Do you know that if a student copied his or her paper at the exam yesterday, he or she will not be allowed to continue the course?

[Uncanny]

My friend wrote an essay but I am not sure I understand the last sentence in this passage:

- Have you seen John and Sarah?
- No, I haven't. Do you know that if a student copied his or her paper at the exam yesterday, he or she will not be allowed to continue the course?

 

[Tarheel]

Two things. One, is that the whole thing? Two, the last sentence doesn't fit with the rest.

What does that mean? By "copied" does he/she mean "copied off of somebody else"?

 

[emsr2d2]

The sentence is very unclear. I don't know if the second person is talking about photographing/photocopying the exam paper, or copying someone else's work during the exam. What sort of essay is your friend writing? Essays don't usually involve dialogue.

 

[Rover_KE]

@Uncanny, your can tell your friend that it’s fine to write or say ‘their’ instead of ‘his or her’, and ‘they’ instead of ‘he or she’, even though only one person is being mentioned.

 

[emsr2d2]

Even better, you could suggest to your friend that they join this forum!