Understanding Singular and Plural Pronouns in English Grammar
In English grammar, certain pronouns like everybody and everyone are technically singular but are often treated as plural in everyday usage. This is particularly evident when forming question tags. For example:
Everybody can't come in first, can they?
Everyone cheered wildly, didn't they?
These examples show how they is used to refer back to singular pronouns like everybody and everyone, treating them as plural for the purpose of agreement.
None of: A Special Case
When using none of followed by a plural noun, the pronoun is also treated as plural. For instance:
None of the workmen arrived on time, did they?
Here, they is used to refer to none of the workmen, treating the phrase as plural.
Using "We" and "They" with "Some of Us"
The pronoun we is used in question tags when the speaker includes themselves in the group referred to by some of us. For example:
Some of us wanted to stay longer, didn't we?
However, if the speaker excludes themselves, they is used instead:
On the return journey, some of us lost the way, didn't they?
Similarly, when addressing a group directly, you is used:
Some of you are learning Russian, aren't you?
Tip: Always consider the context and the speaker's inclusion or exclusion when choosing between we and they in question tags.
Understanding these nuances in pronoun usage is essential for mastering English grammar. Whether you're writing or speaking, paying attention to these details will make your communication clearer and more precise.
Keywords: English grammar, singular pronouns, plural pronouns, everybody, everyone, none of, some of us, question tags, they, we, you
COMMENTS