Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement

1
Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement
2
Agreement in Number

• A plural antecedent takes a plural pronoun.
• Marla and Denise played their instruments.
• Our teachers completed their grades.
• A singular antecedent takes a singular pronoun.
• Jaden will bring his books.
• Abigail dislikes her math class.

3
Collective Nouns

• Use a singular pronoun to refer to a collective
  noun whose parts act as a single unit.
• The orchestra will give its final show.
• Use a plural pronoun to refer to a collective
  noun whose parts act individually.
• The orchestra have tuned up their
• instruments.

4
Pronouns Joined by Or or Nor

• A plural pronoun is used to refer to nouns and
  pronouns joined by and.
• James and Denise went to their houses.
• A pronoun that refers to nouns or pronouns joined
  by or or nor should agree with the noun or
  pronoun nearest to it.
• Neither the conductor nor the musicians
• have taken their places on stage.

5
Agreement in Gender

• The gender of a pronoun must be the same as the
  gender of its antecedent
• Feminine Masculine Neuter
• she, her, hers he, him, his it, its

6
Agreement in Gender Contd

• When the antecedent of a singular pronoun could
  be either feminine or masculine, use the phrase
  his or her.
• Each musician played his or her solo.
• If using his or her sounds awkward, try making
  both the pronoun and its antecedent plural.
• All the musicians played their solos.

7
Agreement in Person

• The person of a pronoun must match the person of
  its antecedent.
• All students should bring their books.
• The pronouns one, everyone, and everybody are
  third person and singular.
• Everyone has his or her favorite song.