ARGH! singular-plural disagreement.

[Keakealani]

Yesterday in English, we were discussing common grammar errors. Naturally, I didn't have much of a problem with most of the examples, and my teacher therefore disallowed me from answering, to give the other students a chance. (Keep in mind that it's a sophomore class, and I'm a junior). At any rate, one of the examples was singular-plural disagreement, with the following sentence given:

Quote:

Everyone likes their cat.

Of course I'm sure you can easily point out that it should be corrected either as "Everyone likes his or her cat." or "People like their cats." (Later, my mom pointed out that if you were referring to a specific group of people's cat (i.e. "Everyone likes the Smith family's cat", replacing "the Smith family" with "they")

But urgh. It was extremely frustrating.  

[Ame Yuki Kaze]

Yeah, I can see where that'd be frustrating. "People like their cats" would seem to be the best one to use to me.  

[x-Sadistic_Angel-x]

That can be frustrating, as there are a number of different possible ways to answer it. People have great affection for a feline under his or her ownership seems sensible to me.  

[Keakealani]

-Saddistic_Angel-

That can be frustrating, as there are a number of different possible ways to answer it. People have great affection for a feline under his or her ownership seems sensible to me.

Heh, I like that one. Yeah....it's really annoying, because I technically go to one of the best schools in the state, but yet they seem to be nearly illiterate. gonk  

[Cassandra-neko]

Keakealani

-Saddistic_Angel-

That can be frustrating, as there are a number of different possible ways to answer it. People have great affection for a feline under his or her ownership seems sensible to me.

Heh, I like that one. Yeah....it's really annoying, because I technically go to one of the best schools in the state, but yet they seem to be nearly illiterate. gonk

I know the feeling.. The high school I went to was supposed to be one of the best high schools (I graduated in '05), the only "A" school in my county (I am in FCAT territory so they grade schools based on their scores), and many of the people I encountered there were quite scary when it came to writing and speaking. Though the FCAT is so bloody easy I don't see how anyone is failing that silly thing. stare  

[DarkElf27]

Keakealani

-Saddistic_Angel-

That can be frustrating, as there are a number of different possible ways to answer it. People have great affection for a feline under his or her ownership seems sensible to me.

Heh, I like that one. Yeah....it's really annoying, because I technically go to one of the best schools in the state, but yet they seem to be nearly illiterate. gonk

This is the first time I noticed that we have a mod in our guild. o.o  

[Ithaya]

'Everyone likes their cat' should be acceptable if it is, like you said, referring to a certain group of people. You shouldn't have to replace the 'their'.