Pronoun
Antecedent Agreement Rules
A pronoun is a word that
substitutes for a noun. Many
pronouns have antecedents, nouns or pronouns to which they refer.
PERSONAL PRONOUNS
|
SUBJECT |
OBJECT |
POSSESSIVE |
SINGULAR |
I |
me |
my |
|
you |
you |
your |
|
he/she/it |
him/her/it |
his/her/its |
|
|
|
|
PLURAL |
we |
us |
our |
|
you |
you |
your |
|
they |
them |
their |
Rule #1: A pronoun and its antecedent must
agree. They should both be
singular or both be plural.
singular Dr. Ellen Wong finished her reports.
plural The
doctors
finished their
reports.
Circle
the pronouns and underline their antecedents. Make them agree if necessary.
1. The
car would not stop because their brakes failed.
2. The
dog barks at the neighbors when he pulls into their driveway.
Rule #2:
Even though some indefinite pronouns have plural meanings, treat them as
grammatically singular.
INDEFINITE PRONOUNS (SINGULAR) Indefinite pronouns refer to
nonspecific persons or things.
any |
each |
everyone |
none |
someone |
anybody |
either |
everything |
no one |
something |
anyone |
everybody |
neither |
|
|
Incorrect Everyone in my
English class does their
homework.
Correct singular Everyone in my English
class does his or her
homework.
Correct plural All
of the students
in my English class do their
homework.
How To Correct
Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement Problems
Incorrect When someone has been drinking, they are likely to
speed.
1. Replace
the plural pronoun with he
or she, or it (or
his or her or its)
When
someone has
been drinking, he or
she is likely to speed.
2. Make
the antecedent plural.
When
drivers have
been drinking, they
are likely to speed.
3. Rewrite
the sentence so that no problem of agreement exists.
A driver who has been drinking is likely to speed.
Circle
the pronouns in the following sentences.
Decide whether there is a pronoun-antecedent agreement problem, and
correct it if necessary.
1. Everybody
is worried about their midterms.
2. If
anybody comes to JillÕs house on Halloween, they will be surprised.
3. If
someone reduces the amount of fat in their diet, they will lose weight.
Rule #3: Treat
generic nouns as singular even though they might have a plural meaning. Be careful
when you use a or any,
every, or each.
Incorrect Every boy on the
team must try their
best if they
want their team
to win.
Correct Every boy on the
team must try his
best if he
wants his
team to win.
The
boys on the team must try their best if they want to win.
Incorrect A
nursing student
must study hard if they
want to succeed.
Correct A
nursing student
must study hard if he
or she wants to succeed.
Nursing
students
must study hard if they
want to succeed.
Circle
the pronouns in the following sentences.
Decide whether there is a pronoun-antecedent agreement problem, and
correct it if necessary.
1. Any
child who wants to go on the field trip must bring in a permission slip signed
by their parents.
2. A
concert pianist must practice several hours a day. They must sacrifice everything for their music.
3. A
runner must train regularly if they want to run the marathon.
Rule #4: Treat
collective nouns as singular unless the meaning is clearly plural.
audience |
club |
couple |
family |
troop |
class |
committee |
crowd |
jury |
group |
singular The committee granted its permission.
plural The
committee
put their signatures
on the document.
Circle
the pronouns in the following sentences.
Decide whether there is a pronoun-antecedent agreement problem, and
correct it if necessary.
1. The
committee plans to work on their budget next week.
2. The
audience clapped its hands.
Rule
#5: Treat most
compound antecedents connected by and as plural.
Incorrect Joan and Jim moved to the mountains, where he or she built a
cabin.
Correct Joan and Jim moved to the mountains, where they built a cabin.
Rule #6: When
a compound antecedent is connected by or or nor (or by either...or
or neither...nor), make the
pronoun agree with the nearer antecedent.
Neither the dog nor the cats could find their way through the maze.
Circle
the pronouns in the following sentences.
Decide whether there is a pronoun-antecedent agreement problem, and
correct it if necessary.
1. Either
Jill or Kate will probably get first prize for their essay.
2. Neither
the father nor his sons like to get their hair cut short.