[Grammar] everybody/everyone + pronoun

[oboeteru]

Just a little matter...

Everyone has his/her/their own problems.
Everybody has his/her/their own problems.

As far as I know both everyone and everybody are singular so... I'm not convinced that I can use their in such a case.
On the other hand, I don't think it's correct to use his or her for boys&girls together.
However, one of them should be right :lol:. I don't have any idea, so please, someone help me.

And here appears someone :shock:. Like...

Someone has/(have?) left her/his/their door opened.

Woah... that's a hard nut to crack for me!

 

[engee30]

Just a little matter...

Everyone has his/her/their own problems.
Everybody has his/her/their own problems.

As far as I know both everyone and everybody are singular so... I'm not convinced that I can use their in such a case.
On the other hand, I don't think it's correct to use his or her for boys&girls together.
However, one of them should be right :lol:. I don't have any idea, so please, someone help me.

And here appears someone :shock:. Like...

Someone has/(have?) left her/his/their door opened.

Woah... that's a hard nut to crack for me!

♥♦♣♠ NOT A TEACHER ♥♦♣♠
Try to stick to the rule saying that you use they/them/their referring back to everyone/everybody/someone/somebody/anyone/anybody, and you won't be lost in most cases.

 

[5jj]

If you know that you are talking about one of a group of all males or all females, then you can use his or her as appropriate. In all other cases, use 'their'. This was once considered incorrect, but is now generally accepted.

In all cases, the verb is singular.

 

[Soup]

Hello oboeteru,

There's also the option of rewriting or rephrasing the sentence, for example,

• Everyone has [STRIKE]his/her/their own[/STRIKE] problems.
• Everybody has [STRIKE]his/her/their own[/STRIKE] problems.
• Someone has left [STRIKE]her/his/their[/STRIKE] the door open.