Pronoun / Antecedent Agreement
PRE-TEST
Directions: The following sentences test your ability to recognize proper pronoun and antecedent agreement. Each sentence contains a single error or no error at all. No sentence contains more than one error. The error, if there is one, is underlined and lettered. If the sentence contains an error, select the one underlined part that must be changed to make this sentence correct. If the sentence is correct, select choice B. In choosing answers, follow the requirements of standard written English.
1. Neil Armstrong knew early in life that he wanted a career in aviation. No error.
A B
2. Neither Columbus nor his men ever really knew where he was. No error.
A B
3. Everyone can explore their world. No error.
A B
4. Some of the club members haven’t paid their dues. No error.
A B
5. Luis bought two records by Jay-Z and loaned it to me. No error.
A B
6. Someone left their briefcase on the bus. No error.
A B
7. Can someone please share their answer? No error.
A B
8. During a test, a student does his or her best. No error.
A B
9. All students should take your responsibilities seriously. No error.
A B
10. The news had lost most of their sting after a few days. No error.
A B
The Nine Rules of Pronoun Antecedent Agreement
A __PRONOUN______ is a word used to stand for (or take the place of) a __NOUN______.
A pronoun (referent) can refer to an earlier noun or pronoun in the sentence.
A __REFERENT______ is another word for a pronoun because it "refers back” to the _ANTECEDENT______. An antecedent is a word for which a pronoun stands.
(ante = "before")
The pronoun must agree with its antecedent in number.
Rule: A singular pronoun must replace a singular noun; a plural pronoun must replace a plural noun.
Thus, the mechanics of the sentence above look like this:
Here are nine pronoun-antecedent agreement rules. These rules are related to the rules found in subject-verb agreement.
1. A phrase or clause between the subject and verb does not change the number of the antecedent.
Example:
2. Indefinite pronouns as antecedents
· Singular indefinite pronoun antecedents take singular pronoun referents.
Example:
· Plural indefinite pronoun antecedents require plural referents.
PLURAL: several, few, both, many
Example:
· Some indefinite pronouns that are modified by a prepositional phrase may be either singular or plural.
EITHER SINGULAR OR PLURAL: some, any, none, all, most
When the object of the preposition is singular, use a singular referent pronoun!
Examples:
Sugar is singular; therefore, the sentence has a singular referent pronoun.
Jewelry is singular; therefore, the sentence has a singular referent pronoun.
When the object of the preposition is plural, use a plural referent pronoun!
Examples:
Marbles are plural; therefore, the sentence has a plural referent pronoun.
Jewels are plural; therefore, the sentence has a plural referent pronoun.
3. Compound subjects joined by and always take a plural referent.
Example:
4. With compound subjects joined by or/nor, the referent pronoun agrees with the antecedent closer to the pronoun.
Example #1 (plural antecedent closer to pronoun):
Example #2 (singular antecedent closer to pronoun):
Note: Example #1, with the plural antecedent closer to the pronoun, creates a smoother sentence
than example #2, which forces the use of the singular "his or her."
5. Collective Nouns (group, jury, crowd, team, etc.) may be singular or plural, depending on meaning.
In this example, the jury is acting as one unit; therefore, the referent pronoun is singular.
In this example, the jury members are acting as twelve individuals; therefore, the referent
pronoun is plural.
In this example, the jury members are acting as twelve individuals; therefore, the referent
pronoun is plural.
6. Titles of single entities. (books, organizations, countries, etc.) take a singular referent.
EXAMPLES:
7. Plural form subjects with a singular meaning take a singular referent. (news, measles, mumps, physics, etc)
EXAMPLE:
8. Every or Many a before a noun or a series of nouns requires a singular referent.
EXAMPLES:
9. The number of vs A number of before a subject:
· The number of is singular.
· A number of is plural.