Writing Question!!!

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  1. Kenna McHugh profile image92
    Kenna McHughposted 6 years ago

    Is it "We are fortunate to have you in our life." or "We are fortunate to have you in our lives."  Which is more appropriate?

    1. kenneth avery profile image79
      kenneth averyposted 6 years agoin reply to this

      Kenna, use your First  choice, I am no expert, but the We are fortunate to have You is warmer. Just saying.

      1. Kenna McHugh profile image92
        Kenna McHughposted 6 years agoin reply to this

        Thanks, Kenneth!

        1. kenneth avery profile image79
          kenneth averyposted 6 years agoin reply to this

          smile Kenna, anytime. Peace.

    2. robhampton profile image93
      robhamptonposted 6 years agoin reply to this

      Now that's a head scratcher! Haven't read the other comments yet, but going to do that now. Awesome question!

    3. TIMETRAVELER2 profile image85
      TIMETRAVELER2posted 6 years agoin reply to this

      Second one is correct.  The word "our" indicates plural so lives, also plural, would be correct.  I used to be a Language Arts teacher, so am certain about this.

      1. theraggededge profile image96
        theraggededgeposted 6 years agoin reply to this

        Not necessarily, TT2. As Rochelle has already pointed out someone could be referring to their joint life. For example, if they were one of a couple...

        Our lives are happy.

        Our life together is happy.
        Throughout our married life....
        Our family life is rewarding.

        I'd go with the first option, Kenna, but it also depends on the context.

  2. Titia profile image91
    Titiaposted 6 years ago

    I'm probably not the right person to answer this question, because English is not my native language, but when I read those two sentences out loud, to me 'lives' sounds better than 'life'. I think so because 'our' is referring to more people than one. But then... I could be totally wrong smile I'm sure someone will have the right answer.

  3. wilderness profile image94
    wildernessposted 6 years ago

    I agree with Titia.  The "we" and "our" dictate "lives" are both are plural.  But I hated English in school...

  4. lobobrandon profile image90
    lobobrandonposted 6 years ago

    As wilderness points out, they are both plurals and I'd go with lives.

  5. Dan Dildy profile image63
    Dan Dildyposted 6 years ago

    Subject and object are both plural: lives

  6. Rochelle Frank profile image90
    Rochelle Frankposted 6 years ago

    There are instances where it can be used either way.
    If you are using "our" as a collective it can have a singular object
    Our house . . . Our society . . . Our life together . . .
      . . .or if you are speaking as a  reincarnationist or a person with multiple personalities you might say "in my lives as a woman". . .

    https://english.stackexchange.com/quest … al-of-life

    1. Kenna McHugh profile image92
      Kenna McHughposted 6 years agoin reply to this

      First, thank you, everyone!  This is very helpful.  I am leaning toward "life" even though it sounds better as "lives".  But, it is a personal message, so I want to keep it as a collective.

  7. jjkhawaiian profile image70
    jjkhawaiianposted 6 years ago

    We are fortunate to have you in our "life".
     
        Can be used to indicate plural, but written from a singular perspective.
        We and Our = plural
        Life = singular

    We are fortunate to have you in our "lives".

        Suggest more than one person shares the sentiment.
        This "sounds" more appropriate, English-wise.
         We and Our = plural
         Lives = plural

    "I am" fortunate to have you in "my" life.

        Strictly singular reference.

    1. Kenna McHugh profile image92
      Kenna McHughposted 6 years agoin reply to this

      So well explained. Thank you. I went with "lives."

      1. kenneth avery profile image79
        kenneth averyposted 6 years agoin reply to this

        smile At Kenna -- I feel so stupid right now. I was wrong. Forgive me.

        1. Kenna McHugh profile image92
          Kenna McHughposted 6 years agoin reply to this

          No worries. It was a tough question. wink

          1. kenneth avery profile image79
            kenneth averyposted 6 years agoin reply to this

            smile @ Kenna -- thanks so much, but I feel as if I let you down and I find that hard to deal with.

            1. Rochelle Frank profile image90
              Rochelle Frankposted 6 years agoin reply to this

              I think everyone contributed here, Kenneth. In general, and in most cases, singulars and plurals should agree. It seems that English is such a rich language because of the exceptions to "rules". My first instinct was to emphatically say "lives", but then thought that it might depend on context.

              1. kenneth avery profile image79
                kenneth averyposted 6 years agoin reply to this

                smile for you, Rochelle, and . . .you are right. I confess. I have trouble
                with SepERate and SepARate and I get those mixed-up a lot.
                So I just watch my thoughts fo NOT use them. LOL.
                I was honest. I felt bad at  not being able to help Kenna and all of you, my good friends.

                1. jjkhawaiian profile image70
                  jjkhawaiianposted 6 years agoin reply to this

                  Hi Kenneth et al,

                     You did nothing wrong. It would have worked both ways all the same.
                     The English language is a thing to understand and I don't have a vast 
                      library or command of it like my Father did.
                      Talk about feeling stupid. That guy was not human, I tell ya', lol.

                     I'm just glad I could help Kenna!

                     Everyone gets a smile for helping out. That's what is so great about websites and forums like Quora. Everyone pitches in.

                    Stay precious, y;all!

                  1. kenneth avery profile image79
                    kenneth averyposted 6 years agoin reply to this

                    smile at Everyone here!

  8. janshares profile image93
    jansharesposted 6 years ago

    This was interesting, very helpful explanations. What just came to mind for me is that couples usually refer to "building a life together," not " building our lives together." Love the English language.

    1. Kenna McHugh profile image92
      Kenna McHughposted 6 years agoin reply to this

      I thought about that, too. It could be the definition of "life" in this case or all cases.

    2. profile image0
      RTalloniposted 6 years agoin reply to this

      A great discussion going here because these types of questions can give pause for thought.  It's possible that either life or lives would work depending on the entire context but your point re building a life together sums it up well. Yes indeedy, ain't English grand? ;-)

    3. jjkhawaiian profile image70
      jjkhawaiianposted 6 years agoin reply to this

      Janshares, once again an excellent point in context.

         Your example is looking at it from a singular perspective, but with a plural aspect.

      It's so hard at times, not just with spelling and grammar, but context and slang come into play. It's no wonder people have trouble with it.

  9. Rochelle Frank profile image90
    Rochelle Frankposted 6 years ago

    Ken, you help a lot of people. NONE of us can help All. Don’t feel bad. Your intentions were pure.

    1. kenneth avery profile image79
      kenneth averyposted 6 years agoin reply to this

      smile to you, Rochelle. I have been by your writing so much--and I feel that now is the perfect time to tell you. So I have and thank you for being my friend.

      1. Rochelle Frank profile image90
        Rochelle Frankposted 6 years agoin reply to this

        Thanks Kenneth. You have been writing a lot lately.

        1. kenneth avery profile image79
          kenneth averyposted 6 years agoin reply to this

          @ Rochelle . . .thank you for noticing. I take a notion once in a while to just share some memories of my boyhood and hope that I make the next pay-out for I desperately need some "scratch." (Have you ever heard of this term? On the streets in the 1940s, it was considered as Money).
          Anyway, thanks for your wonderful friendship and all of the work that you do.

          1. jjkhawaiian profile image70
            jjkhawaiianposted 6 years agoin reply to this

            Hi Kenneth,

               I checked out your profile and did notice that, my Lord, you do write a lot. As a writer myself (unpublished and rather new) I thought I would introduce myself. I plan to read your articles and get to know your writing.

            It interests me to read other writers. I didn't read as a youngster, or old man for that matter, so I have a lot of catching up to do. Especially if I'm considering myself a writer and starting a new career as a screenwriter.

            Take care friend.

            P.S. We have a few things in common, it seems, from what I read in your profile. It's nice to know a fellow believer.

  10. theraggededge profile image96
    theraggededgeposted 6 years ago

    Good discussion.

    'Our' and any noun following do not have to agree, plurally speaking. For instance, you'd say 'our home'.

    'Lives' can be combined into one shared 'life'. "My husband and I enjoyed our life in New York." or "My husband and I enjoyed our lives in New York." Both are correct, but each implies a very subtle difference. The first gives you a mental picture of a couple together; the second promotes the idea of a couple going about their separate lives.

    1. Rochelle Frank profile image90
      Rochelle Frankposted 6 years agoin reply to this

      . . . Or you would say “our homes” if you had more than one home, or if the “our” refers to you and your neighbors.

    2. jjkhawaiian profile image70
      jjkhawaiianposted 6 years agoin reply to this

      Theraggededge and Rochelle,

        I agree with your assessments. Good discussion, for sure.

    3. DrMark1961 profile image96
      DrMark1961posted 6 years agoin reply to this

      Wasnt there a famous poet from Liverpool that wrote about "our life"? I took my English lessons from those guys.

  11. wordswithlove profile image67
    wordswithloveposted 6 years ago

    Both are correct, depending on the context of how many lives you are talking about. For example, if I were to say to a friend, speaking of the life of my family, I would say, "We are fortunate to have you in our life", and if I were to be speaking of multiple families, I would say, "We are fortunate to have you in our lives".

    1. jjkhawaiian profile image70
      jjkhawaiianposted 6 years agoin reply to this

      Yup, context is key here, like in so many other instance, where the English language is concerned. I love it!

  12. Miebakagh57 profile image69
    Miebakagh57posted 6 years ago

    The later.

  13. holliesandhealth profile image81
    holliesandhealthposted 6 years ago

    I believe it's the second one. Unless of course "we" is referring to a collective conscious that exists in many dystopian or philosophical works. In which case I apologize.

  14. Jeremy Gill profile image94
    Jeremy Gillposted 6 years ago

    Definitely "lives".

    1. DrMark1961 profile image96
      DrMark1961posted 6 years agoin reply to this

      Definitely? John and Yoko would have disagreed.

    2. theraggededge profile image96
      theraggededgeposted 6 years agoin reply to this

      Would you say 'our married life' or 'our married lives'?

      1. jjkhawaiian profile image70
        jjkhawaiianposted 6 years agoin reply to this

        Context. A couple would say our married life, where a gaggle of couples would say or married lives.

        Now, a married couple could say our married lives in some instances. We've been together all our married lives (meaning, to each other). Maybe a bad example, but you get the point.

        Once again, context:
        Plural with a singular perspective (married life).
        Plural with a plural perspective (married lives).

        1. theraggededge profile image96
          theraggededgeposted 6 years agoin reply to this

          Yes, I know. I've already posted different examples. I was responding to Jeremy's statement that 'lives' was the correct choice. And, as I mentioned previously, either is correct depending on the context.

          1. jjkhawaiian profile image70
            jjkhawaiianposted 6 years agoin reply to this

            Oh. I was just answering your question. My mistake.

            1. theraggededge profile image96
              theraggededgeposted 6 years agoin reply to this

              smile Maybe you need to click on Chronological, top right. Then you can see who is replying to whom smile

  15. Darleen Barnard profile image77
    Darleen Barnardposted 6 years ago

    "Lives" "Our" is plural so "lives" needs to be plural as well. smile

    1. theraggededge profile image96
      theraggededgeposted 6 years agoin reply to this

      Nope. You wouldn't say 'our dogs' if you only had one dog, would you?

  16. Luke Holm profile image89
    Luke Holmposted 6 years ago

    I would rewrite the entire sentiment, as clearly they are creating unnecessary trouble in your life (or is it lives?). I would rewrite your statement as: We want you to think that we feel fortunate to have you in our lives, but, in actuality, your existence has created a grammatical conundrum and an indirect headache.

    By the way, in the case of my first sentence, could "...your life" technically be "...your lives," even though "your" is singular? I think the answer is YES, as here "your" seems to be plural.

 
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