Antecedent / Pronoun Agreement

Antecedent / Pronoun Agreement

Antecedent / Pronoun Agreement Ante means before Cede means to go An Antecedent is the noun or pronoun

that the pronoun stands for.

Agreement If the antecedent is singular, the

pronoun must be singular.

If the antecedent is plural, the pronoun must be plural.

Singular or Plural Problems Indefinite pronouns

It is hard to tell gender (male or female)

or number (singular or plural)

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.

Plural Indefinite Pronouns Both Few Many Several Some All

All can be singular or plural. All of the streams are dry.

Gender Gender refers to male or female.

If the gender of the third person singular is not known, use either he or she.

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.

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.

Which is correct?

Everybody threw their towels in the trash.

Everybody threw his or her towel in the trash.

Answer Everybody is singular (every single

person) so

Everybody threw his or her towel in the trash

is correct.

Which is correct?

Someone put her books on my desk.

Someone put their books on my desk.

Answer Someone is singular.

Someone put her books on my desk

is correct.

Think: Someone put his or her books on my desk.

Which one is correct? Did anyone leave their pencil here?

Did anyone leave his pencil here?

Answer Anyone is singular, so

Did anyone leave his pencil here

is correct.

Think: Did anyone leave his or her pencil here?

Which is correct? Each of us have their own problems.

Each of us has his or her own problems.

Answer Each, has and his (or her) are singular,

so

Each of us has his or her own problems

is correct.

The problem with or When two antecedents are joined with

or, choose the pronoun that agrees with the closest antecedent.

Which is correct? Julie or Justin lost his book.

Julie or Justin lost their book.

Answer You would say Justin lost his book, so

Julie or Justin lost his book

Is correct.

Which is correct?

The president or the secretary left their notebook.

The president or the secretary left his or her notebook.

Answer Secretary is singular, so

The president and the secretary left his or her notebook

Is correct.

Which is correct? Andy or Ava dropped their lunch.

Andy or Ava dropped his or her lunch.

Answer Ava is singular, so

Andy or Ava dropped his or her lunch

Is correct.

Which is correct? The teacher or her students left their

trash.

The teacher or the students left his or her trash.

Answer Students and their are plural, so

The teacher or her students left all their trash.

Antecedents with and If two antecedents are joined with and,

choose the plural pronoun.

Jessie and her friend took THEIR lunches to the park.

Even though friend is singular, use the plural pronoun THEIR.

John and Joe left their lunches at home.

Even though Joe is singular, use the plural pronoun THEIR.