Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement

Pronouns A pronoun takes the place of one or more nouns or

pronouns.

Example:

-Susan watched the monkey make faces at her little brother and sister.

-She laughed at it more than they did.

Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement The word that a pronoun replaces or refers to

is called the ANTECEDENT.

Ex: (the arrow points from the pronouns to their antecedents)

The tour guide showed the students where they could see Mayan pottery.

Why did Oscar give his camera to the film school?

Darius scored a field goal. It was his first of the season

Pronoun–Antecedent Agreement All pronouns must agree with their

antecedents in:Number (singular or plural)Gender (masculine, feminine, or neutral)Person (first, second, or third)

Ex: I subscribe to this magazine for the magazine’s monthly column on

writing.

I subscribe to this magazine for its monthly column on writing.

(singular, neutral pronoun)

In the following paragraph, draw an arrow from each italicized pronoun to its antecedent:

Since numerous people told the same story, the historian

believed it. Supposedly, a young boy and girl with bright green skin

had been found wandering the fields. They spoke a foreign language

and wore clothing made of an unknown material. At first, the two

children would eat only green beans, but after they learned to eat

bread, their skin gradually lost its greenness. After learning English,

the girl said she and her brother had come from a land called Saint

Martin. The story sounds like science fiction, doesn’t it? Perhaps the

villagers invented it to amuse their friends and fool historians.

Since numerous people told the same story, the historian

believed it. Supposedly, a young boy and girl with bright green skin

had been found wandering the fields. They spoke a foreign language

and wore clothing made of an unknown material. At first, the two

children would eat only green beans, but after they learned to eat

bread, their skin gradually lost its greenness. After learning English,

the girl said she and her brother had come from a land called Saint

Martin. The story sounds like science fiction, doesn’t it? Perhaps the

villagers invented it to amuse their friends and fool historians.

In the following paragraph, draw an arrow from each italicized pronoun to its antecedent:

Gender Masculine antecedent = masculine pronoun

he, his, him

Feminine antecedent = feminine pronounshe, her, hers

Neutral antecedent = neutral pronoun it, its

Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement

Jane called her friend. Jane and her are both singular and feminine.

John called his friend. John and his are both singular and masculine.

The girls finished their job. The plural pronoun agrees with the plural antecedent.

Number A plural pronoun should be used with a

compound antecedent joined and Julian and Taryn ran until they were exhausted.

When compound antecedents joined by and refer to the same person or thing, the pronoun is singular.

My lawyer and friend said she would attend the meeting for me.

The secretary and treasurer of the corporation said he would also attend.

Number A singular pronoun is used to refer to two or

more singular antecedents joined by or or nor.

Garrett or Chase will give his presentation today.

A plural pronoun is used with two or more plural antecedents joined by or or nor.

Either the juniors or the seniors are singing their class song.

Number

When a singular antecedent and a plural antecedent are joined by or or nor, use a pronoun that agrees with the nearer antecedent.

The boy or his parents run.

The parents or the boy runs.

When a singular antecedent and a plural antecedent are joined by or or nor, use a pronoun that agrees with the nearer antecedent.

The boy or his parents run.

The parents or the boy runs.

Number

Use a singular pronoun when a collective noun refers to a group as a single unit.

The class decided it wanted to do the project.

Use a plural pronoun when the collective noun refers to a group’s members as individuals.

The class stayed in their desks.

Number

Use singular pronouns to refer to indefinite pronouns used as antecedents.

Each of the boys had his assignment ready.

Everyone on the women’s team improved her time.

Many a girl has invested time in improving her appearance.

Everybody on the committee had his or her own agenda.

Some indefinite pronouns are always plural. Others are always singular.

Always Plural: Both Few Many Several

Always Singular: Anybody Anyone Anything Each Either Everyone Everything Neither Nobody No one Somebody Someone

Complicating Agreement:

Intervening phrases can complicate agreement of pronoun with antecedent.

Ignore phrases such as as well as, along with, together with, and make sure the pronoun agrees with its antecedent.

The president, along with the members of city council, is disclosing his new budget.