PRACTICE!

1. FIRST, IDENTIFY WHICH RULE YOU NEED TO USE IN ORDER TO COME UP WITH THE

RIGHT ANSWER2. NEXT, WRITE THE FULL SENTENCE USING

ONLY THE CORRECT PRONOUN

Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement

5 points

Almost anybody who has worked with wood would say that woodworking soothes (his or her, their) spirit.

THE “ALWAYS SINGULAR” RULE“Anybody” is always singular

5 points

Each of the Hopi Indian fathers carved (his, their) daughter a kachina doll from cottonwood root.

THE “ALWAYS SINGULAR” RULE“Each” is always singular

5 points

Every one of the Iroquois carvers used basswood for (his or her, their) healing ritual mask.

THE “ALWAYS SINGULAR” RULE“Every” is always singular

5 points

One of the wooden masks from the Pacific Northwest shows by (its, their) detail the customs of the tribe.

THE “ALWAYS SINGULAR” RULE“One” is always singular

8 points

A reporter talked to Mrs. Bea Zwack after (her, their) home was struck by a tornado.

AGREE IN GENDER & NUMBER

3 points

Jack Zwack spent most of (his, their) time cleaning up the yard.

AGREE IN GENDER & NUMBER

5 points

Nick, Mack, and Patty Zwack are staying with (his or her, their) neighbors for the time being.

THE “AND” RULE

5 points

The Zwacks now have a healthy respect for tornadoes and (its, their) power.

AGREE IN NUMBERThe antecedent is “tornadoes,” and “tornadoes” is plural.

3 points

The reporter finally submitted (her, their) assignment to the editor of the paper.

AGREE IN NUMBERThe antecedent is “the reporter,” which is singular,

so you must choose the singular pronoun option.

5 points

The newspaper featured tornadoes on (its, their) front page.

AGREE IN NUMBER –OR – COLLECTIVE NOUNS

The antecedent is “the newspaper,” which is one thing (or one organization), so you must choose the singular pronoun option.

3 points

Subscribers that read the story and saw the pictures realize that (he or she, they) could have been the victims of the storm.

AGREE IN NUMBERThe antecedent is “subscribers,” and “subscribers” is plural.

5 points

A mature person is responsible for (his or her, their) actions.

AGREE IN NUMBERThe antecedent is “a mature person,” which is singular.

5 points

The detective told (his or her, their) chief that (he or she, they) had caught the criminal.

AGREE IN NUMBERThe antecedent is “the detective,” which is singular.

3 points

Each of the Olympic champions proudly wore (his, their) medal.

THE “ALWAYS SINGULAR” RULE“Each” is always singular

8 points

Either the professional craftsmen or the amateur woodworkers enjoyed working with (his or her, their) hands.

THE “OR/NOR” RULEThe “either ____ or ____” construction follows the Or/Nor

rule, meaning the pronoun must agree with the noun closest to the verb. In this case, you would choose a pronoun to

agree with “woodworkers.”

5 points

Each of my sisters has tried (her, their) hand at whittling.

THE “ALWAYS SINGULAR” RULE“Each” is always singular

5 points

Neither cut (herself, themselves).

THE “ALWAYS SINGULAR” RULE

“Neither” is always singular

5 points

Everybody used to buy (his or her, their) tobacco at the store with the carved wooden Native American in front.

THE “ALWAYS SINGULAR” RULE“Everybody” is always singular

5 points

Anybody who likes (his or her, their) home uncluttered with detail would appreciate the simple wooden furniture made by the Quakers.

THE “ALWAYS SINGULAR” RULE“Anybody” is always singular

5 points

Everyone, including Queen Victoria, wished (he or she, they) could own the fancy Victorian furniture painstakingly carved by William Bartels.

THE “ALWAYS SINGULAR” RULE“Everyone” is always singular