Printable View
Hello.
I have this line, 'A flake is someone who says they will do something but then they decide not to do it'
I thought 'they' means 'he' or 'she'. And if that correct then it must have been, they (he or she) decides.
Could you please, elaborate.
Thanks, Alex.
Yes, it's an impersonal usage of they instead of "one" (he or she if the gender is not stated). And because the gender may not be important or may be unknown you may use they and stick to the third person plural.
Hope it helps.
CAUTION: NOT A TEACHER
(1) You have touched a very sensitive nerve in many people.
(2) For many centuries, "he" referred to males and females.
(a) So everyone accepted: A flake is someone who says he will do something ....
(3) Then in the 1960's, the whole world started to change. Women, children, old people, racial groups, etc., demanded equality.
(a) A few (a very few!) women were even angered by the word "history"!!!
(4) So today we can say/write
A flake is someone who says she or he ....
A flake is someone who says s/he ....
A flake is someone who says they ....
Flakes are people who say they ....
For older people like me, the third choice is horrible and outrageous. But it seems to be the accepted form. And , as you know, language is very democratic. If most people decide to say something, then that becomes the "correct" form.
P.S. Of course, "A flake is someone who says he ...." is still correct, but most
people who want to use it are afraid. They do not want to be criticized by their
friends and colleagues. In fact, if you used it at your business, you would probably get
a reminder from the boss that it is no longer acceptable.
Thank you, very much for your answers!
Especially, TheParser. I never realized that both sexes were called he not too long ago! :shock: :up:
I just wanted to know which would be the right in that example, they decide or they decides?
I am asking you that because it seems that I saw an example like they does sth. May be even somewhere on this forum.
Thanks, Alex.
Quote:
Originally Posted by AlexAD
CAUTION: NOT A TEACHER
(1) I am 99.99% sure that "they decideS" and "They DOES" are still considered
horrible and outrageous English.
(2) You will hear it sometimes in certain kinds of music (I am afraid to
be more exact) and you may hear some characters in motion pictures speak
that way, but please -- please! -- never, ever speak like that. If you do, everyone
will lose all respect for you.
Women have never been referred to as "he". What Parser was saying was that if the sex wasn't known, "he" would be used, and that that would include women as well. If the sex of a person was known, and if she was a woman, we would never use "he".Quote:
Originally Posted by AlexAD
"A student must submit his assignment on time". This would include women. But this sentence would not have been used at an all-girl school, for example.
Perhaps you may feel it is less of a "horrible" mistake if you read that "they" has been used for a singular reference as far back as Shakespeare.
Thanks, Raymott for bringing my attention to that misleading of mine.