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only child

renetta

Senior Member
Italy, Italian
Hello, in English do you say "I am an only child", "I am the only child" or "I am only child"?

thank you
I think it depends on what you want to say. In most cases you would say "I am an only child", meaning "I have no brothers or sisters", but I could imagine a situation in which "I am the only child" would be appropriate. There is nothing inherently wrong with the sentence, as far as I can see.
Hello, in English do you say "I am an only child", "I am the only child" or "I am only child"?

thank you


If you want to say that you have no brothers or sisters, then you say "I am an only child."

If you are adding extra information, you could say "the only child."
For example: "John was the only child of William and Mary Smith to survive the diphtheria epidemic."

It is not English to say "I am only child."
Let's assume that somebody has to write (for instance) an essay on this subject. What can be its title then, e.g.: "advantages and disadvantages of being the only child"? Using 'the' feels more appropriate in this case because you mean the average child with no siblings. However, that's my personal impression. What do you think about it? Or maybe it is better to use: "advantages and disadvantages of being an only child"?
Let's assume that somebody has to write (for instance) an essay on this subject. What can be its title then, e.g.: "advantages and disadvanteges of being the only child"? Using 'the' feels more appropriate in this case because you mean the average child with no siblings. However, that's my personal impression. What do you think about it? Or maybe it is better to use: "advantages and disadvanteges of being an only child"? 👁 Tick :tick:
👁 Tick :tick:

The expression "an only child" means quite specifically a child with no brothers and sisters.

You would say "the" only if you were more narrrowly defining the child.
The advantages of being the only child on the island.

The disadvantages of being the only child with a bicycle.
Thank you for your explanation.
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