Does everyone play sports every day?

Question

I would like to know which personal pronoun can be used to answer this.

Does everyone play sports every day?

Yes, it does

Yes, he/she does

Thanks, as always.

Answer 1

Yes, we do (if it's a question to us, where "everyone" is the group of us)

Yes, they do (if it's a question to them, where "everyone" is the group of them)

You can use "they" or "we" in your answers but not "it" "he" or "she" - --Mariana--, Oct 24, 2011

Answer 2

Does everyone play sports every day?

Hi Nila, (Greetings from New York to Sevilla),

This is (or can be) actually a very thorny question (and I do not recommend that you pass it on to your students). The problem centers on the use of "every". In traditional English grammar this is equivalent to (and often reenforced by saying "each and every") a singular usage. In current American (and, possibly, British) usage two problems arise: 1) it refers to a "bunch" of people so many speakers want to use a plural form of the verb. (cf. Mariana's response) 2) If, as traditionalists prefer, you interpret it as being singular, Your choices are "he"/"she"/"it". Traditional usage favors "he" when the gender is indeterminate/irrelevant (as in Spanish) but American feminists find this use "sexist". Among the various alternatives suggested (that would appease the feminists, the most popular is to use the (gender neutral) plural ("they").

Yes, then Mariana's answer would be more neutral. As well, I suspected that it could have a problem mainly due to feminists' opinions. In Spain, when you are talking in public a lot of people talk about him and her at the same time. - nila45, Oct 25, 2011

A lot of politicians address to public and talk to women and men in this country. Yes... that is. - nila45, Oct 25, 2011

Answer 3

I knew it.

It is an exercise for ten year old children. And I suspect that the teacher wouldn't write it if she had known the correct answer. This is not the typical exercise for people of that age.

By the way, I admit corrections.

Answer 4

Does everyone play sports every day? (sports can be singular Nila)

Yes, it does - the logical answers is "No, they don't"

Yes, he/she does - This answer is not logical for your question.with everyone,