"What are their jobs?" or "What is their job?" ?
In my textbook, it goes like this:
What are their jobs?
They are salesmen.

But clearly the two people in this text have the same job. So can I say "what is their job" instead?

Question

"What are their jobs?" or "What is their job?" ?
In my textbook, it goes like this:
What are their jobs?
They are salesmen.

But clearly the two people in this text have the same job. So can I say "what is their job" instead?

Answer

What ARE their jobS?  -- It means that they have different jobs from each other or each of them having more than one duty etc.
What is their job? -- It means that they are working in the same capacity.

For example, if you see a group of policeman.... 
What are their jobs? I would answer one is a lieutenant, one is a traffic cop and the other is a detective.
What is their job? They are all keeping the public safe.

Answer

I would say yes it's another valid answer, but it would imply they are working together as well. At least it would for me.

Answer

Hi Wang, you should only use are because it is the verb to be for plural. Is for singular. For this case only are would be appropriate and not is.

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