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Mariano
Which is the difference between "person" and "people" and how can I use it?
Oct 3, 2015 1:45 PM
Answers · 10
3
Your question should be: WHAT is the difference between "person" and "people" and how can I use these words? And the answer? As the other members have already explained, 'person' is singular, and 'people' is plural. One person. Two people. Three people, and so on. Note that 'people' is a plural word. It isn't like 'la gente' in Spanish, which is singular. So you would say 'The people in my city ARE very friendly'. It is a very common mistake among Spanish speakers to treat 'people' as a singular noun and use singular verb forms ( The people is...). Don't make that mistake - remember, 'people' is plural. So what about 'persons'? Why isn't 'persons' the plural form of 'person'? Well, it is, but it's rare. We only use 'persons' in official signs, legal documents and very formal contexts. In everyday English we never say 'persons', - we say 'people' instead. I hope that helps.
October 3, 2015
3
"Person" is singular, "people" is plural. If one person is in a room and another walks in, you have two people.
October 3, 2015
2
To add to SuKi's answer: I see 'persons' when I go into lifts (elevators). I'm not referring to the people in the lift but to the sign on the wall! You get a little sign that says, "No more than 6 persons in this lift" (or however many people the lift can carry). You will also find 'persons' used instead of 'people' as a choice by some authors and speakers. I read a history book recently and the author referred to 'persons' throughout. I hated it! I wanted the writer to simply say 'people' !
October 3, 2015
1
I think that "person" is for singular, and "people" for plural.
October 3, 2015
1
In my opinion, ''person'' is a singular form of ''people'', and i use ''person'' for a guy description, whereas i use ''people'' for society and world general behaviour.
October 3, 2015
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