Pronoun Agreement

1. Pronoun Agreement

2. Pronouns replace nouns or other pronouns in a sentence so that you do not have to repeat them.Theresa let me borrowTheresa’ssweater.You have met Marc. Marc is my cousin.

3. The noun or pronoun that a pronoun replaces is called the antecedent, which means “something that comes before”. In most cases, a pronoun refers to a specific antecedent nearby.She gave out the papers. They were very complicated.

4. There are four types of pronouns:Subject pronounsObject pronounsPossessive pronounsReflexive pronounsThese different types show the way pronouns can be used in a sentence.

5. A pronoun’s case is determined by its role in the sentence: as subject, object, or indicator of possession.When a pronoun follows a version of the verb to be (a linking verb), it explains the subject.The killer was she.This is he.

6. A subject pronoun refers to the person, place, or thing that is the subject of a verb.An object pronoun either receives the action of a verb or is part of a prepositional phrase.

7. I You He, she, it We You they Me You Him, her, it Us You them Subject Pronouns vsObject Pronouns

8. Possessive Adjectives and Pronouns show ownership

9. My Your His, her, its Our Your their Mine Yours His, hers, Ours Yours theirs Possessive adjectivesvs possessive pronouns

10. Possessive Forms of NounsAdd apostrophe + -s to singular nouns and irregular plural nounsAdd apostrophe only to plural nouns ending in –sNames that end in –s take both apostrophe only or apostrophe + -sUse “the ______ of ___ for Inanimate objects. Do not use apostrophe + s.

11. PossessivesThe bride’s dressMy parents’ houseThe men’s suitsThe women’s dressesCharles’ wife or Charles’s wife.

12. WHOSE + NOUN +Aux. +Subject + verb?Whose book is this?Whose car did you see in front of the house?Whose name will you keep?

13. If a noun is singular the pronoun must be singular as well. The pronoun must agree with the noun or pronoun it refers to. Try to make pronouns consistent in person.

14. Identify PronounsA bank needs to find customers wherever it can.Many poor people feel that they can depend on big banks.

15. Please correct.After a caller presses 1, you get a recording.I love peanut butter, but you can’t eat a peanut butter sandwich in my house.

16. Reflexive pronouns • Myself • Yourself • Himself, herself, itself • Ourselves • Yourselves • Themselves

17. Three pronoun trouble spots1.Compound subjects and objects2. comparisons3.sentences that need who or whom

18. 1.Compound subjects and objectsA compound subject has more than one subject joined by a conjunction.Tim and I work together.A compound object has more than one object joined by a conjunction.John baked the cookies for Jim and me.

19. To decide what type of pronoun to use in a compound construction, try leaving out the other part of the compound and the conjunction. Then say the sentence aloud to yourself.Jack and (me I) like hot dogs.The package was for Karen and (she her).

20. If a pronoun is part of a compound object in a prepositional phrase, use an object pronoun.I will keep that information just between you and (I me).

21. 2. ComparisonsTo decide whether to use a subject or object pronoun in a comparison, try adding the implied words and saying the sentence aloud or finish the comparison in your mind.To find comparisons, look for the words than or as

22. The professor knows more than (us we).The professor knows more than we know.Jen likes other professors more than (he him).Jen likes other professors more than she likes him.

23. 3. Choosing between Who and WhomWho is always a subject; use this form if the pronoun performs an action.Whom is always an object; use this form if the pronoun does not perform an action.

24. When the pronoun who or whom is followed by a verb use Who.When the pronoun who or whom is followed by a noun or pronoun, use Whom.

25. The person (who whom) spoke was boring.The person (who whom) I met was boring.

26. Two types of words often cause errors in pronoun agreement: indefinite pronouns and collective nouns

27. Most indefinite pronouns are either always singular or always plural.

28. Indefinite pronounssomeone anyone no one everyonesomebody anybody nobody everybodysomething anything nothing everythingeach either of neither of

29. An indefinite pronoun does not refer to a specific person, place or thing; it is general.

30. Using a masculine pronoun (he, his, or him)alone to refer to a singular indefinite pronoun such as everyone is now considered sexist.Someone forgot his or her coat.

31. One way to avoid using he or shehim or herhis or heris to change the sentence so that the pronoun refers to a plural noun or pronoun.The children forgot their coats.

32. Please correct.A student should buy her books before the first day of class.Neither of the brothers has his or their own bedroom.

33. A collective noun names a group that acts as a single unit. • Audience group • Class jury • Company society • College team • Committee police • Crowd faculty • Family band • Government couple

34. In American English, a collective noun is singular when the group acts as a unit and plural when the members of the group act individually. In British English, collective nouns are plural.

35. The band played its biggest hit at the end of the concert.(acting as a unit)The band packed up their instruments and left.(acting individually)

36. The audience took (its, their) _______ seats.

37. The salesclerk gave Jim and (I, me)___________the wrong packages.(I, me) Molly and __________ searched the piles of sweaters for my size.

38. The movers or (we, us) _______ will pack the dishes in the kitchen.Dr, Amin wants Julia and (he, him) _______ as lab assistants.

39. Marcus is a better basketball player than (I, me) __________ The news report disturbed Harriet as much as (I, me)________. Carol always liked Julio more than (I, me) _________.

40. Avoid ambiguous or vague pronoun referenceAn ambiguous pronoun reference is one in which the pronoun does not refer clearly to any particular person or thing.

41. I threw my bag on the table and it broke.I put the chicken in the oven and the broccoli in the microwave. An hour later it burned.Sasha carefully removed the vase from the coffee table before dusting it.

42. I went to see my advisor, but they said that she was sick.During finals week, you always know that students are working hard.The paint had a few blisters in it near the ceiling, but for the most part, they did an excellent job.

43. Either… or and neither… norpronouns agree with the nearer subjectEither John or his parents forgot their jacket.Either John’s parents or John forgot his jacket.Either John or his parents forgot a jacket.

44. Remember:Don’t use it or they to refer to unnamed things or person.Make sure that he or she refers to only one person

45. Don’t use this or that to refer to an entire idea or action. Give this or that a specific antecedent or replace this or that with specific words.The teacher said that this is isn’t a good idea.

46. Rose and Kyle are talking. Change boldfaced nouns to pronouns and possessive adjectives.Rose: Jane lost Jane’s camera on Jane, Kyle, Rose, Andrea, Peter and Donald’s adventure trip last week. Does Kyle know where the camera is?Kyle: Kyle found Jane’s camera in Kyle’s backpack. Kyle put the camera there by mistake. Kyle will bring the camera to Rose today.Rose: Oh, no! Not to Rose! Could Kyle please take the camera to Donald and Peter’s house? Jane wants to give the camera to Donald andPeter. Donald and Peter need the camera this week. Jane bought Jane a new camera. Jane doesn’t need Jane’s old camera anymore.