Should I say “they're my brother and sister” or “that's my brother and sister”?
This is the direct translation of a sentence in Mandarin. I feel that it is more natural to say "that's my brother and sister", in English. Am I wrong?
singular-vs-plural relative-pronouns compound-subjects
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Jasper
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This is the direct translation of a sentence in Mandarin. I feel that it is more natural to say "that's my brother and sister", in English. Am I wrong?
singular-vs-plural relative-pronouns compound-subjects
edited yesterday
Jasper
19.1k43771
migrated from english.stackexchange.com yesterday
This question came from our site for linguists, etymologists, and serious English language enthusiasts.
add a comment |
This is the direct translation of a sentence in Mandarin. I feel that it is more natural to say "that's my brother and sister", in English. Am I wrong?
singular-vs-plural relative-pronouns compound-subjects
edited yesterday
Jasper
19.1k43771
This is the direct translation of a sentence in Mandarin. I feel that it is more natural to say "that's my brother and sister", in English. Am I wrong?
singular-vs-plural relative-pronouns compound-subjects
singular-vs-plural relative-pronouns compound-subjects
edited yesterday
Jasper
19.1k43771
edited yesterday
Jasper
19.1k43771
edited yesterday
Jasper
19.1k43771
edited yesterday
Jasper
19.1k43771
edited yesterday
Jasper
19.1k43771
19.1k43771
asked yesterday
Natalie
migrated from english.stackexchange.com yesterday
This question came from our site for linguists, etymologists, and serious English language enthusiasts.
migrated from english.stackexchange.com yesterday
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1 Answer
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Both sentences are fine—but context will determine which is more appropriate.
For instance:
"Who are those two people?"
"They're my brother and sister.
Here, you are answering a question.
But:
I pointed at the two of them and said, "That's my brother and sister."
Here, you are describing something you've introduced yourself in a demonstrative way.
answered yesterday
Jason BassfordJason Bassford
16.6k22238
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1 Answer
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1 Answer
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Both sentences are fine—but context will determine which is more appropriate.
For instance:
"Who are those two people?"
"They're my brother and sister.
Here, you are answering a question.
But:
I pointed at the two of them and said, "That's my brother and sister."
Here, you are describing something you've introduced yourself in a demonstrative way.
answered yesterday
Jason BassfordJason Bassford
16.6k22238
add a comment |
Both sentences are fine—but context will determine which is more appropriate.
For instance:
"Who are those two people?"
"They're my brother and sister.
Here, you are answering a question.
But:
I pointed at the two of them and said, "That's my brother and sister."
Here, you are describing something you've introduced yourself in a demonstrative way.
answered yesterday
Jason BassfordJason Bassford
16.6k22238
add a comment |
Both sentences are fine—but context will determine which is more appropriate.
For instance:
"Who are those two people?"
"They're my brother and sister.
Here, you are answering a question.
But:
I pointed at the two of them and said, "That's my brother and sister."
Here, you are describing something you've introduced yourself in a demonstrative way.
answered yesterday
Jason BassfordJason Bassford
16.6k22238
Both sentences are fine—but context will determine which is more appropriate.
For instance:
"Who are those two people?"
"They're my brother and sister.
Here, you are answering a question.
But:
I pointed at the two of them and said, "That's my brother and sister."
Here, you are describing something you've introduced yourself in a demonstrative way.
answered yesterday
Jason BassfordJason Bassford
16.6k22238
answered yesterday
Jason BassfordJason Bassford
16.6k22238
answered yesterday
Jason BassfordJason Bassford
16.6k22238
answered yesterday
Jason BassfordJason Bassford
16.6k22238
16.6k22238
add a comment |
add a comment |
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