Mrs. Cremeens Language Arts

When using pronouns in a sentence, use clear reference to the antecedent

Pronoun reference is confusing if a pronoun could refer to more than one antecedent.• Grandma and Mrs. Damian read the newspaper,

but she forgot what the article said.• [This sentence refers to more than one female.

Who forgot?]

Remember: The antecedent is the noun that is being referred to by the pronoun. You will replace the noun (antecedent) with a pronoun.

If a pronoun could refer to more than one word, reword the sentence to make the antecedent clear, or eliminate the pronoun.

EXAMPLE: When Jasmine handed her sister

the dog, she sneezed. [Who sneezed? Jasmine, her sister, or the dog?]

Jasmine sneezed when she handed the dog to her sister. [Reword the sentence to make it clear who

sneezed.

When Jasmine handed her sister the dog, Jasmine sneezed. [Substitute a noun for the pronoun]

Pronoun reference can also be confusing if a pronoun’s antecedent is not stated.

Be sure that pronouns like it, this, that, they, these, those, and which refer to a specific word or phrase. Otherwise, the meaning is unclear.

Rewrite the sentence to eliminate the unclear use of the pronoun.

EXAMPLES: Jamie wants to be a kindergarten teacher because it

interests her. [What interests her? There is no clear antecedent

for it.]

Jamie wants to be a kindergarten teacher because working with young children interests her. [Eliminate the pronoun.]

----------------------------------------------------- In the playbook, they say not to throw long passes

early in the game. [Who are they?]

In the playbook, the coaches say not to throw long passes early in the game. [Replace it with a specific noun.]

1. Aaron and a friend saw two children drowning. He jumped into the water.

2. Aaron rescued both children, but it was exhausting.

3. The officers spoke to the children, and they were relieved.

4. Aaron is strong. This helped him to rescue two children at once.

Test your knowledge

Read the sentences

Rewrite the sentences so that the underlined pronoun has a clearly referenced antecedent.

• PE1: Dad and Jim walked out the door, but he forgot to turn off the light.

• PE2: Mom and Aunt Alice went together, but she didn’t like the movie.

• PE3: Dad saw the movie and the play but didn’t like it.

• PE4: In the article it says that they play was clever.

• PE5: The girls met with their cousins, and they asked many questions.