someone vs them
Here are two sentances - received in my correction mail context - which have something in common, including my surprise everytime I meet this amazing shift from singular to plural form.
"I am bound to get in trouble if the teacher comes in and sees me smoking..... In this sentence, the speaker speculates that they will be punished if the teacher discovers them smoking."
Is the speaker smoking alone or with his band? Why not " The speaker speculates that he will be punished if the teacher discovers him smoking"?
What about this one?
"We say 'to play a joke on someone' to express the action of teasing or joking around with them."
If I play a joke on someone, I play it on him/her, I maybe don't take the risk of playing a joke on them all!
I am wondering about this rule which makes an idiom expressed in a singular form (someone) coming to a plural form (them) in a general sentance.
Am I clear? Does anyone understand my trouble? Thanks for your help.
(CW)
Posts: 2715
7 Dec. 2010