Agreement of Pronoun and Antecedent
The
antecedent of a pronoun is the word to which the pronoun refers and
for which it stands.
A pronoun agrees with its antecedent in number.
Examples 1. Our pitcher was sure that
he would win. 2. Each girl took her turn
at bat. 3. A few of the students had brought their own lunches. 4. Several teachers expressed their opinions.
In the first two sentences above, the antecedents pitcher
and girl
are singular. Notice that the pronouns
he and
her (printed
in red), which refer to these antecedents, are also singular. The pronouns,
therefore, agree with their antecedents in number. In sentences 3 and 4 the antecedents few and teachers are plural. The pronouns their and their, which refer to few and teachers,
are also plural. They therefore agree with
their antecedents. .As you learned in your study of agreement between verb and
subject, the following words are singular: each, either, neither,
one, everyone, everybody, no one, nobody, anyone, anybody, someone,
somebody. Use singular pronouns when referring
to these words. One way to avoid the awkward his or her construction is for the writer to
use his gender when using a singular pronoun.
Note: In ordinary conversation we often hear their instead of his or her when referring to everyone, everybody,
anybody because
these words strongly suggest more than one person. However, in formal
writing and in doing the exercises in this book, use the singular pronouns
(his, hers, its, etc.)
in referring to these words. In your own writing, you can, if you wish,
avoid the problem of agreement with everyone by making the subject plural. For example, instead of saying
Everyone brought his lunch, you could say All brought their lunch.
Two or more antecedents joined by and should be referred to by a plural
pronoun.
EXAMPLE: Rachel and Pat gave their speeches in class.
Two or more singular antecedents joined by or or nor should be referred by a singular pronoun.
EXAMPLE: Neither Rachel nor Pat gave her speech in class However,
when one of the antecedents is plural, the pronoun agrees in number
with the closer antecedent. Neither Rachel nor her friends gave their speeches in class.
EXERCISE
1 A.
Correct the following sentences,
if needed.
1. If you see either of my sisters,
ask them to call me. 2. Remember to correct the pronouns
that do not agree with their antecedents. 3. Neither student has completed their
assignment. 4. Everyone wore their costume to the
party. 5. Not one of my friends asked his
parents. 6. Each of the dogs was looking for
its trainer. 7. Anyone who thought that deserved
what they got. 8. Neither of them would lend me their
book. 9. A student should accept her responsibilities. 10. Nobody in the class has done their
assignment very well.
B. Fill the blank in each of the following sentences with a pronoun which
will agree with its antecedent. Draw a line under the antecedent.
A. Everyone brought __________ skates. B. Only one of the girls brought __________tennis
racket. 1.
Many of the parents voiced __________opinions. 2.
No one wanted __________name mentioned in the paper. 3.
Each student was given a locker for __________equipment. 4.
If everyone
had __________way, we'd never get anything done. 5.
Both Mrs.
Larson and Mr. Feldman took __________classes on a trip. 6.
Everybody
said what __________thought. 7.
Neither
wanted to have __________picture taken. 8.
Some of
the group expressed __________opinions quite frankly. 9.
Both the
carpenter and the welder finished __________work yesterday. 10.
A person
should be careful of __________English.
Exercise 2. A. Correct the following sentences, if needed.
1.
Evereybody thinks that
their own child is the most intelligent.
2.
Each of his sisters
put themselves through engineering school.
3.
No one in his right
mind would ever drive at that speed.
4.
1 k now someone who
might sell you their ticket.
5.
Not everyone realizes
what he gets in return for his taxes.
6.
Either of these girls
will lend you their notes.
7.
Nearly everyone likes
to see their name in print.
8.
Every child should
earn at least part of his spending money.
9.
Nobody should be made
to feel that they must like poetry.
10.
Each person will contribute
their favorite recipe to the cookbook.
11.
If you want to apologize
to someone, don't delay talking to them.
12.
Almost anyone can increase
his reading rate greatly.
13.
Any student who has
been absent should find out what work they missed.
14.
Ask anybody where the
Eiffel Tower is, and he can tell you.
15.
Everybody can make themselves an expert in some field.
B. Underline the correct pronoun. (Add
10 points for each correct answer.)
1.
A lion or a tiger will
always defend (its, their) young.
2.
A lion and a tiger
will always defend (its, their) young.
3.
Neither Nancy nor Ellen
did (their, her) homework.
4.
If there is a nut or
raisin in this cookie, I can't find (them, it).
5.
If you have a complaint
or a suggestion, tell the editor about (them, it).
6.
After Pam borrowed
my rod and net, she forgot to return (them, it).
7.
Neither Ross nor Allan
could persuade (himself, themselves) to try.
8.
You can use my knife
and fork as long as you wash (it, them).
9.
If you break a cup
or saucer, you can't replace (them, it).
10.
Christine and one other
girl didn't eat (their, her) salad.
11.
Don't offer a ride
to anybody unless you know (him, them).
12.
Each of the members
told (their, his) favorite tall story.
13.
If anyone should phone,
tell (them, him) I'll be back in an hour.
14.
Only a few of the girls
considered (themselves, herself) ready for a test.
15.
I tried to get everyone
the kind of gift (they, he) wanted., 10. Anyone who fails to report
a crime is shirking (his, their) moral duty.
16.
If you should see Don
and Vic, tell (them, him) about the meeting.
17.
If you should see Don
or Vic, tell (them, him) about the meeting.
18.
Their food and service
are better than (they, it) used to be.
19.
Does an oak or a maple
shed (its, their) leaves earlier in the fall?
20.
I take math and chemistry
because I need (it, them) for engineering.
21.
If the jacket or the
coat is too long, you can shorten (it, them).
22.
Both Alice and Maria wondered if the
speaker was referring to (her, them).
23.
If you like good pie or cake, you can get (it, them)
at Swanson's.
Exercise 3 Fix them if they need it.
1.
Both the stores raised
its prices.
2.
Neither of the scientists
completed their experiment.
3.
Everything was returned
to their owner.
4.
The students are ready
to settle their differences.
5.
The police and the
fire departments have abandoned its, efforts to rescue the child from
the mine.
6.
Neither the child nor
his parents have returned their books to the library.
7.
The cat carried her
kittens into the house.
8.
Neither the speakers
nor the moderator did her best to explore the question.
9.
Neither the moderator
nor the speakers did his best to explore the question.
10.
Some large animal has
left his tracks in the mud behind the house.
11.
The Board of Supervisors has consented
to continue the hearing until every registered spokesman has the opportunity
to voice their opinion.
12.
Childhood is the time to have measles
because they can be quite dangerous to an adult.
13.
It is impossible for
a person to be cheated by anyone but themselves.
14.
Every sweet has its
sour; every evil its good.
15.
The youth of the nation
must receive its due.
16.
Ownership of property
has their duties as well as rights.
17.
The masses of our countrymen
are eager to clasp hinds across the bloody chasm that has divided it.
18.
Every person at last
meets their Waterloo.
19.
A person is used as
they uses others.
20.
All will be judged
by her actions.
21.
The water and the smoke
have done its damage.
22.
Every person is like
the company they are accustomed to keeping.
23.
Consider the little
mouse: how sagacious it is never to trust his life to one hole only.
24.
This and a great deal
more like them I have had to put up with.
25.
The fire department
and the underwriters have completed its investigation of the disaster.
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