Pronoun Antecedent Agreement

What is a Pronoun?

• A pronoun is a substitute for a noun.• It refers to a person, place, thing, feeling, or quality but

does not refer to it by its name.– Mrs. Gessel gives too much homework. John

wishes John could talk to Mrs. Gessel about the pressure John feels. John hates Mrs. Gessel’s class.

– Mrs. Gessel gives too much homework. I wish I could talk to her about the pressure I feel. I hate her class.

What is an Antecedent?

• An antecedent is the word, phrase, or clause to which a pronoun refers, understood by the context. – Mrs. Gessel gives too much homework. I wish I

could talk to her about the pressure I feel. I hate her class.

Agreement

• A pronoun must agree with its antecedent in three ways:– Person refers to first, second, or third person. – Number distinguishes between singular and

plural.– Gender distinguishes masculine or feminine.

Steps for Determining Antecedent Agreement

1. Identify the pronoun.2. Decide to whom or to what this pronoun refers or

what it replaces--the antecedent.3. Identify the person, gender, and number of the

referenced pronoun. 4. Determine if the person, gender, and number are

the same for the pronoun and the antecedent. 1. If they are, you have agreement. 2. If they are not the same, you have a correction to

make.

For Example:

1. Diversity training is a positive experience if it is well planned.

2. The e-mail that we received from an employee named Chris explained the problem that he or she wanted us to solve.

3. New York and New Jersey allow their state employees ten holidays a year.

4. Neither Teresa nor her assistants were aware of their negative attitudes.

BASIC RULES

Rule #1

1. A phrase or clause between the subject and verb does not change the number of the antecedent: The can of lima beans sits on its

shelf.

Rule #2: Singular indefinite pronoun antecedents take singular pronouns.

• Indefinite Pronoun Antecedents

anotheranybodyanyoneanythingeacheach one

eitherenougheveryeverybodyeveryoneeverything

many amuchneitherno onenobodynothing

oneothersomebodysomeonesomething 

Indefinite Pronouns Always Singular

Rule #2: Plural indefinite pronoun antecedents require plural referents.

Always Pluralboth othersfew severalmany

Singular or Pluralall more noneany most some

Indefinite Pronoun Antecedents

Examples:

• Each of the clerks does a good deal of work around his or her office.

• Both do a good job in their office

• Some indefinite pronouns that are modified by a prepositional phrase may be either singular or plural.– Some of the sugar fell out of its bag.– All of the jewelry has lost its glow.

Rule #3

• Compound subjects joined by and always take a plural referent.– Jones and Smith made their presentation.

Rule #4

• With compound subjects joined by or/nor, the referent pronoun agrees with the antecedent closer to the pronoun.– Neither the director nor the actors did their jobs.– Neither the actors nor the director did his or her

job.• Example #1, with the plural antecedent closer to the

pronoun, creates a smoother sentence than example #2, which forces the use of the singular "his or her."

Rule #5

• Collective Nouns may be singular or plural, depending on meaning. – Family, group, jury, crowd, team, etc.

• Examples:– The jury read its verdict.

• The jury is acting as one unit; therefore, the referent pronoun is singular.

– The jury gave their individual opinions.• The jury members are acting as twelve individuals;

therefore, the referent pronoun is plural.

Rule #6

• Titles of single entities take a singular referent.– Books, organizations, countries, etc.– The Grapes of Wrath made its characters seem

real.– The United States cherishes its democracy.

Rule #7

• Plural form subjects with a singular meaning take a singular referent. – News, measles, mumps, physics, etc.– The news has lost much of its sting.

Rule #8

• Every or Many a before a noun or a series of nouns requires a singular referent.– Every cow, pig, and horse had lost its life in the

fire.– Many a girl wishes she could dance.

Rule #9:The number of vs A number of before a subject:

• The number of is singular. – The number of volunteers increases its ranks

daily.• A number of is plural.

– A number of volunteers are offering their help.

LET’S PRACTICE!!

1.

A. One of the students must give their oral report tomorrow.

B. One of the students must give his oral report tomorrow.

2.

A. Everybody was hoping to have his lottery number picked.

B. Everybody was hoping to have their lottery number picked.

3.

A. If anyone doesn't like the music I'm playing, they can go somewhere else.

B. If anyone doesn't like the music I'm playing, he or she can go somewhere else.

4.

A. Each member of the committee must submit their response in writing.

B. Each member of the committee must submit his response in writing.

5.

A. Neither of the girls knew that her teacher had seen the police report.

B. Neither of the girls knew that their teacher had seen the police report.

6.

A. Either of the boys may take his seat in the front of the room.

B. Either of the boys may take their seat in the front of the room.

7.

A. The group has its meeting here. B. The group has their meeting here.C. The group has it’s meeting here.

8.

A. The senior class wore its rings proudly.B. The senior class wore their rings proudly.C. The senior class wore his or her rings proudly.

9.

A. Children never realize how loud he or she can be.

B. Children never realize how loud they can be.

10. Select all the correct sentences.

A. One of my friends must bring their tapes to the party.

B. Everyone should take his work seriously.C. Since it was cold and windy, the boys had to

wear his caps.D. Sara and Jen had to finish their homework

before they could go to the movies.E. In the first-day confusion, neither of

the teachers could find his classroom.