Fill in the blank in the given sentence.
Seeing the child's innocent smile, ______ had to smile.

Appeared in: DSSSB - 29 August 2019 (Shift-1)

Explanation

The pronoun 'they' is the correct choice to refer to a single person whose gender is unknown or irrelevant.
This usage, known as the 'singular they', is grammatically accepted and widely used in modern English for its gender neutrality.
The verb 'had' agrees with the singular 'they' in this context, making the sentence grammatically sound and natural.

Option A: The construction 'he/she' is grammatically correct but is considered cumbersome and less fluid than the singular 'they'. Modern style guides often recommend 'they' for conciseness and inclusivity.
Option B: This is not a standard grammatical category. It is identical to 'he/she' and carries the same stylistic disadvantages of being wordy and less inclusive.
Option D: 'Your' is a possessive pronoun indicating ownership (e.g., 'your book'). It cannot function as the subject of a sentence. The phrase 'your had to smile' is grammatically incorrect.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Pronoun usage for a person of unknown gender as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
While this is a general English question, strong language skills are fundamental in nursing for clear and accurate communication.
Using inclusive and correct language is crucial when writing patient notes, communicating with colleagues, and interacting with patients and their families, ensuring respect and clarity.
What if the person was identified as male? If the sentence was 'Seeing the child's smile, the man felt happy,' the correct pronoun to refer to him later would be 'he'.

How to Approach the Question

First, read the sentence and identify the missing part of speech. Here, a subject pronoun is needed for the verb 'had'.
Analyze the context. The sentence refers to a person whose gender is not specified.
Evaluate each option based on its grammatical function and appropriateness in the context.
Eliminate grammatically incorrect options first. 'Your' is a possessive pronoun and doesn't fit.
Compare the remaining options ('he/she' and 'they'). Consider modern English usage standards for gender-neutral pronouns.
Select 'they' as it is the most concise, inclusive, and widely accepted choice for referring to a single person of unknown gender.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Concept Tested: Pronoun usage for a person of unknown gender.
Stem keywords: innocent smile, had to smile
Lead-in keywords: Fill in the blank
Clinical cues: Age/sex group narrows the expected diagnosis, intervention, or normal reference range.

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E6 Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics(2024) — Volume 1 p. 1182-1184

Practise the full DSSSB - 29 August 2019 (Shift-1)

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.