JoanneWang]

Hi, teachers. Which answer should i use?

Q: What is John's occupation?

A: 1. "He is an insurance agent."

A: 2. "His occupation is an insurance agent."

I know that the first answer is definitely right. But somebody told me that the second was not quite right. I can not see any difference between the two. Teachers, please help.

From learner Joanne

[billmcd]

Hi, teachers. Which answer should i use?

Q: What is John's occupation?

A: 1. "He is an insurance agent."

A: 2. "His occupation is an insurance agent."

I know that the first answer is definitely right. But somebody told me that the second was not quite right. I can not see any difference between the two. Teachers, please help.

From learner Joanne

You would probably hear #1 more often but both are OK.

[JoanneWang]

Hi, teachers. Do i have to say "His occupation is selling insurance." so that the sentence is perfectly right?

From learner Joanne

[RonBee]

A: What is his occupation?

B: He is an insurance agent.

or

He sells insurance.

_______________________


Others are possible.

[birdeen's call]

What about

His occupation is insurance agent.

without "an"?

[The Dude]

RonBee has given you the best alternatives. Your latest option (His occupation is selling insurance) is grammatically correct, but we would not repeat so much of the question in the answer.

As RonBee says, there will be other ways of saying the same thing, but none will be as natural to us.

Birdeen, if you really want to use the words 'His occupation' AND 'insurance agent' you'll have to link them thus: 'His occupation is that of an insurance agent'. This would only be used formally, in prose, and not in answer to the original question because of the repetition.

[BobK]

You would probably hear #1 more often but both are OK.

He is not his occupation. I don't see what makes 2 OK.

b

[5jj]

He is not his occupation. I don't see what makes 2 OK.

My feeling too.

[BobK]

People do say this sort of thing - I'm reminded of the lyric 'If a tinker were my trade...'. But in many cover versions - including mine in a former life - it becomes 'If a tinker's were my trade...'.

b

[billmcd]

What about

His occupation is insurance agent.

without "an"?

Yes, I think it makes #2 more acceptable.