Correcting Common Grammatical Errors: 'He Have a Brother and a Sister'

When discussing family relationships, it's important to use grammatically correct sentences. A common error that some may make is using the incorrect form of the verb in the context of family members. For instance, the statement 'He have a brother and a sister' is grammatically incorrect.

Correcting the Sentence

The corrected sentence would be:

He has a brother and a sister.

However, it is often more preferable to use the first person pronoun in such contexts, for instance: ‘I have a brother and a sister’.

Expert Opinion

According to Emeritus Professor Rodney Huddleston co-author with Professor Geoffrey Pullum of “The Cambridge Grammar of the English Language”, Cambridge University Press, 2002, the use of the first person pronoun is indeed the preferred option. This is due to the natural flow and common usage in English language literature and communication.

Maintaining Grammatical Consistency

When it comes to consistency, both options are correct, but the first is more common and preferred:

He has two sisters is indeed grammatically correct.

If you were to say I had two sisters and one brother, it might raise questions about the well-being of the individuals named. Similarly, I has two sisters and one brother is grammatically incorrect and does not make sense.

Subject-Verb Agreement

The key to maintaining grammatical integrity lies in subject-verb agreement. In the construction He has a brother and a sister, the singular subject he requires a singular verb has. This is because the phrase a brother and a sister has a collective quality, referring to a single entity with multiple siblings.

The phrase at least one brother does not form a valid grammatical subject because it lacks a singular or plural form that agrees with a verb.

Common Usage and Alternatives

While He has a brother and a sister is the most common and preferred form, one could also use Does he have a sister? in casual conversation. This may be used for confirmation or to make the statement more conversational.

During the flow of conversation, someone might use Has he a sister? but it is not as common as the first option and may seem slightly archaic or formal.

Conclusion

In summary, when discussing family relationships, using He has a brother and a sister or I have a brother and a sister is correct and preferred. Maintaining subject-verb agreement is crucial for clear and accurate communication.

Remember, it's the natural and commonly used forms that make the difference in how well your message is conveyed. Always strive for clarity and correctness in your sentence structures to ensure that your message is fully understood.