If I write "quarters" (as in LIVING quarters), is it followed by IT or THEM in the following sentence?
"The quarters may have officially belonged to Admiral Wilcox, but already Ben had made ________ his home."
I know quarters is a singular noun in this context, but does it act as a plural in other terms?
2007-09-25 08:26:25 · 9 answers · asked by uncletoon2005 3 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Books & Authors
*EDIT*
I think it's funny because I too am a writer. The dilemma I'm having is that one sounds right, but the other is grammatically correct. How do I pick between the two? Post your thoughts and, if possible, your justification.
If after all is said and done, no one has given a hard and fast rule, I will simply tally the results and go with the majority.
2007-09-25 08:40:58 · update #1
"It"or would be the answer. Since the subject is a living space or room, not a human being. Also, quarters is not supposed to be plural, it should be singular, since it only refer to one space not multiple space. e.g...
"The living quarter may have officially belonged to Admiral Wilcox, however; Ben had made it his home."
You should notice also that "quarters" can be referred to as one building, since it is in a military sense, a quarters usually refers to one building as it is a "living quarters". This refer also to building with "a building" with multiple rooms.
2007-09-25 08:42:01 · answer #1 · answered by Lord_Benjew 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
it
just because quarters ends with an s doesn't mean its a plural. It's just a word that happens to end with a s. Ot it could be considered a 'collective' which is a word that stands in as a singular word for a plural. Like the word 'crowd'. The crowd was on its feet jeering at the bad call.
Either explanation makes it grammatically correct a well as correct to the ear
2007-09-25 11:20:46 · answer #2 · answered by Ruth C 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I believe it is "it", this doesn't sound right but grammatically speaking I'm sure it is.
2007-09-25 08:32:23 · answer #3 · answered by Emma (: 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
it..since them is plural and quarters is not
2007-09-25 08:30:35 · answer #4 · answered by Miss Rachel 5 · 2⤊ 1⤋
them, quarters is plural
2007-09-25 08:40:54 · answer #5 · answered by Masha L 1 · 0⤊ 2⤋
I say "them." So far, you have two "thems" and to "its."
2007-09-25 08:33:05 · answer #6 · answered by Guitarpicker 7 · 0⤊ 2⤋
them
2007-09-25 08:29:43 · answer #7 · answered by ckphilly 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋
IT
2007-09-25 09:58:11 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
IT
2007-09-25 08:30:42 · answer #9 · answered by yowza 2 · 2⤊ 1⤋