Grammar Bytes Pronoun Antecedent Agreement

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Pronoun AgreementPronoun Agreement

Everyone should know

their pronouns?

Or his or her pronouns?

This presentation covers maintaining

agreement between a pronoun and its antecedent.

A pronoun agreement item on A pronoun agreement item on an objective test might look an objective test might look like this like this .. .. ..

Sample ItemSample ItemSpendthrifts are quickly parted from their Spendthrifts are quickly parted from their

money. So a person who wants to start saving money. So a person who wants to start saving

should not spend all of their time at the mall.should not spend all of their time at the mall.

A.A.his or herhis or herB.B.someonesomeoneC.C.hishisD.D.No change is necessary.No change is necessary.

Spendthrifts are quickly parted from Spendthrifts are quickly parted from theirtheir AAmoney. So money. So a persona person who wants to start saving who wants to start saving BBshould not spend all of should not spend all of theirtheir time at the mall. time at the mall. CC

A.A.his or herhis or herB.B.someonesomeoneC.C.hishisD.D.No change is necessary.No change is necessary.

Spendthrifts are quickly parted from Spendthrifts are quickly parted from theirtheir AAmoney. So money. So a persona person who wants to start saving who wants to start saving BBshould not spend all of should not spend all of therethere time at the mall.time at the mall. CC

•his or herhis or her•someonesomeone•hishis•No change is necessary.No change is necessary.

Is the first their, a person, or the second their a

problem?

The second their does not agree with a person, an error that choice C fixes.

Agreement in a NutshellAgreement in a Nutshell

TheThe kangarookangaroo carriescarries itsits joey in a pouch.joey in a pouch.

TheThe kangarooskangaroos carry carry theirtheir joeys in pouches.joeys in pouches.

kangarookangaroo = singular antecedent= singular antecedentitsits = singular pronoun= singular pronoun

kangarooskangaroos = plural antecedent= plural antecedenttheirtheir = plural pronoun= plural pronoun

Know your pronouns.Know your pronouns.PluralPlural theythey themthem their, theirstheir, theirs themselvesthemselves

Singular!

SingularSingular he, she, ithe, she, it him, her, ithim, her, it his, her, hers, his, her, hers,

itsits himself, himself,

herself, itselfherself, itself

Plural!

Two [or more] singular things joined Two [or more] singular things joined by by andand make a make a pluralplural antecedent.antecedent.

The new puppyThe new puppy andand kitten have destroyedkitten have destroyed theirtheir owner’s sofa.owner’s sofa.

EachEach new puppynew puppy andand kitten destroykitten destroyss itsits owner’s sofa.owner’s sofa.

When When eacheach or or everyevery precedes two [or precedes two [or more] singular things joined by more] singular things joined by andand, , you have a you have a singularsingular antecedent. antecedent.

EveryEvery new puppynew puppy andand kitten destroykitten destroyss itsits owner’s sofa.owner’s sofa.

In this situation, no matter In this situation, no matter how manyhow many singular nouns you join with singular nouns you join with andand, the , the antecedent is antecedent is stillstill singular.singular.

EachEach new puppy, kitten, rabbit, tarantula, new puppy, kitten, rabbit, tarantula, python, parrot, turtle, python, parrot, turtle, andand ferret destroyferret destroyss itsits owner’s sofa.owner’s sofa.

Use caution with these three Use caution with these three conjunctions: conjunctions: either … oreither … or, , neither … neither … nornor, and , and not only … but alsonot only … but also..

Not only the Smiths but also Louise fixed Not only the Smiths but also Louise fixed their famous squid eyeball stew for the their famous squid eyeball stew for the picnic.picnic.

You’ll have two antecedents — the Smiths and Louise — but only the

closer one counts!

Not only the Smiths but also Louise fixedNot only the Smiths but also Louise fixed her her famous squid eyeball stew for the famous squid eyeball stew for the picnic.picnic.

Not only Louise but also the Not only Louise but also the SmithsSmiths fixed fixed theirtheir famous squid eyeball stew famous squid eyeball stew for the picnic.for the picnic.

If you want to use their, you will need to flip the Smiths and Louise so

that the Smiths are closer to the pronoun.

These These indefinite pronounsindefinite pronouns are are always always singularsingular [even when they [even when they seemseem plural]. plural].

Each, either, neitherEach, either, neither Anyone, anybody, anything Anyone, anybody, anything Everyone, everybody, everythingEveryone, everybody, everything No one, nobody, nothingNo one, nobody, nothing Someone, somebody, somethingSomeone, somebody, something

Everyone on Earth = more than one person—billions of people, in

fact.The word everyone,

however, is still singular.

Neither of my two brothers show much Neither of my two brothers show much sense when they date women.sense when they date women.

Beware interrupting phrases.Beware interrupting phrases.

This sentence might sound right, but it is completely

wrong!

Of my two brothers =

prepositional phrase; neither = singular

antecedent.

Wow, what a babe!

Wow, what a fat

wallet!

Wow, what a loser!

CompanyCompany, , organizationorganization, , departmentdepartment, and , and school namesschool names are are singularsingular..

One urban legend is that Tito’s Taco Palace One urban legend is that Tito’s Taco Palace makes their burritos with kangaroo meat.makes their burritos with kangaroo meat.

Did you know that?

We did not!

One urban legend is that Tito’s Taco Palace One urban legend is that Tito’s Taco Palace makesmakes its its burritos with kangaroo meat.burritos with kangaroo meat.

Quick TestQuick Test

Directions:Directions: In the items that follow, choose In the items that follow, choose the option that corrects an error in the the option that corrects an error in the underlined portion(s). If no error exists, choose underlined portion(s). If no error exists, choose “No change is necessary.”“No change is necessary.”

Show me what you

know.

Item 1Item 1

Not only my brothers but also Mom loves to Not only my brothers but also Mom loves to drench their omelets in ketchup.drench their omelets in ketchup.

A.A.hishisB.B.herherC.C.his and herhis and herD.D.No change is necessary.No change is necessary.

Not only my brothers but also Mom loves to Not only my brothers but also Mom loves to drench drench theirtheir omelets in ketchup. omelets in ketchup.

A.A.hishisB.B.herherC.C.his and herhis and herD.D.No change is necessary.No change is necessary.

Not only my brothers but also Mom loves to Not only my brothers but also Mom loves to drench drench theirtheir omelets in ketchup. omelets in ketchup.

A.A.hishisB.B.herherC.C.his and herhis and herD.D.No change is necessary.No change is necessary.

Item 2Item 2The students and their professor sweated in the The students and their professor sweated in the

hot classroom. Each one of them wondered why hot classroom. Each one of them wondered why

they had decided to commit to summer school.they had decided to commit to summer school.

A.A.his or herhis or herB.B.EveryEveryC.C.shesheD.D.No change is necessary.No change is necessary.

The students and The students and theirtheir professor sweated in the professor sweated in the AAhot classroom. hot classroom. EachEach one of them wondered why one of them wondered why BBtheythey had decided to commit to summer school. had decided to commit to summer school. CC

A.A.his or herhis or herB.B.EveryEveryC.C.shesheD.D.No change is necessary.No change is necessary.

The students and The students and theirtheir professor sweated in the professor sweated in the AAhot classroom. hot classroom. EachEach one of them wondered why one of them wondered why BBtheythey had decided to commit to summer school. had decided to commit to summer school. CC

•his or herhis or her•EveryEvery•sheshe•No change is necessary.No change is necessary.

Item 3Item 3

Robert and Sue Ellen concentrated on the dead Robert and Sue Ellen concentrated on the dead worm on the dissection tray. They used tweezers worm on the dissection tray. They used tweezers to pick through innards looking for the heart.to pick through innards looking for the heart.

A.A.HeHeB.B.SheSheC.C.He or sheHe or sheD.D.No change is necessary.No change is necessary.

Robert and Sue Ellen concentrated on the dead Robert and Sue Ellen concentrated on the dead worm on the dissection tray. worm on the dissection tray. TheyThey used tweezers used tweezers to pick through innards looking for the heart.to pick through innards looking for the heart.

A.A.HeHeB.B.SheSheC.C.He or sheHe or sheD.D.No change is necessary.No change is necessary.

Robert and Sue Ellen concentrated on the dead Robert and Sue Ellen concentrated on the dead worm on the dissection tray. worm on the dissection tray. TheyThey used tweezers used tweezers to pick through innards looking for the heart.to pick through innards looking for the heart.

A.A.HeHeB.B.SheSheC.C.He or sheHe or sheD.D.No change is necessary.No change is necessary.

Item 4Item 4The students have decided to eat at Tito’s Taco The students have decided to eat at Tito’s Taco

Palace, where they can order the special. Their Palace, where they can order the special. Their

discount burrito and soda will satisfy hunger, and its discount burrito and soda will satisfy hunger, and its

cheap prices will help wallets!cheap prices will help wallets!

A.A.he or shehe or sheB.B.ItsItsC.C.theirtheirD.D.No change is necessary.No change is necessary.

The students have decided to eat at Tito’s Taco The students have decided to eat at Tito’s Taco

Palace, where Palace, where theythey can order the special. can order the special. TheirTheir AA BBdiscount burrito and soda will satisfy hunger, and discount burrito and soda will satisfy hunger, and itsits CCcheap prices will help wallets!cheap prices will help wallets!

A.A.he or shehe or sheB.B.ItsItsC.C.theirtheirD.D.No change is necessary.No change is necessary.

The students have decided to eat at Tito’s Taco The students have decided to eat at Tito’s Taco

Palace, where Palace, where theythey can order the special. can order the special. TheirTheir AA BBdiscount burrito and soda will satisfy hunger, and discount burrito and soda will satisfy hunger, and itsits CCcheap prices will help wallets!cheap prices will help wallets!

•he or shehe or she•ItsIts•theirtheir•No change is necessary.No change is necessary.

Item 5Item 5Either of these thick books by respected authors Either of these thick books by respected authors will have the answer to your research question in will have the answer to your research question in their many pages.their many pages.

A.A.hishisB.B.his or herhis or herC.C.itsitsD.D.No change is necessary.No change is necessary.

Either of these thick books by respected authors Either of these thick books by respected authors will have the answer to your research question in will have the answer to your research question in theirtheir many pages. many pages.

A.A.hishisB.B.his or herhis or herC.C.itsitsD.D.No change is necessary.No change is necessary.

Either of these thick books by respected authors Either of these thick books by respected authors will have the answer to your research question in will have the answer to your research question in theirtheir many pages. many pages.

A.A.hishisB.B.his or herhis or herC.C.itsitsD.D.No change is necessary.No change is necessary.

Item 6Item 6

If everyone stopped to smell the roses, they might If everyone stopped to smell the roses, they might

get stung by bees and have their allergies kick in to get stung by bees and have their allergies kick in to

overdrive!overdrive!

A.A.peoplepeopleB.B.he or shehe or sheC.C.his or herhis or herD.D.No change is necessary.No change is necessary.

If If everyoneeveryone stopped to smell the roses, stopped to smell the roses, theythey might might AA BBget stung by bees and have get stung by bees and have theirtheir allergies kick in to allergies kick in to CCoverdrive!overdrive!

A.A.peoplepeopleB.B.he or shehe or sheC.C.his or herhis or herD.D.No change is necessary.No change is necessary.

If If peoplepeople stopped to smell the roses, stopped to smell the roses, theythey might might AA BBget stung by bees and have get stung by bees and have theirtheir allergies kick in to allergies kick in to CCoverdrive!overdrive!

A.A.humanshumansB.B.he or shehe or sheC.C.his or herhis or herD.D.No change is necessary.No change is necessary.

Item 7Item 7

Weaver Hill High has strange school colors. Their Weaver Hill High has strange school colors. Their hot pink and bright yellow combination really hot pink and bright yellow combination really stands out on the field.stands out on the field.

A.A.ItsItsB.B.HisHisC.C.His and herHis and herD.D.No change is necessary.No change is necessary.

Weaver Hill High has strange school colors. Weaver Hill High has strange school colors. TheirTheir hot pink and bright yellow combination really hot pink and bright yellow combination really stands out on the field.stands out on the field.

A.A.ItsItsB.B.HisHisC.C.His and herHis and herD.D.No change is necessary.No change is necessary.

Weaver Hill High has strange school colors. Weaver Hill High has strange school colors. TheirTheir hot pink and bright yellow combination really hot pink and bright yellow combination really stands out on the field.stands out on the field.

A.A.ItsItsB.B.HisHisC.C.His and herHis and herD.D.No change is necessary.No change is necessary.

Item 8Item 8

Sam is starving, and his buddies have just ordered Sam is starving, and his buddies have just ordered

their “upsized” meals. Despite Sam’s drooling, their “upsized” meals. Despite Sam’s drooling,

neither of them will part with their French fries.neither of them will part with their French fries.

A.A.hishisB.B.himhimC.C.hishisD.D.No change is necessary.No change is necessary.

Sam is starving, and his buddies have just ordered Sam is starving, and his buddies have just ordered

theirtheir “upsized” meals. Despite Sam’s drooling, “upsized” meals. Despite Sam’s drooling, AAneither of neither of themthem will part with will part with theirtheir French fries. French fries. BB CC

A.A.hishisB.B.himhimC.C.hishisD.D.No change is necessary.No change is necessary.

Sam is starving, and his buddies have just ordered Sam is starving, and his buddies have just ordered

theirtheir “upsized” meals. Despite Sam’s drooling, “upsized” meals. Despite Sam’s drooling, AAneither of neither of themthem will part with will part with theirtheir French fries. French fries. BB CC

•hishis•himhim•hishis•No change is necessary.No change is necessary.

Item 9Item 9

Clyde refuses to return to the weight room Clyde refuses to return to the weight room because its staff always pokes fun of his skinny because its staff always pokes fun of his skinny arms and legs.arms and legs.

A.A.theirtheirB.B.hishisC.C.herherD.D.No change is necessary.No change is necessary.

Clyde refuses to return to the weight room Clyde refuses to return to the weight room because because itsits staff always pokes fun of his skinny staff always pokes fun of his skinny arms and legs.arms and legs.

A.A.theirtheirB.B.hishisC.C.herherD.D.No change is necessary.No change is necessary.

Clyde refuses to return to the weight room Clyde refuses to return to the weight room because because itsits staff always pokes fun of his skinny staff always pokes fun of his skinny arms and legs.arms and legs.

A.A.theirtheirB.B.hishisC.C.herherD.D.No change is necessary.No change is necessary.

Item 10Item 10Everyone should memorize a Shakespeare Everyone should memorize a Shakespeare

monologue for Mrs. Smith because the extra credit monologue for Mrs. Smith because the extra credit

points will help them improve their averages at points will help them improve their averages at

the end of the semester.the end of the semester.

A.A.The studentsThe studentsB.B.him or herhim or herC.C.his or herhis or herD.D.No change is necessary.No change is necessary.

EveryoneEveryone should memorize a Shakespeare should memorize a Shakespeare AAmonologue for Mrs. Smith because the extra credit monologue for Mrs. Smith because the extra credit

points will help points will help themthem improve improve theirtheir averages at averages at BB CCthe end of the semester.the end of the semester.

A.A.The studentsThe studentsB.B.him or herhim or herC.C.his or herhis or herD.D.No change is necessary.No change is necessary.

BoboBobo should memorize a Shakespeare should memorize a Shakespeare AAmonologue for Mrs. Smith because the extra credit monologue for Mrs. Smith because the extra credit

points will help points will help themthem improve improve theirtheir averages at averages at BB CCthe end of the semester.the end of the semester.

A.A.The studentsThe studentsB.B.him or herhim or herC.C.his or herhis or herD.D.No change is necessary.No change is necessary.

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Grammar Bytes! provides additional

handouts and exercises on pronoun

agreement. Go to chompchomp.com!

The End.The End.