correct pronoun with 'generation'

[Noot]

Hi, could you please confirm whether the following sentence is correct.

"The older generation is provided with an income by its children."

Thanks

 

[teechar]

The older generation are provided with an income by their children.
;-)

 

[konungursvia]

Hi, could you please confirm whether the following sentence is correct.

"The older generation is provided with an income by its children."

Thanks

Yes, it is perfectly correct. Many people, however, especially speakers of BrE, will prefer the collective noun plural as given by the other teacher. I personally do not.

 

[emsr2d2]

I would use "generation is" (BrE).

 

[Tdol]

I would use "generation is" (BrE).

Would you still use their?

 

[emsr2d2]

I would (I think!)

 

[bhaisahab]

"The older generation are provided with an income by their children." I would say this, if it were factually correct. (It isn't)

 

[Noot]

Thanks all for your replies. I tend to agree with the last reply that the pronoun should agree with the verb, but I don't know if there's any rule about that (if anyone knows of one I'd appreciate a tip). In other words, it seems to me that 'is' should be followed by 'its' and 'are' by 'their' but I wasn't sure which couple should follow 'generation' (By the way, the content of the sentence refers to a non-Western culture in which children are traditionally responsible for their parents' welfare).

 

[Tdol]

As a general rule, pronouns and verbs should agree by number, but there is a bit of a grey area with things like they/them when used as a genderless pronoun. In this case, I would use are/their, but don't mind is/their, and is/its is fine too.

 

[Noot]

Thank-you

 

[Rover_KE]

Thank you.

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