Algemeen you, one, we en enkelvoudig they
Generic you, one, we and singular they
De regel
Voor mensen in het algemeen gebruikt het Engels you (het gewoonst), one (formeel, wat ouderwets), we (mensen inclusief de spreker), they (de instanties of men) en de lijdende vorm. Houd one consequent: one’s, oneself. they, them, their verwijzen ook naar één persoon van onbekend geslacht: If anyone calls, tell them I’m out; Each student must bring their own laptop. Dit enkelvoudige they krijgt een meervoudig werkwoord en is gewoon in modern Brits Engels.
people in general: you (common) · one / one’s / oneself (formal) · we (including me) · they (authorities, people) · passive · one person, gender unknown: they / them / their / themselves + plural verb
Voorbeelden
You never know what might happen on a long journey.
Je weet nooit wat er op een lange reis kan gebeuren.
One should always read the contract before signing it.
Men moet het contract altijd lezen voordat men tekent.
If a customer calls, ask them to leave a number.
Als er een klant belt, vraag dan of die een nummer achterlaat.
Someone has left their keys on the table.
Iemand heeft zijn sleutels op tafel laten liggen.
Veelgemaakte fouten
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Fout: One must look after your health.
Goed: One must look after one’s health.
Meng one niet met your.
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Fout: Each applicant must bring his CV.
Goed: Each applicant must bring their CV.
Voor iemand van onbekend geslacht gebruikt modern Engels their.
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Fout: Somebody left their coat, didn’t he?
Goed: Somebody left their coat, didn’t they?
De tag na somebody gebruikt they.
Oefenvragen
Probeer elke vraag eerst zelf en open dan „Toon antwoord” voor de oplossing en de reden.
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1Vul het gat in.
If anyone asks for me, tell _____ I’ll be back at two.
- it
- them
- their
- they
Toon antwoord
Antwoord: B If anyone asks for me, tell them I’ll be back at two.
Voorwerpsvorm van enkelvoudig they: them.
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2Kies de juiste zin.
- Everyone has they own opinion about it.
- Everyone has their own opinion about it.
- Everyone have their own opinion about it.
- Everyone has there own opinion about it.
Toon antwoord
Antwoord: B Everyone has their own opinion about it.
everyone + enkelvoudig werkwoord, dan their.
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3Kies de juiste zin.
Naar wie verwijst you?
You can’t smoke anywhere in the station.
- The station staff
- People in general
- Only the listener
- The speaker
Toon antwoord
Antwoord: B People in general
Algemeen you = iedereen.
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4Deze zin klopt niet. Kies de verbetering.
One should always keep your promises.
- One should always keep their promise’s.
- One should always keep ones promises.
- One should always keeps one’s promises.
- One should always keep one’s promises.
Toon antwoord
Antwoord: D One should always keep one’s promises.
Blijf consequent: one … one’s.
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5Verander de zin.
Maak het genderneutraal.
Every guest must show his ticket at the door.
- Every guest must show they ticket at the door.
- Every guest must show theirs ticket at the door.
- Every guest must show there ticket at the door.
- Every guest must show their ticket at the door.
Toon antwoord
Antwoord: D Every guest must show their ticket at the door.
Enkelvoudig their voor iemand van onbekend geslacht.
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6Kies de juiste zin.
Wat is het formeelst?
Giving general advice.
- Check the facts first, yeah?
- We should all check facts, like.
- One ought to check the facts before commenting.
- You should check the facts first, really.
Toon antwoord
Antwoord: C One ought to check the facts before commenting.
Algemeen one is formeel.
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7Zet de woorden in de juiste volgorde.
Someone has left their phone in the kitchen
Toon antwoord
Antwoord: Someone has left their phone in the kitchen.
someone … their.
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8Kies de juiste zin.
- If a student is ill, they should emails the office.
- If a student is ill, it should email the office.
- If a student is ill, they should email the office.
- If a student is ill, he or she should email to the office.
Toon antwoord
Antwoord: C If a student is ill, they should email the office.
Enkelvoudig they + meervoudige werkwoordsvorm.
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9Kies de juiste zin.
Wie zijn they?
They say the new bridge will open in June.
- The bridge builders only
- People in general, or the authorities
- The listener’s family
- A specific group the speaker named
Toon antwoord
Antwoord: B People in general, or the authorities
Algemeen they = men, de instanties.
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10Vul het gat in.
Somebody left their umbrella here, didn’t _____?
- somebody
- they
- it
- he
Toon antwoord
Antwoord: B Somebody left their umbrella here, didn’t they?
De tag na somebody is they.
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