NOTES

PRONOUN AND ANTECEDENT AGREEMENT

PRONOUNS AND ANTECEDENT AGREEMENT

Since pronouns are words that take place of nouns, they always have nouns called antecedents, usually in the same sentence or the one just before it, to which they refer. Pronouns must agree with their antecedents in number, person, and gender.

1. PRONOUNS AND ANTECEDENTS AGREE IN NUMBER:

• Singular: one (he, she, it)• Words ending in body (somebody, everybody)• Words ending in one (someone, everyone)• Words ending in thing (everything, something)• Either, Neither• Each

• Plural: more than one (they)• Some• Many• All• Both

EXAMPLES

The car lost its tailpipe.

(Car and its are both singular.)

Most people enjoy their vacations.

(People and their are both plural.)

2. PRONOUNS AND ANTECEDENTS AGREE IN PERSON:

The college changed its name.

(College and its are both in the third person.)

You should wear your hair short.

(You and your are both in the second person.)

3. PRONOUNS AND ANTECEDENTS AGREE IN GENDER:

Sharon had her computer repaired.

(Sharon and her are feminine.)

John found his sister. (John and his are masculine)

MOST MISTAKES HAVE TO DO WITH NUMBER. DO NOT SHIFT FROM A SINGULAR NOUN TO A PLURAL

PRONOUN, OR VICE VERSA.

Incorrect: The company changed their hiring policy

this year. (company is singular; their is plural)

Correct: The company changed its hiring policy

this year.

Incorrect shift:

Athletes who use steroids often underestimate how harmful it is.

(steroids is plural; it is singular)

Correct:

Athletes who use steroids often underestimate how harmful they are.

LET’S PRACTICE:

1. Every woman in the audience knows this is true for (them, her, she).

2. A law that is not enforced loses (their, his, its) validity.

3. Steps are being taken to prevent looting because (they, it) causes enormous damage.

4. Drugs are an increasing problem among teenagers, and (they, he, it) may cause even worse problems in the next decade.

5. A firefighter who stays on the force for twenty years receives (his/her, their) retirement benefits.

6. One female biologist specializing in cell research decided to broaden their range of knowledge by earning a second degree in chemistry.

BASIC EXERCISE: WRITE DOWN THE CORRECT PRONOUN BASED ON THE ANTECEDENT.

1. James and Jeremy decided to leave (his/their) job at the same time.

2. A woman in the audience left (her/their) handbag on the seat.

3. A man who has taken anger management training won’t lose (his/their) temper so often.

INTERMEDIATE EXERCISE:

4. Drugs have created political problems in many countries; (it/they) has/have become a source of crime and corruption.

5. Books that have prices listed on (its/their) covers will be sold at 25 percent discount.

6. The state government is supposed to have (its/their) budget ready by April 1.

CHALLENGE EXERCISE:

1. The subject of multiple intelligences is taken up in the course, and they are discussed in the third chapter of the textbook as well.

2. Cultural theory, media studies, and gender studies flourished during the 1990s, and it is still popular at many graduate schools.

3. One female biologist specializing in cell research decided to broaden their range of knowledge by earning a second degree in chemistry.

1. Crime rates declined during the last decade in major cities; experts say it fell because of at least three main factors.

2. Legal interpretation of texts is different from literary interpretation because they require that the reader know the legal meaning of words.

3. Books about gifted children, also called child prodigies, have often stressed the mystique of genius, implying that he gets his usual abilities just from genes and not from hard work.

4. A student training in a music conservatory today learns to adapt to the realities of the music business which they will face as soon as they graduate.