| Unit
Two |
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The following are the three kinds of person
in English. Each may be either singular or plural in
number.
| |
Singular
(number) |
Plural
(number) |
| First person |
I |
we |
| Second person |
you |
you |
| Third person |
he, she, it |
they |
| |
one |
ones |
| |
anybody, anyone,
anything |
all |
| |
somebody,
someone, something |
all |
| |
nobody, no one,
nothing |
all |
If you begin writing, for example, in the third person singular
number, using he,
continue with the same third person singular number,
he,
throughout. Do not shift suddenly to second person
you or third person plural they.
Be
consistent in person and
number. Do not shift from one
person or number to another
person or number for no
reason.
|
Examples:
- When one [third person singular]
makes a promise, you [second person singular]
should keep it.
The sentence is faulty. There
is a shift from third person singular to second
person singular. One does not agree with
you.
Revise
the sentence as
- When you [second person singular]
make a promise, you [second person singular]
should keep it.
The
following sentence is faulty:
- You
[second person singular]
must always give thanks for what one
[third person singular]
has.
Second person singular
shifts to third person singular. You does not agree with one. Revise the sentence as
- One [third person singular]
must always give thanks for what one [third person singular]
has.
In
the next sentence,
- Although we [first person plural]
had every intention of finishing the work on time, you
[second person plural]
could not help falling behind.
there is an unnecessary shift
from first person plural we to second person plural
you. Correct the sentence
by using second person we throughout:
- Although we
[first person plural]
had every intention of finishing the work on time, we
[third person singular]
could not help falling behind.
Next to Agreement in Person and Number
1: Test Yourself
Back to Pronoun Agreement: Exercise
4
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