Agreement of Pronoun and Antecedent

Agreement of Pronoun and Antecedent

CINDERELLA C. BAÑARES

MAED-1

PRONOUN* It refers to a noun or pronoun or another pronoun, which is called the pronoun’s antecedent.

* It should agree in number, gender, and person with its antecedent.

1. Singular pronouns refer to singular antecedents.Plural pronouns refer to plural antecedents. SINGULARSammy Davis, Jr., made his movie debut in 1931

PLURALThe hikers took their canteens with them.

2. Some singular pronouns indicate gender.

Examples:

Claire expressed her doubts about the plan.

Francis gave his mother flowers.

The ship came loose from its moorings, and it gently drifted out to sea.

Masculine Feminine Neuter He, him, his, and

himself she, her, hers, and

herself it, its, and itself

3. Person indicates whether a pronoun refers to the one speaking (first person), the one spoken to (second person), or the one spoken about (third person).

FIRST PERSON

I need a transcript of my grades.

SECOND PERSON

Have you fastened your seat belt?

THIRD PERSON

He said they made their own costumes.

Indefinite Pronouns

* Some indefinite pronouns are singular, and some are plural. Other indefinite pronouns can be either singular or plural, depending on the meaning.

1. Use singular pronouns to refer to the indefinite pronouns anybody, anyone, anything, each, either, everybody, everyone, everything, neither, nobody, no one, nothing, one, somebody, someone, and something.

Examples: Each of the boys brought his own mitt.

One of the girls left her sweater on the us.

**If the antecedent may be either masculine or feminine, use both the masculine and feminine pronouns to refer to it.

Examples: Anyone who is going on the field trip needs to bring his or her lunch.

Any interested person may send his or her resume.

NOTE:

In informal situations, plural pronouns are often used to refer to singular antecedents that can be either masculine or feminine.

INFORMAL

Everybody stayed late at the dance because they were enjoying themselves.

**Such usage is becoming increasingly popular in writing. In fact, using a singular pronoun to refer to a singular antecedent that is clearly plural in meaning may be misleading in some cases.

MISLEADING

Everybody stayed late at the dance because he or she was enjoying himself or herself.

**(Since Everybody is clearly plural in meaning, the singular constructions he or she and himself or herself, though grammatically correct, are confusing.)

NOTE: In formal situations, it is best to revise such sentences to make them both clear and grammatically correct.

Example:All of the students stayed late at the dance because they were enjoying themselves.

2. Use plural pronouns to refer to the indefinite pronouns both, few, many, and several.

Examples:

Both of the debaters persuasively presented their arguments.

Several of these coins are worth more than their face values.

3. Use a singular or plural pronoun to refer to the indefinite pronoun all, any, more, most, none, or some, depending on how it is used in the sentence.

Examples:

Some of the computer terminology is difficult to understand; perhaps Ms. Alvarez can clarify its meaning. **Some refers to the singular noun terminology.

Some of the computer terms are difficult to understand; perhaps Ms. Alvarez can clarify their meanings.**Some refers to the plural noun terms.

COMPOUND ANTECEDENTS* Use a plural noun to refer to two or more antecedents joined by and. Examples:

If Joann and Benjamin call, tell them that I will not be home until this evening.

Pilar, Kimberly, and Laura have donated their time.

**Antecedents joined by and may name only one person, place, thing or idea. Such a compound antecedent takes a singular pronoun. Example:

The corned beef and cabbage was delicious; I ate two servings of it.

*Use a singular pronoun to refer to two or more singular antecedents joined by or or nor.

Examples:

Either Renaldo or Philip always finishes his geometry homework in class.

Neither Cindy nor Carla thinks she is ready to audition.

**Using a pronoun to refer to antecedents of different number may create an unclear or awkward sentence.

UNCLEAR

Neither the backup singers nor the lead vocalist was satisfied with her performance.

(Her agrees with the nearest antecedent, vocalist. However, it is unclear whether all the performers were dissatisfied with their own performances or all the performers were dissatisfied only with the lead vocalist’s performance.

UNCLEAR

Neither the lead vocalist nor the backup singers were satisfied with their performance.

(Their agrees with the nearest antecedent, singers. However, it is unclear whether all the performers were dissatisfied with the entire group’s performance or all the performers were dissatisfied only with the backup singers’ performance.)

AWKWARD

Neither the lead vocalist nor the backup singers were satisfied with her or their performance.

* It is the best to revise sentences to avoid unclear and awkward constructions like the preceding ones.

REVISEDNeither the vocalist nor the backup singers were satisfied with theperformance.

All of the singers were dissatisfied with their performance.

SPECIAL PROBLEMS IN PRONOUN-ANTECEDENT AGREEMENT

* A collective noun can be either singular or plural depending on how it is used.

* A collective noun takes a singular pronoun when the noun refers to the group as a unit. A collective noun takes a plural pronoun when the noun refers to the individual members or parts of the group. Example:

The committee comprised three juniors and two seniors; its chairperson was Angelo. (Angelo was chairperson of the committee as a unit.)

The committee discussed their varied schedules. (The members of the committee had different schedules.)

*Some nouns that are plural in form take singular pronouns.

The following nouns take singular pronouns

civics gymnastics mumps

economics mathematics news

electronics measles physics

genetics molasses summons

Examples:

We bought several jars of molasses. Would you like to have a jar of it?

I’m looking forward to studying physics next year. It is my favorite subject.

However, a few nouns take plural pronouns even when they refer to single items.

Examples:

I have misplaced my eyeglasses. Have you seen them?

Wherever the Olympics are held, they attract athletes from all over the world.

binoculars pants shears

eyeglasses pliers shorts

Olympics slacks scissors

** Many nouns ending in –ics, such as acoustics, athletics, ethics, politics, and tactics, may take singular or plural pronouns. Generally, when such a noun names a science, a system, or a skill, the noun takes a singular pronoun. When the noun names qualities, operations, activities, or individual items, the noun takes a plural pronoun.

Examples:

She has chosen to pursue a career in politics; she has always shown great interest in it. (Politics is thought of as a system.)

Some voters support her politics, while other voters oppose them.

*Even when plural in form, the title of a creative work (such as a book, song, movie, or painting) or the name of a country or a city generally takes a singular pronoun.

Examples:

I have just finished reading Nina Otero’s “The Bells of Santa Cruz.” Have you read it?

Star Wars is my favourite movie. George Lucas wrote and directed it.

The Netherlands, also called Holland, is situated on the North Sea; its capital is Amsterdam.

Located forty-two miles from the Rio Grande is Las Cruces, New Mexico. Not far from it is University Park, the home of New Mexico State University.

Avid golfers may enjoy dining at Caddies because it is designed to resemble a golf course and the menu has a golf theme.

NOTE: The names of some organizations, though plural in form, may take singular or plural pronouns. When the name refers to the organization as a unit, it takes a singular pronoun. When the name refers to the members of the organization, it takes a plural noun.

SINGULAR

The Evanstown High School Eagles won all of its football games this year. (The team won as a unit.)

PLURAL

Wearing their new uniforms, the Evanstown High School Eagles posed for pictures for the yearbook. (The members of the team wore separate uniforms.)

* The gender and number of a relative pronoun (such as who, which, or that) is determined by its antecedent. Examples:

Roseanne, who knows everyone on her block, invited the Guerras to a cookout.

(Who refers to the singular feminine noun Roseanne. Therefore, the singular feminine form of her is used o agree with who.)

The books that have stains on them will be discarded.

(That refers to the plural neuter noun books. Therefore, the plural neuter form them is used to agree with that.)

* An expression of an amount (a measurement, a percentage, or a fraction, for example) may be singular or plural, depending on how it is used.

Examples:

Five thousand bricks is a heavy load; it almost ruined the truck's suspension. (The bricks are though of as a unit.

Five thousand bricks are scattered on the lot. They make walking dangerous. (The bricks are thought of separately.)

We have ten minutes to take the quiz; it is enough time. (The minutes are thought of as a unit.)

We wasted at least ten minutes. We spent them sharpening our pencils, asking questions, and putting our books away. (The minutes are thought of separately.

Two thirds of the casserole is gone; it is delicious. (The fraction refers to the singular noun casserole.)

Two thirds of the apples are rotten; they should be thrown out. (The fraction refers to the plural noun apples.)