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Mini-Lesson #88 From UWF Writing Lab’s 101 Grammar Mini-Lessons Series Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement. Let’s Go Over the Basics! A pronoun gets its meaning from a specific one-word antecedent, usually a noun or another pronoun that precedes it in the sentence.
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Mini-Lesson #88 From UWF Writing Lab’s 101 Grammar Mini-Lessons Series Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement
Let’s Go Over the Basics! • A pronoun gets its meaning from a specific one-word antecedent, usually a noun or another pronoun that precedes it in the sentence. • Every pronoun must agree with its antecedent in number and gender. • Number refers to whether the pronoun and the antecedent are singular or plural. • Gender refers to whether the pronoun and antecedent are masculine (he, his, him), feminine (she, her, hers), or neuter (it, its)
Some examples… • The woman has reached her decision. • The man has reached his decision. • The jury has reached its decision. • The voters have reached their decision. • Each voter has reached his or her decision.
Some examples… • The woman has reached her decision. • her – singular feminine pronounwoman – singular antecedent • 2. The man has reached his decision. • his – singular masculine pronounman – singular antecedent • 3. The jury has reached its decision. • its – singular neuter pronounjury – singular antecedent
Some examples… • The voters have reached their decision. • their – plural pronounvoters – plural antecedent • Each voter has reached his or her decision. • his or her – singular pronouneach voter – singular genderless antecedent • Use “his or her,” not “his/her” when the antecedent is a nameless, dual gender noun.
Let’s Try One. The team has never won on (their/its) home court. *Use its when the antecedent is a collective noun with a singular meaning.
The coalition launched a campaign to publicize (their/its) cause. Thomas or Vic should have raised (their/his) hand. *Use his when the antecedent is two masculine nouns joined by or or nor.
Last one, I promise. Each student is responsible for doing (their/his or her) own assignment. The dancer who fails to practice risks injuring (themselves/him or herself).
Each student is responsible for doing (their/his or her) own assignment. The dancer who fails to practice risks injuring (themselves/himself or herself).