释义 |
theythey /ðeɪ/ ●●● S1 W1 pronoun [used as the subject of a verb] ![](img/spkr_b.png) theyOrigin: 1100-1200 Old Norse their - "Naranjas" is what they call oranges in Spain.
- They sell the best coffee in town.
- Sara and Michael said they won't be able to come.
- You can tell if someone is really interested in buying a car by the questions they ask.
► anyone ... they· If anyone doesn’t like it, they can leave. ► a friend ... them· When a friend upsets you, do you tell them? ► Someone ... their· Someone has left their coat behind. ► people ... they· If people don’t like it, they can leave. ► friends ... them· When friends upset you, do you tell them? ► treat somebody/something with the contempt they deserve· She treated these accusations with the contempt they deserved. ► they make a lovely couple (=look very attractive together/suit each other well)· You two would make a lovely couple. ► So they say ‘Has he lost a fortune?’ ‘So they say.’ ► such as it is/such as they are etc We will look at the evidence, such as it is, for each of these theories. ► they say/think etc- Black children from middle-class or affluent families, they say, are more apt to adopt what is commonly called black slang.
- But the president essentially endorsed Rumsfeld's approach, they said.
- Employers' groups welcomed the reforms, though they said more are necessary to encourage employers to take on permanent staff.
- Goodness only knows what makes them tick, or why they thought they could get away with it here.
- I thanked them for praying for me and seeing me now, hoped they thought their efforts worthwhile.
- Light a match, they say, and flames flicker over it like brandy on a Christmas pudding.
- She asked them why; they said it was because they had information that the two children had been sexually abused.
- These others stand on something they said.
► as nice/as stupid etc as they come► don’t count your chickens (before they’re hatched)- Getting an Oscar would be wonderful, but I think it's too early to count my chickens.
- If you want to go on a date sometime, you can ask me. But don't count your chickens.
- You'll probably get the job, but don't count your chickens just yet.
► somebody can dish it out but they can’t take it► hit somebody when they are down► give somebody an inch and they’ll take a yard/mile► isn’t she just/aren’t they just etc► kick somebody when they are down- The newspapers cannot resist kicking a man when he is down.
► you name it (they’ve got it)!► there I was/there they were etc► there it is/there they are etc► that’s what you/they etc think! 1used to refer to two or more people or things that have already been mentioned or are already known about: Bob and Sue said they wouldn’t be able to come. Ken gave me some flowers. Aren’t they beautiful? They all want to come to the wedding.2they say/think etc used to state what people in general say or think: They say it’s bad luck to spill salt.3spoken used to refer to a particular organization or group of people: Where are they going to build the new highway? They’re going to take an X-ray.4used when talking about someone who may be male or female, to avoid saying ‘he or she’: If anyone has any information related to the crime, will they please contact the police. Every child, whoever they are, deserves to have a mum and a dad.USAGE: They, them, their• If you want to talk in general about someone, and you do not want to say if the person is male or female, you often use they, them, or their: · If anyone doesn’t like it, they can leave.· When a friend upsets you, do you tell them?· Someone has left their coat behind.• People do this in order to avoid suggesting that the person can only be male, or to avoid using longer expressions such as 'he or she', 'him or her'.• This use is acceptable and very common in spoken English, and is becoming more acceptable in writing as well.• However, some people consider this use to be incorrect. You can sometimes avoid the problem by making the subject plural: · If people don’t like it, they can leave.· When friends upset you, do you tell them?• In the past, people used to use 'he' to refer to men or women, but most people now avoid doing this. |