Objective I-4 Recognize pronoun antecedent agreement in number and gender Mrs. Julie Turner School Improvement Specialist Dothan City Schools Dr. Patrick.

Objective I-4Objective I-4

Recognize pronoun Recognize pronoun antecedent agreement in antecedent agreement in

number andnumber and gendergender

Mrs. Julie TurnerSchool Improvement Specialist

Dothan City Schools

Dr. Patrick CainSEHS Assistant PrincipalElmore County Schools

Agreement of Pronoun Agreement of Pronoun and Antecedentand Antecedent

• A pronoun must agree in number, person, A pronoun must agree in number, person, and gender with its antecedent. (The and gender with its antecedent. (The antecedent is the word to which the pronoun antecedent is the word to which the pronoun refers.)refers.)

JosephJoseph wore wore hishis swim trunks to swim trunks to the beach. (The antecedent of the beach. (The antecedent of hishis is is JosephJoseph. Both the pronoun and antecedent are . Both the pronoun and antecedent are singular, third person, and masculine; singular, third person, and masculine;

therefore, thetherefore, thepronoun is said to “agree” with its antecedent.pronoun is said to “agree” with its antecedent.

Agreement in NumberAgreement in Number

• Use a singular pronoun to refer to Use a singular pronoun to refer to such antecedents as such antecedents as each, either, each, either, neither, one, anyone, anybody, neither, one, anyone, anybody, everyone, somebody, another, everyone, somebody, another, nobodynobody, and , and a persona person..

NeitherNeither of the girls likes of the girls likes herher (not (not their)their)

dress.dress.

Agreement in NumberAgreement in Number

• Two or more singular Two or more singular antecedents joined by antecedents joined by oror or or nornor are also referred to by a singular are also referred to by a singular pronoun.pronoun.

Either Either JoannaJoanna or or GerriGerri left her keys left her keys in thein the

library.library.

Agreement in NumberAgreement in Number

• If one of the antecedents joined by If one of the antecedents joined by oror or or nornor is singular and one is plural, the is singular and one is plural, the pronoun should agree with the nearer pronoun should agree with the nearer antecedent.antecedent.

Neither the Neither the managermanager or or playersplayers were were crazycrazy

about their new uniforms.about their new uniforms.

Agreement in NumberAgreement in Number

• Use a plural pronoun to refer to Use a plural pronoun to refer to plural antecedents as well as plural antecedents as well as compound subjects joined by compound subjects joined by andand..

Jason and Joe are finishing their Jason and Joe are finishing their pushups.pushups.

Agreement in GenderAgreement in Gender

• Use a masculine or feminine Use a masculine or feminine pronoun depending upon the pronoun depending upon the gender of the antecedent.gender of the antecedent.

Is either Connor or Grace bringing Is either Connor or Grace bringing his or herhis or her

tennis racket?tennis racket?

Agreement in GenderAgreement in Gender• When a person or everyone is used to When a person or everyone is used to

refer to both sexes or either sex, you will refer to both sexes or either sex, you will have to choose whether to offer optional have to choose whether to offer optional pronouns or rewrite the sentence.pronouns or rewrite the sentence.

A personA person should be allowed to choose should be allowed to choose her her oror

hishis own footwear. (optional pronouns) own footwear. (optional pronouns)

PeoplePeople should be allowed to choose should be allowed to choose theirtheir ownown

footwear. (rewritten in plural form)footwear. (rewritten in plural form)

For each sentence on the next For each sentence on the next slide, write the antecedent of slide, write the antecedent of

the pronoun that appears later the pronoun that appears later in the sentence. Then replace in the sentence. Then replace the incorrect pronoun with the the incorrect pronoun with the

one that agrees with the one that agrees with the antecedent. If the pronoun is antecedent. If the pronoun is

correct, write “c.”correct, write “c.”

Example: Should students always know the basics. about how to maintain her computer?

students, their1. Everyone should know how to delete

files and save his documents to the network drive.

2. Susan and Sam know a lot about maintaining her computers.

3. Both of them keeps his computers running smoothly.

4. The computer lab tech helps students with problems they can’t fix.

AnswersAnswers

1.1.everyone, his or hereveryone, his or her

2.2.Susan and Sam, theirSusan and Sam, their

3.3.Both, theirBoth, their

4.4.Students, cStudents, c

1.1. Choose the sentence that is Choose the sentence that is written correctly.written correctly.

A. The cat ate its food quickly.A. The cat ate its food quickly.

B. Each student voted for its B. Each student voted for its favorite food.favorite food.

C. The groom found its tuxedo C. The groom found its tuxedo in the closet.in the closet.

D. Todd and Keith went to his D. Todd and Keith went to his own graduation on Sunday.own graduation on Sunday.

1.1. Choose the sentence that is Choose the sentence that is written correctly.written correctly.

A. The cat ate its food quickly.A. The cat ate its food quickly.

B. Each student voted for its B. Each student voted for its favorite food.favorite food.

C. The groom found its tuxedo C. The groom found its tuxedo in the closet.in the closet.

D. Todd and Keith went to his D. Todd and Keith went to his own graduation on Sunday.own graduation on Sunday.

2.2. Choose the sentence in which the Choose the sentence in which the underlined word is correct.underlined word is correct.

A. Jane washed A. Jane washed herher car right car right before it rained.before it rained.

B. Each of the roses has B. Each of the roses has theirtheir own own smell.smell.

C. Some of the rabbits chewed C. Some of the rabbits chewed through through itsits cage. cage.

D. Most of the people clapped D. Most of the people clapped herher hands after the show.hands after the show.

2.2. Choose the sentence in which the Choose the sentence in which the underlined word is correct.underlined word is correct.

A. Jane washed A. Jane washed herher car right car right before it rained.before it rained.

B. Each of the roses has B. Each of the roses has theirtheir own own smell.smell.

C. Some of the rabbits chewed C. Some of the rabbits chewed through through itsits cage. cage.

D. Most of the people clapped D. Most of the people clapped herher hands after the show.hands after the show.

3.3. Choose the sentence that Choose the sentence that contains an error.contains an error.

A. The bull lost her way in the A. The bull lost her way in the storm.storm.

B. Mrs. Jones put her money in B. Mrs. Jones put her money in the safe.the safe.

C. Mark guided his canoe to the C. Mark guided his canoe to the edge.edge.

D. Jake and Ed put on their hats D. Jake and Ed put on their hats when they went outside.when they went outside.

3.3. Choose the sentence that Choose the sentence that contains an error.contains an error.

A. The bull lost her way in the A. The bull lost her way in the storm.storm.

B. Mrs. Jones put her money in B. Mrs. Jones put her money in the safe.the safe.

C. Mark guided his canoe to the C. Mark guided his canoe to the edge.edge.

D. Jake and Ed put on their hats D. Jake and Ed put on their hats when they went outside.when they went outside.

4.4. Choose the correct word to Choose the correct word to complete the sentence.complete the sentence.

The citizens at the meeting The citizens at the meeting expressed _____ opinions expressed _____ opinions articulately.articulately.

A. ItsA. Its

B. HisB. His

C. TheyC. They

D. TheirD. Their

4.4. Choose the correct word to Choose the correct word to complete the sentence.complete the sentence.

The citizens at the meeting The citizens at the meeting expressed _____ opinions expressed _____ opinions articulately.articulately.

A. ItsA. Its

B. HisB. His

C. TheyC. They

D. TheirD. Their

5.5. Choose the sentence in which the Choose the sentence in which the underlined word is an error.underlined word is an error.

A. Neither Bob nor Joe A. Neither Bob nor Joe remembered to bring remembered to bring hishis notes. notes.

B. The singers spent long hours B. The singers spent long hours coordinating coordinating theirtheir outfits. outfits.

C. Every dog in the show is C. Every dog in the show is wearing wearing theirtheir own personalized own personalized collar.collar.

D. Both Mary and Sharon are D. Both Mary and Sharon are taking taking theirtheir gym bags to class. gym bags to class.

5.5. Choose the sentence in which the Choose the sentence in which the underlined word is an error.underlined word is an error.

A. Neither Bob nor Joe A. Neither Bob nor Joe remembered to bring remembered to bring hishis notes. notes.

B. The singers spent long hours B. The singers spent long hours coordinating coordinating theirtheir outfits. outfits.

C. Every dog in the show is C. Every dog in the show is wearing wearing theirtheir own personalized own personalized collar.collar.

D. Both Mary and Sharon are D. Both Mary and Sharon are taking taking theirtheir gym bags to class. gym bags to class.