Table of Contents
Introduction
One common question that often confuses English learners and native speakers alike revolves around the usage of “everyone” and its accompanying verb form. Do we say “Everyone like…” or “Everyone likes…”?
Let’s explore this linguistic problem to unveil the correct usage and shed light on the underlying principles of subject-verb agreement.
Everyone Like Or Likes? The Confusion Unveiled
The problem lies in understanding the grammatical function of “everyone” as an indefinite pronoun. While it may seem intuitive to treat “everyone” as a plural entity encompassing multiple individuals, the truth is more nuanced.
Singular Sensibility
Contrary to initial impressions, “everyone” and its counterpart “everybody” function as singular pronouns in English grammar. Despite referring to a multitude of people, these indefinite pronouns are treated as singular entities, thus necessitating agreement with singular verbs.
Everyone Like Or Likes: The Rule of Thumb
When faced with a sentence featuring “everyone” or “everybody” as the subject, the guiding principle is to pair them with a singular verb form. Hence, the correct construction is “Everyone likes…” rather than “Everyone like…”
Here are more examples:
- Everyone cheers when the team scores the winning goal.
- Everybody laughs at the joke the comedian tells.
- Everyone has a role to play in the success of the project.
- Everybody has their own unique talents and strengths to contribute to the team.
- Everyone dances to the music at the party.
- Everybody participates in the charity event by donating.
Collective Nouns: Contextual Clarification
It’s crucial to recognize that the singular form of “everyone” aligns with its function as a collective noun representing an entire group or community. Whether addressing a room full of people or a global audience, the singular verb “likes” underscores the unified sentiment or action attributed to the collective entity.
Note:
A collective noun serves as the label for a gathering of people or objects, like “family,” “class,” “pack,” “bouquet,” “pair,” and “flock.” Typically, collective nouns are treated as singular entities and thus paired with singular verbs.
Consistency is Key
Maintaining consistency in subject-verb agreement is paramount for clarity and coherence in communication. Just as we wouldn’t say “He like…” or “She walk…”, adhering to the appropriate verb form ensures grammatical accuracy and linguistic precision.
Conclusion
Despite seeming plural, “everyone” functions as a singular pronoun, agreeing with singular verbs.