Antecedent / Pronoun Agreement

1. Antecedent / Pronoun Agreement

2. Antecedent / Pronoun Agreement • Ante means before • Cede means to go • An Antecedent is the noun or pronoun that the pronoun stands for.

3. Agreement • If the antecedent is singular, the pronoun must be singular. • If the antecedent is plural,the pronoun must be plural.

4. Singular or Plural Problems • Indefinite pronouns • It is hard to tell gender (male or female) • or number (singular or plural)

5. Singular Indefinite Pronouns • Everyone Everybody • Someone Somebody • Each Either • None Neither • ALL – depends on its use in the sentence. • ALL of the water IS gone. Singular.

6. Plural Indefinite Pronouns • Both Few • Many Several • Some All • All can be singular or plural. • All of the streams are dry.

7. Gender • Gender refers to male or female. • If the gender of the third person singular is not known, use either he or she.

8. Gender • If the third person singular gender is unknown, DO NOT USE THE PLURAL. • They and their can not be substituted for he or she or for his or her.

9. Gender • He or she • His or Her • Can be used instead of just a single pronoun. • Each one must bring his own snack. • Each one must bring her own snack. • Each one must bring his or her own snack.

10. Which is correct? Everybody threw their towels in the trash. Everybody threw his or her towel in the trash.

11. Answer • Everybody is singular (every single person) so • Everybody threw his or her towel in the trash • is correct.

12. Which is correct? • Someone put her books on my desk. • Someone put their books on my desk.

13. Answer • Someone is singular. • Someone put her books on my desk • is correct. • Think: Someone put his or her books on my desk.

14. Which one is correct? • Did anyone leave their pencil here? • Did anyone leave his pencil here?

15. Answer • Anyone is singular, so • Did anyone leave his pencil here • is correct. • Think: Did anyone leave his or her pencil here?

16. Which is correct? • Each of us have their own problems. • Each of us has his or her own problems.

17. Answer • Each, has and his (or her) are singular, so • Each of us has his or her own problems • is correct.

18. The problem with or • When two antecedents are joined with or, choose the pronoun that agrees with the closest antecedent.

19. Which is correct? • Julie orJustin lost his book. • Julie or Justin lost their book.

20. Answer • You would say • Justin lost his book, so Julie or Justin lost his book Is correct.

21. Which is correct? • The president or the secretary left their notebook. • The president or the secretary left his or her notebook.

22. Answer • Secretary is singular, so • The president and the secretary left his or her notebook • Is correct.

23. Which is correct? • Andy or Ava dropped their lunch. • Andy orAva dropped his or her lunch.

24. Answer • Ava is singular, so • Andy or Ava dropped his or her lunch • Is correct.

25. Which is correct? • The teacher or her students left their trash. • The teacher or the students left his or her trash.

26. Answer • Students and their are plural, so • The teacher or her students left all their trash.

27. Antecedents with and • If two antecedents are joined with and, choose the plural pronoun.

28. Jessie and her friend took THEIR lunches to the park. Even though friend is singular, use the plural pronoun THEIR.

29. John and Joe left their lunches at home. • Even though Joe is singular, use the plural pronoun THEIR.