Pronoun Antecedent Agreement

PronounsANTECEDENTS

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A Pronoun is like a…………………..

Pronouns stand in for nouns or noun-phrases. So, like a good __________, a pronoun needs to have similar qualities to what it represents. This is known as the antecedent.

Antecedent pronoun

A pronoun is like a stunt doublePronouns stand in for nouns or noun-phrases. So, like a good stunt double, the pronoun needs to have similar qualities to what it represents. This is known as the antecedent.

Antecedent pronoun

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Pronouns must agree with their antecedents in three ways:

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Pronouns must agree with their antecedents in three ways:

number

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Pronouns must agree with their antecedents in three ways:

numberperson

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Pronouns must agree with their antecedents in three ways:

numberperson

gender

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Gender

Pronouns need to match their antecedent.

You wouldn’t say “Edward Cullen got her car washed.” Or,“Sometimes my girlfriend lets me use its computer.”

Masculine Feminine Neuter

He, him, his She, her, hers

It, its, his or her

Number

Pronouns need to match their antecedent in being singular or plural. This is often a problem when dealing with compound antecedents.

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Number

Rule 1: Use a singular pronoun when there are two singular antecedents separated by or or nor.

Example: Either Carl or Frederique will bring his book to school today.

Number:

Rule 2: Use a Plural pronoun when the antecedents are connected by and.

Example:Jon and I are eating our lunches early because We are extremely hungry.

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Number Rule 3: If either of the antecedents separated by or or nor are plural, then the pronoun should be plural.

Example: Neither Carla nor Carla’s parents will be using their car for a while

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PersonThis error is usually easy to hear, but make sure that the pronoun is in the same person (1st, 2nd, or 3rd) to match the antecedent.

Incorrect:Hedrick is getting ready so you look tough at the dance party.

PersonThis error is usually easy to hear, but make sure that the pronoun is in the same person (1st,2nd, or 3rd) to match the antecedent.

Incorrect:Hedrick is getting ready so you look tough at the dance party.

Third person

Second person

PersonThis error is usually easy to hear, but make sure that the pronoun is in the same person (1st,2nd, or 3rd) to match the antecedent.

Incorrect:Hedrick is getting ready so you look tough at the dance party.

Third person

Second person

This sentence means that by getting ready , Hedrick makes other people look tough.

PersonThis one error usually easy to hear, but make sure that the pronoun is in the same person (1st,2nd, or 3rd) to match the antecedent.

Incorrect:Hedrick is getting ready so you look tough at the dance party.

Is this Hedrick?

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PersonThis one is usually easy to hear, but make sure that the pronoun is in the same person (1st,2nd, or 3rd) to match the antecedent.

Correct:Hedrick is getting ready so he looks tough at the dance party.

There’s Hedrick!

Fatal Mistake!

Using their as a singular pronoun is always wrong! The following sentences are incorrect uses of their:• The guy at the door was knocking until their

knuckles hurt.• In 1950 a break-dancer would use their skills

very differently from break-dancers today.• Each plumber has their own tools.

Fatal Mistake!

Using their as a singular pronoun is always wrong! The following sentences are incorrect uses of their:• The guy at the door was knocking until his

knuckles hurt.• In 1950 a break-dancer would use their skills

very differently from break-dancers today.• Each plumber has their own tools.

Fatal Mistake!

Using their as a singular pronoun is always wrong! The following sentences are incorrect uses of their:• The guy at the door was knocking until his

knuckles hurt.• A break-dancer in the 1970’s would use his or

her skills very differently from break-dancers today.

• Each plumber has their own tools.

Fatal Mistake!

Using their as a singular pronoun is always wrong! The following sentences are incorrect uses of their:• The guy at the door was knocking until his

knuckles hurt.• A break-dancer in the 1970’s would use his or

her skills very differently from break-dancers today.

• Each plumber has his or her own tools.

Agreement with indefinite pronouns

Indefinite pronouns can change the number of the antecedent.Example:The football players left their shoes at home.

Agreement with indefinite pronouns

Indefinite pronouns can change the number of the antecedent.Example:The football players left their shoes at home.

pluralCorrect!

Agreement with indefinite pronouns

Indefinite pronouns can change the number of the antecedent.Example:The football players left their shoes at home.

Each of the football players left their shoes at home.

pluralCorrect!

Agreement with indefinite pronouns

Indefinite pronouns can change the number of the antecedent.Example:The football players left their shoes at home.

Each of the football players left their shoes at home.

plural

singular plural

Correct!

Incorrect!

Agreement with indefinite pronouns

Indefinite pronouns can change the number of the antecedent.Example:The football players left their shoes at home.

Each of the football players left his shoes at home.

plural

singular singular

Correct!

Correct!

Indefinite Pronouns

• Examples of singular indefinite pronouns: each, either, one

• Examples of plural indefinite pronouns: all, many, several

• Could be singular or plural: some.

Singular

Some of the wall had lost its color.

Plural

Some of the people started to move their bodies to the music.

Reflexive PronounsRule: only use a reflexive pronoun (myself, yourself, himself, herself) if it refers to a person already mentioned earlier in the sentence.Example Incorrect:The hovercraft was built by Lenny and myself.

Reflexive PronounsRule: only use a reflexive pronoun (myself, yourself, himself, herself) if it refers to a person already mentioned earlier in the sentence.Example Incorrect:The hovercraft was built by Lenny and myself.

Refers to nothing from earlier in the sentence

Reflexive PronounsRule: only use a reflexive pronoun (myself, yourself, himself, herself) if it refers to a person already mentioned earlier in the sentence.Example Correct:The hovercraft was built by Lenny and me.

Example Correct:I just threw up on myself.

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PronounAntecedent