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Pronoun Problems

Chapter Eighteen. Pronoun Problems. Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement. Writers often use pronouns to take the place of nouns. If you do this, you must be certain that each pronoun agrees with the noun it refers to. Example:

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Pronoun Problems

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  1. Chapter Eighteen Pronoun Problems

  2. Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement • Writers often use pronouns to take the place of nouns. • If you do this, you must be certain that each pronoun agrees with the noun it refers to. • Example: • The photographs meant a great deal to him because they belonged to his grandmother. • [Photographs is theantecedentofthey, which is third person plural.]

  3. Pronoun Reference • If a pronoun does not refer to a specific word, it may be unclear. • Example: • Mark told Todd that he needed to buy film. • Did Mark or Todd need to buy film?

  4. Pronoun Reference • If a pronoun does not refer to a specific word, it may be unclear. • Example: • The editor told the staff members not to mail the photographs because they were too important. • What does they refer too?

  5. Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement Pronouns and antecedents must agree inperson andnumber. Revised: If a person wants to become a photographer, he or she must have the proper equipment for lighting. Error in Person: If a person wants to become a portrait photographer, you must have the proper equipment for lighting.

  6. Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement Pronouns and antecedents must agree inperson andnumber. Error in Number: When a student videotapes a sporting event, they often miss some of the action. Revised:When a student videotapes a sporting event, he or sheoften misses some of the action.

  7. Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement • Avoid sexism • Be consistent in use of gender. • Avoid sexist pronouns. • To avoid sexism, use alternatives to the generic he. • -Use masculine and feminine pronouns together. • -Revise the sentence by using the plural. • -Reconstruct to eliminate the pronoun. Examples: 1.The person who planned this exhibit knew what he or she was doing. 2. The people who planned this exhibit knew what they were doing. 3. The people who planned this exhibit did an excellent job.

  8. Checkpoints 1. An indefinite pronoun such aseverybody orsomethingis usually singular. Anyone who has developed his or her own film must be familiar with dark rooms. Each of the photographers bought his or her camera.

  9. Checkpoints 2. A collective noun which refers to a group as one unit is usually singular. The group will have its meeting this Friday. The collection on display is in the gallery.

  10. Checkpoints 3. Compound antecedents require aplural pronoun. The zoom lens and the wide-angle lensrequire special situations for their use.

  11. Use a Consistent Point of View:Pronouns Remember, do not shift point of view unnecessarily. Ex.: One of the fringe benefits of my job is that you can use a company credit card for gasoline. I

  12. Anyone can be successful in school if theymake the right choices. Revision: Anyonecan be successful in school ifhe or shemakes the right choices. Or Studentscan be successful in school iftheymake the right choices. Practice Review Incorrect

  13. When students do not understand what they read, they should note their questions and find answers. Practice Review Correct

  14. Students should realize that education supports your long term goals. The pronoun“your”does not refer to students. Revision: Students should realize that education supportstheirlong term goals. Practice Review Incorrect

  15. Practice Review Libraries are important for students because they provide information. Incorrect Does THEY refer to students or libraries?

  16. Students should copy the material that the instructor writes on the board, and you should review these notes within 24 hours. Incorrect: The subject shifts toyouwhen the subject was students. Revision: Students should copy the material that the instructor writes on the board, andtheyshould review these notes within 24 hours. Practice Review Incorrect

  17. Each of us must take responsibility for the quality of their own life. Incorrect: Each is singular. Revision: Each of us must take responsibility for the quality ofhis or herlife. Or… Individualsmust take responsibility for the quality of their own lives. Practice Review Incorrect

  18. Practice Review When students join clubs and organizations, they increase their chances of staying in school. Correct

  19. The most important thing a student can do is to organize your time. Incorrect: Students is plural. Revision: The most important thing thatstudents can do is to organizetheirtime. Practice Review Incorrect

  20. Jamie dropped the heavy camera on her foot and broke it. Incorrect: Did the camera break or did her foot? Revision: The camera broke when Jamie dropped it on her foot. Practice Review Incorrect

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