Pronoun/Antecedent Agreement

1. Pronoun/Antecedent Agreement Jasmine Brown

2. What are pronouns and antecedents? A pronoun works to take the place of a noun or noun phrase. For example: The girl loves her doll. An antecedent of a pronoun is the word the pronoun refers to. For example: Bob is going to his house. Bob is the antecedent and his is the pronoun. Note that the antecedent comes before the pronoun.

3. What is the common mistake relating pronoun/antecedent agreement? Frequently writers will match up a singular pronoun with a plural antecedent or vice versa. They MUST be either both singular or both plural. Example: The boy finished his dinner. Boy and his are both singular. Example: The boys finished their dinner. boys and their are both plural.

4. What are some other rules involving pronoun/antecedent agreement? A pronoun must also agree in person and gender with its antecedent. Example: Amy brought her homework to school. Amy is the antecedent and her is the pronoun to which Amy refers. The pronoun and antecedent are both third person and feminine.

5. How should you approach indefinite pronouns? Indefinite pronouns refer to unclear people or things. Though some of the following indefinite pronouns seem to have plural meanings, you should treat them as singular. Anybody, anyone, each, either, everybody, everyone, everything, neither, no one, someone, something Example: Everyone should respect his or her teacher.Instead of using the plural their, use the singular option, his or her, when you do not know the gender of the person.

6. How can you avoid the he or she in dealing with indefinite pronouns? Because using he or she can be too much, you can make the singular antecedent plural. Example: When someone has not studied, they are more likely to fail. (wrong) Replace someone with a plural arrangement. When students have not studied, they are more likely to fail. Now both the pronoun and antecedent are plural.