Ask someone for their opinion and see how easy it is to get a conversation going?
What makes me feel confused is that I don't know why "for their opinion" appears in this sentence. Since "ask someone" is here, I guess it should be "his or her opinion". If using "their" then is should be "opinions". after that.
2007-06-10 16:18:30 · 5 answers · asked by Anonymous in Education & Reference ➔ Words & Wordplay
technically, it should be "his or her." but "their" is more of a conversational form, and would not be considered incorrect in everyday speech.
2007-06-10 16:22:07 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
yes you are right it should be for "his or her opinion" because someone is singular. If it was Ask some people for their opinions and see how easy it is to get a conversation going? it could also be made right.
2007-06-10 16:24:34 · answer #2 · answered by ? 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes. Someone is singular, so it should be his or her, but why not " Ask someone's opinion, and see how easy it is to get a conversation going." Your statement was not a question, neither is this.
2007-06-10 16:38:13 · answer #3 · answered by jelesais2000 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
your explanation is incorrect, though you Are right. the sentence should use His: "Ask someone for HIS (general gender since you don't know who the Someone is.) opinion and see how easy it is to get a conversation going."
explanation for why it should be His, not Their. the agreement is between "someone" and "his/their." Someone is a singular pronoun, therefore it should be His. if you substitute the Someone for Them, the correct agreement would be: "ask Them for Their opinion..." got it? :D
so Someone and His is correct. Them and Their is correct.
2007-06-10 17:11:10 · answer #4 · answered by wat_more_can_i_say? 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
the opinion belongs to the person so their for it is their own opinion this is why their is used.
in correct grammar the word should have an s on it. as people have more than one opinion
2007-06-10 16:35:25 · answer #5 · answered by joe bloggs 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋