I can be this and you can be this and we can be this. We can't be this and she can't be this and they can be

Question

This is a riddle given to my tenth grader.....he is stumped as I am for an answer.

I can be this and you can be this and we can be this. We can't be this and she can't be this and they can be this. Dogs can't be this but cats can. Kittens can't be this but puppies can'. Givers can't be this but beggers can. Humility can't be this but greed can. Not even peace but fear can. What is this?

Answer 1

it might be- Words that can be typed with one hand on a Qwerty keyboard

Answer 2

It does seem like single-handed typing is the best answer, but as OSU_Pokes89 pointed out, a couple of words don't fit.

I'm guessing that there are at least four typos in that riddle:

(1) The first sentence ends with "we can be this", but then the very next sentence starts with "we can't be this".  If the second sentence started with "He" instead of "We," it would make more sense, and would fit in with the one-handed typing answer.

(2) In the second sentence, "they can be this" should be "they can't be this."  It fits in with the sentence structure, since all of the others in that sentence are of the "can't be this" variety.  Also, this change makes it fit the one-handed typing answer.

(3) The pluralization appears to create some errors.  For instance, you can type "puppy" with one hand, but not "puppies", which is why "puppies" doesn't fit correctly into it.  It probably should have been "A kitten can't be but a puppy can."

(4) There is no such word as "beggers"; it should be "beggars".

Answer 3

Themselves? :P

I've no idea.

Good luck figuring it out (:

Answer 4

typed with one hand on a computer keyboard

Answer 5

they and puppies don't fit the one hand thing, but I really have no idea what it could be! Good luck!