spanish-is family singular?
How do you say "Do you live with your family?" But I'm talking in ustedes form.
Do I say, "¿viven con su familia?" or "¿viven con sus familias?"
4 Answers
Viven con su familia - Two or more people living with the same family.
Viven con sus familias - Two or more people living each one with their own family.
You can use both, it will depend on what you are saying.
¿Viven con su familia?"
Asking two or more members of the same family if they live with their family.
"¿Viven con sus familias?"
Asking if two unrelated people if each lives with his family.
Family is singular if you are talking about one family. It is plural if you are talking about multiple families.
I'm confused on whether you want to direct the question to one person or to more than one person.
¿Vives con tu familia? Do you live with your family?
¿Viven con su familia? Do you (all) live with your family?
¿Viven con sus familias? Do you (all) live with your families?
The first directs the question to one person about just their family. The second question directs the question to more than one person about just one family (implying they come from the same family). The third also directs the question to more than one person, but is asking about multiple families (implying those being questioned have different families).
¿Viven ustedes con su familia? Sí, y mi familia vive en Monterey.
Do you live with your family. Yes, and my family lives in Monterey.
If however you are talking to several unrelated people you could use sus familias.
¿Viven ustedes con sus familias? Sí, y nuestras familias viven en Monterey.
Do you (people) live with your families? Yes, and our families live in Monterey.
