Final answer:
The student's question pertains to the appropriate use of personal pronouns in English grammar, particularly the shift towards using gender-neutral pronouns like 'they/them/their' for inclusivity and correctness. It also underlines the importance of maintaining pronoun agreement in sentences to ensure clear and proper communication.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question revolves around the use of personal pronouns in English grammar and their agreement in sentences. It highlights the evolution of language practices to accommodate gender neutrality by replacing gender-specific pronouns with singular 'they/them/their' when gender is unknown, irrelevant or when a non-binary gender is identified.
The usage of 'he/him/his' or 'his/her' has traditionally been the go-to for referring to a hypothetical person, however, society is gradually transitioning towards more gender-blind forms of language.
Aside from gender considerations, ensuring pronoun agreement in number and case within sentences is critical. For instance, 'She is the person who is best qualified for the job' is correct, whereas 'Her is such a sweet little dog' is incorrect. Here, 'she/her' showcases the correct usage of subjective and objective case pronouns.
It is also important to note that while we navigate these changes, the objective is clear communication. Choices include eliminating the pronoun as in 'Everybody has an opinion' or alternating masculine and feminine pronouns, although this requires careful implementation to avoid reader confusion.