[Grammar] their age or their ages?

[RobertT]

I often come across phrases like...

1. "women their age"
2. "their face"
3. "give their phone number"...

"their" is often paired with a singular noun

Are they correct grammatically? Or are these the right ones...

a. "women their ages"
b. "their faces"
c. "give their phone numbers"

Does phrase 1 imply that the women are all of the same age? If they are not, is the phrase correct?

Thanks in advance for explaining

 

[Koronas]

Your versions a, b, c, are correct. "Their" generally refers to a plural. You could refer to "their age" if you knew they were twins or of the same age.

However, "their" is used frequently in the singular case when the gender is uncertain. "He asked each person in the crowd their age/ their phone number."

 

[RobertT]

Your versions a, b, c, are correct. "Their" generally refers to a plural. You could refer to "their age" if you knew they were twins or of the same age.

However, "their" is used frequently in the singular case when the gender is uncertain. "He asked each person in the crowd their age/ their phone number."

On a related note, is it correct to use the plural form of a noun for indeterminate number?

 

[Koronas]

Please provide an example.

 

[RobertT]

Please provide an example.

To express generality...

Cars are driven on roads. or

A car is driven on a road. or

A car is driven on roads. or

Cars are driven on a road.

 

[Koronas]

Those are all correct. The first is most commonly heard.

 

[RobertT]

Those are all correct. The first is most commonly heard.

Thanks Koronas for your answers.

Cheers :up: