Answers - Choose the best option to complete the sentences below so that they express generic reference.

1

They like beer a lot in England.

Correct answer: They
➪ In this sentence we use they because we are referring to the people in England.
➪ We often use they to refer to people in general or a more specific group of people that does not include the speaker or hearer, such as people in a country, city, place, or authorities, police, etc.

2Reading can help to expand your imagination.

Correct answer: your
➪ In this sentence we are talking about people in general including the speaker and hearer.
➪ We cannot use their because it does not include the speaker and hearer.
➪ We cannot use one because we need a possessive form. We could say, one's imagination.

3We can never be sure whether our perceptions are correct.

Correct answer: We
➪ We need to use we (first person plural) because we say 'our perceptions' later in the sentence. It is important that we keep consistency throughout the text; if we use our we need to use we.

4It is very difficult to put oneself in somebody else's shoes.

Correct answer: oneself
➪ We can use one as a generic pronoun, to mean people in general, including the speaker and the hearer. One, you, we can be used as subject or object, or and they are often used in their reflexive form (oneself, yourself, ourselves).
➪ We cannot use myself or himself because they are not generic pronouns.

5Every person should be held responsible for their own actions.

Correct answer: their
➪ Every person is singular; it means 'he or she' (individual generic person).
➪ In informal English, we use they, them or their to refer to one generic person who could be male or female. This use is considered incorrect by many grammarians, but it is very common, even in written language.

6If someone calls, tell them I'll be back in an hour.

Correct answer: them
➪ Someone is singular; it means ‘he or she’ (individual generic person).
➪ In informal English, we use they, them or their to refer to one generic person who could be male or female. This use is considered incorrect by many grammarians, but it is very common, even in written language.

7In a place like this, you never know where danger could come from.

Correct answer: you
➪ We use you because we mean people in general, including the speaker and hearer.
➪ We cannot use he or she  because we are not talking about one person.
➪ We cannot use they because we mean all people, including the speaker and hearer, and they mean certain group of people, not including the speaker and hearer.

8One must think of oneself in certain situations.

Correct answer: oneself
➪ We need to use oneself to keep consistency with one.

9I don't believe anyone when they tell me how good they are at something.

Correct answer: they/they
➪ Anyone is a singular word.
➪ In informal English, we use they, them or their to refer to a singular generic person who could be male or female. This use is considered incorrect by many grammarians, but it is very common, even in written language.

10They have opened a new restaurant in the town centre.

Correct answer: They
➪ The people who have opened the restaurant do not include the speaker or the hearer.
➪ We often use they to refer to people in general or a more specific group of people that does not include the speaker or the hearer.