they (plural) does not agree in number with
anyone (singular). This usage is nevertheless very common .
•
Make all the forms plural:
Good doctors listen carefully to their patients.
Those who want to join should give their name to the secretary.
•
Design the sentence in such a way that a personal pronoun is not needed. For example, instead of saying ‘If
anyone wants to go now, he may do so’, just say ‘Anyone who wants to go now may do so.’
•
Use
he or she, his or her, etc: A good doctor listens carefully to his or her patients.
This alternative is found in formal writing, and so is the use of
he/she, his/her, s/he, etc. However, they are generally
felt to produce awkward and unnatural sentences, especially when they are repeated, as in: If a doctor listens to his
or her patients, he or she will be in a better position to help them.
hear 1
They all sat down and heard my
story.
They all sat down and listened to my story. like hearing tapes and watching English films.
I like listening to tapes and watching English films. listen (to) = hear and pay attention (to): ‘He listened carefully to every word I said.’ Compare: ‘I could hear two people talking but I didn’t listen to what they were saying.’ 2
See LOOK FORWARD TO 2 heavy Her car was involved in a heavy accident.
Her car was involved in a serious accident. All the prisoners had committed heavy crimes.
All the prisoners had committed serious crimes. a serious accident/crime/illness etc (NOT heavy ) height She is a medium-height smartly-dressed woman.
