Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement

Question 1

What does a pronoun do

Answer 1

Refers to a noun or TAKES the place of that noun, you have to use the correct pronoun so that your reader clearly understands which noun your pronoun is referring to

Question 2

What should pronouns do

Answer 2

• Agree in number
• Two or more singular nouns joined by AND make a plural antecendent
• When each or every precedes tow or more singular nouns joined by AND , you have a singular antecendent
• Agree in Person

Question 3

Agree in number

Answer 3

If the pronoun take the place of a singular noun, you have to use a singular pronoun. If the pronoun takes the place of a plural noun, you have to use a plural pronoun. EX: If a student parks a car on campus, he or she (not they) has to buy a parking sticker (singular).
If students park on campus, they have to buy a parking sticker (plural)

Question 4

Singular pronouns

Answer 4

• He, she, it
• Him, her, one
• His, her, hers, its
• himself, herself, itself, oneself

Question 5

Plural pronouns

Answer 5

• They
• Them
• Their, theirs
• Themselves

Question 6

Two or more singular nouns joined by AND make a plural antecedent

Answer 6

The new puppy AND kitten have destroyed THEIR owner’s sofa

Question 7

When EACH or EVERY precedes two or more singular nouns joined by AND, you have a singular antecedent

Answer 7

EVERY new puppy AND kitten destroys ITS owner’s sofa
EACH new puppy, kitten, rabbit, tarantula, python, parrot, turtle, and ferret destroys ITS owner’s sofa
NOTE: use caution with the conjunctions of: either, or, neither, nor, not only, but also
NOT ONLY did Lesly but also Megan fixed HER chili for Sunday Bears game
EITHER John or max will bring HIS guitar to class

Question 8

Indefinite pronouns are always singular

Answer 8

Each, either, neither, anyone, anybody, anything, everyone, everybody, everything, no one, nobody, nothing, someone, somebody, something

EVERYBODY ought to do HIS OR HER best
NEITHER of the girls brought HER umbrella
ANYBODY in the room needs to take out HIS OR HER

Question 9

Agree in person

Answer 9

IF you are writing in “first person”(I), don’t confuse your reader by switching to the “second person” (you) or “third person” (he, she, they, it, etc). Similarly, if you are using the “second person” don’t switch to “first” or “third”.
When a person comes to class, he or she should have his or her homework ready
(Not when a person comes to class, you should have your homework ready).