Vikram Thakor

Andres

Christina

What is pronoun-antecedent agreement?

• Pronoun antecedent agreement is when the pronoun agrees in number (referring to singular or plural) and person (referring to first, second, or third person) with its antecedent.

• A singular pronoun refers to a singular antecedent.

• A plural pronoun refers to a plural antecedent

Pronoun/Antecedent

• A pronoun takes the place of a noun.

• An antecedent is the word, phrase, or clause to which a pronoun refers.

Ex-

The teacher forgot her book

her is the pronoun, and teacher is the antecedent

Singular

If The Antecedent Is Singular, The Pronoun Should Be Singular

Ex-

Each of these computers has their drawbacks

Singular Plural

Change The Plural To Singular

Each Of these computers has its drawbacks

Singular

Plural

• If The Antecedent Is Plural, The Pronoun Should Be Plural.

Ex-

The store is looking for clerks who knows about gardening

Not Plural. Change It To Know. So The pronoun *who* refers to *clerks.* The verb must agree with this plural subject.

The store is looking for clerks who know about gardening

More Examples

Everyone should make their own decision.

PluralChange It To Singular

Everyone should make

his or her own decision

Singular

More Examples

Use a plural pronoun when each member of the group acts as an individual.

A Person Who Cares About The Environment Will

Recycle Their Aluminum Cans

Person Is Singular Plural

People Who Care About The Environment Will recycle Their Aluminum Cans

General rule

• Remember this if the pronoun contains the words "one" "thing," or "body," then the pronoun is singular

Singular

Another

Anything

Everybody

Either

No one

Somebody

Anybody

Each

Everyone

Neither

Nothing

Someone

Plural

All

Few

Most

Several

Both

Many

Others

someMake sure that a verb agrees with its subject

Sources

• http://depts.dyc.edu/learningcenter/owl/agreement_pa.htm

• http://www.penandpage.com/EngMenu/grampa.htm

• http://www.uvsc.edu/owl/tests/agreemnt/agreemnt.html