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river1974
Joined: 20 May 2003 Posts: 525 Location: Taiwan
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Posted: Fri Apr 15, 2005 11:23 pm Post subject: anyone |
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Dear teachers:
Does anyone lose their temper?
The above is from the material of my cram school. Shouldn't it be "Does anyone lose his temper?" Thanks. |
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coffeedecafe
Joined: 02 Mar 2004 Posts: 140 Location: michigan,usa
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Posted: Sat Apr 16, 2005 12:10 am Post subject: |
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i suppose a singular 'anyone' could lose a plural 'their' temper if theyactually lost that temper more than once.
it is far easier to lose your own temper than the temper of someone else. if you provoke, offend, or tease someone you may help him to lose his temper, but he must really lose it on his own, don't you think? _________________ coffeedecafe |
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asterix
Joined: 26 Jan 2003 Posts: 1654
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Posted: Sat Apr 16, 2005 6:33 am Post subject: |
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You will hear, Does anyone lose their temper quite often in everyday speech but it is grammatically incorrect.
People incorrectly use their sometimes because of ignorance, but increasingly, because of the watchdogs for political correctness, who cannot bear to see a masculine pronoun used where there is a chance it might include a woman.
It should be:- Does anyone lose his temper? |
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Bob S.

Joined: 29 Apr 2004 Posts: 1767 Location: So. Cal
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Posted: Sat Apr 16, 2005 8:40 am Post subject: |
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asterix wrote: |
You will hear, Does anyone lose their temper quite often in everyday speech but it is grammatically incorrect. |
and sounds less wordy than the politically and gramatically correct Does anyone lose his or her temper? |
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river1974
Joined: 20 May 2003 Posts: 525 Location: Taiwan
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Posted: Sat Apr 16, 2005 8:35 pm Post subject: |
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Thanks all of you. I've never related English to sexual issues before. This is quite interesting. |
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