Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement

Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement For: 10th grade By: Lucas Launius

Don’t Be Alarmed It Is Just the Pre-quiz http://depts.dyc.edu/learningcenter/owl/exercises/agreement_pa_ex2.htm

Basics • A pronoun usually refers to something earlier in the text, which is known as its antecedent. • A pronoun and its antecedent must agree in number. Example 1: Mr. Launius is in a bad mood, so he is not to be trifled with today. Example 2: The students did not pay attention in class, so they failed the exam.

Basics II • Many indefinite pronouns are singular, and several of these lead to mistakes with pronoun-antecedent agreement. Commonly Used Singular Indefinite Pronouns: Anyone, anybody, anything, each, either, everyone, everybody, everything, neither, nobody, no one, nothing, one, somebody, someone & something

Basics II (Continued) 2. Some indefinite pronouns are always plural. Commonly Used Plural Indefinite Pronouns: Both, few, many & several 3. Some indefinite pronouns can be either singular or plural, depending on the object of the preposition in the sentence. Commonly Used Special Indefinite Pronouns: All, any, most, none & some

Basics II (continued again) When the object of the preposition is uncountable use a singular pronoun. Example 1: Anybody can master this if he (or she) studies a little bit.* Example 2: Few are taking notes, because they do not care what I am saying. Example 3: All of my students need to make their own example sentences.

And Now for Something Completely Different

Basics III Compound subjects joined by the word, “and,” are always treated as plural. Compound subjects joined by the words, “or” or “nor,” are treated as plural or singular depending on the case of the antecedent closest to the pronoun. Example 1: Cedric and Anne did not come to class today, because they are snowbound. Example 2: Guppies or a betta could live in the class aquarium, since it stays a small size. WHAT’S WRONG WITH THIS PICTURE?

Basics IV 1. Collective nouns may be treated as either plural or singular depending on their meanings. Example 1: The baseball team won its game last night. Example 2: The team members are pleased, because now they can get back to studying.

Here’s a Little Ditty about Pronouns & Antecedents http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YKmGblTbgu4&playnext=1&list=PLF0A1C10A6B5C5561&feature=results_video

For Your Learning Pleasure, I Present the Post-test • Nobody wants to volunteer, does ___? • Bill and Ted had an excellent adventure, didn’t ___? • The United States has a debt so huge that ___ may never be able to pay it off. • Many play the lotto, because ___ feel lucky. • This lesson is important, since the material covered in ___ will be on tomorrow’s quiz.

For Your Learning Pleasure, I Present the Post-test (continued) 6. Neither Steve’s cats nor his dog were allowed in his new apartment, because the landlord does not approve of largish, fuzzy pets like ___. 7. Someone will save Japan from Godzilla, won’t ___? 8. Two tigers and a bear escaped from a circus, due to ___ handler forgetting to lock ___ cages, because ___ was drunk. 9. Any expensive jewelry should be kept safe, so ___ does not get stolen. 10. Everybody loves Raymond, doesn’t ___?

Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement