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.