Pronoun Types and Agreement

Chapter 29 & 30

Recognize different pronoun types Develop sentences with correct pronoun

agreement

Objectives

Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement Writers often use pronouns to take

the place of nouns. If you do this, you must be certain

that each pronoun agrees with the noun it refers to.

Example:– The photographs meant a great deal to him

because they belonged to his grandmother.

– [Photographs is the antecedent of they, which is third person plural.]

Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement

Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement

Pronouns and antecedents mustagree in person and number.

Error in Person:If a person wants to become a portrait photographer, you must have the proper equipment for lighting.

Revised:If a person wants to

become a photographer,he must have the

proper equipment forlighting.

Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement

Pronouns and antecedents must agree in person and

number.

Error in Number:When a student videotapes a sporting event,

they often miss some of the action.

Revised: When a student videotapes a sporting event, he often misses some of the action.

Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement

Avoid sexism– Be consistent in use of gender.– Avoid sexist pronouns.

To avoid sexism, use alternatives to the generic he.– Use masculine and feminine pronouns

together.– Revise the sentence by using the plural.– Reconstruct to eliminate the pronoun.

Checkpoints

If a pronoun does not refer to a specific word, it may be unclear.◦Example: Mark told Todd that he needed to buy film.

Did Mark or Todd need to buy film?

Pronoun Reference

Pronoun Reference If a pronoun does not refer to a

specific word, it may be unclear.◦Example: The editor told the staff members not to mail the photographs because they were too important.

What does they refer too?

Checkpoints

Checkpoints

3. Compound antecedents require a plural pronoun

The zoom lens and the wide-angle lens require special situations for their use.

Incorrect: Anyone can be

successful in school if they make the right choices.

Practice Review Revision:

◦ Anyone can be successful in school if she makes the right choices.

Or◦ Students can be

successful in school if they make the right choices.

Incorrect: Students should

copy the material that the instructor writes on the board, and you should review these notes within 24 hours.

The subject shifts to you when the subject was students.

Review Revision:

◦ Students should copy the material that the instructor writes on the board, and they should review these notes within 24 hours.

Incorrect: Jamie dropped the

heavy camera on her foot and broke it.

Did the camera break or did her foot?

Review Revision

◦ The camera broke when Jamie dropped it on her foot.

Pronoun Types

Let’s take a look at three types of pronouns:

Subject and Object PronounsPossessive PronounsDemonstrative Pronouns

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Subject and Object Pronouns

I youhe, she, itwethey

meyou (no change)him, her, itusthem

Subject Pronouns are the subjects of verbs.

Object Pronouns are the objects of verbs or prepositions.

. . . are the subjects of verbs.

Examples:I am about to leave.You shouldn’t do that.She told you so.We agree with her.They do, too.

Subject Pronouns…There are a few

rules to keep in mind about subject pronouns:

Rule 1: Use a subject pronoun in spots where you have more than one subject. . . .

Rule 1: Use a subject pronoun in spots where you have more than one subject. . . .

Incorrect:My sister and me are

about to go to Spain.

Subject PronounsCorrect:My sister and I are

about to go to Spain.

Hint:

Separate the pronouns. You wouldn’t say, “Me am about to go to Spain.” Would you?

Rule 2: Use a subject pronoun after forms of the verb “be.”

Incorrect:It is him.

Subject Pronouns

Correct:It is he.

Hint:

Reword the sentence:

He is here.

Rule 3: Use a subject pronoun after than or as.

Incorrect:We don’t need as

much attention as them.

Subject Pronouns…Correct:We don’t need as

much attention as they.

Hint:

Mentally add the “missing” verb at the end: We don’t need as much attention as they (do).

. . .are the objects of verbs or prepositions.

Incorrect:I loaned ten dollars

to his wife and he.

The pronoun here is the object of the preposition “to.”

Object Pronouns…Correct:I loaned ten dollars

to his wife and him.

Hint:

Try the pronoun by itself:

I loaned ten dollars to him.

. . . show ownership or possession.

Here’s a list of Possessive Pronouns:my, mine our, oursyour, yoursyour, yourshis their, theirsher, hersits

Possessive Pronouns…

Note: A possessive pronoun NEVER uses an apostrophe

Incorrect:

That BMW is hers’.

Correct:

That BMW is hers.

Possessive Pronouns… Note: A

possessive pronoun NEVER uses an apostrophe

. . . point to or single out a person or thing.

There are fourDemonstrative

Pronouns:

this thesethat those

Demonstrative Pronouns…

Rules of thumb:This and these

refer to things close at hand.

That and those refer to things farther away.