AND TYPES OF PRONOUNS PRONOUN-ANTECEDENT AGREEMENT

PRONOUNS AND ANTECEDENTS (THIS PPT SUPPORTS THE STUDY GUIDE) A pronoun takes the place of a noun or group of words acting as a noun. A pronoun takes the place of a noun or group of words acting as a noun. An antecedent is the noun for which a pronoun stands. An antecedent is the noun for which a pronoun stands. Example: Bill made his way through the forest. Example: Bill made his way through the forest. Bill is the antecedent. Bill is the antecedent. His is the pronoun that stands for Bill. His is the pronoun that stands for Bill. There are four different types of pronouns. There are four different types of pronouns.

PRONOUNS AND ANTECEDENTS MUST AGREE IN PERSON Agreement in person means that you cannot shift back and forth between first and second person, second and third, etc. while writing. Agreement in person means that you cannot shift back and forth between first and second person, second and third, etc. while writing. Most academic writing is in third person. That’s why teachers are always telling you not to use the pronoun you in your writing. Most academic writing is in third person. That’s why teachers are always telling you not to use the pronoun you in your writing. If you are writing an essay about students who are against school uniforms, use third person pronouns they, he, she—not YOU (which is second person). If you are writing an essay about students who are against school uniforms, use third person pronouns they, he, she—not YOU (which is second person).

PERSONAL PRONOUNS Personal pronouns refer to: 1.The person speaking (1 st person) 2.The person spoken to (2 nd person) 3.The person, place, or thing spoken about (3 rd person)

PERSONAL PRONOUNS Can be singular or plural Can be singular or plural Can indicate gender (male or female) Can indicate gender (male or female) Can be gender-neutral ( its, they, them, etc.) Can be gender-neutral ( its, they, them, etc.) Name a 3 rd person singular male pronoun. Name a 3 rd person singular male pronoun. Name a 3 rd person plural pronoun. Name a 3 rd person plural pronoun. Name a 1 st person plural pronoun. Name a 1 st person plural pronoun. Name a 2 nd person singular pronoun. Name a 2 nd person singular pronoun.

PRONOUNS AND ANTECEDENTS MUST AGREE IN GENDER Agreement in gender means that if you are writing about females, use female pronouns. Agreement in gender means that if you are writing about females, use female pronouns. If you are writing about males, use male pronouns. If you are writing about males, use male pronouns. And if you are writing about both or an unspecified gender, use gender-neutral pronouns like it, its, they, their, them. And if you are writing about both or an unspecified gender, use gender-neutral pronouns like it, its, they, their, them.

PRONOUNS AND ANTECEDENTS MUST AGREE IN NUMBER Agreement in number means that you use singular pronouns for singular antecedents and plural pronouns for plural antecedents. Agreement in number means that you use singular pronouns for singular antecedents and plural pronouns for plural antecedents. Therefore, it is important to pay attention to whether or not your antecedent is singular or plural. Therefore, it is important to pay attention to whether or not your antecedent is singular or plural. This is usually only difficult when you have an indefinite pronoun as the antecedent or when you have a lot of modifiers or prepositional phrases between the antecedent and pronoun. This is usually only difficult when you have an indefinite pronoun as the antecedent or when you have a lot of modifiers or prepositional phrases between the antecedent and pronoun.

ANTECEDENTS JOINED BY THE CONJUNCTION “ AND” Remember that conjunctions join or hook words together. Remember that conjunctions join or hook words together. When you have a compound (two-part) antecedent joined by AND, you will always use a plural pronoun. When you have a compound (two-part) antecedent joined by AND, you will always use a plural pronoun. EXAMPLE: EXAMPLE: Maria and Denise played their trumpets together. Maria and Denise played their trumpets together.

ANTECEDENTS JOINED BY “ NOR” OR “OR” When you have a compound antecedent joined by NOR or OR, the pronoun agrees with the antecedent (noun or pronoun) closest to it. When you have a compound antecedent joined by NOR or OR, the pronoun agrees with the antecedent (noun or pronoun) closest to it. Example 1: Neither the conductor nor the musicians have taken their places. Example 1: Neither the conductor nor the musicians have taken their places. Find the antecedent closest to the pronoun. Find the antecedent closest to the pronoun. It is musicians. It is musicians. Musicians is plural. Musicians is plural. Therefore, use a plural pronoun. Therefore, use a plural pronoun.

ANTECEDENTS JOINED BY “ NOR” OR “OR” Let’s switch those antecedents around, shall we? Example 2: Neither the musicians nor the conductor has taken his place. Let’s switch those antecedents around, shall we? Example 2: Neither the musicians nor the conductor has taken his place. Find the antecedent closest to the pronoun. Find the antecedent closest to the pronoun. It is conductor. It is conductor. Conductor is singular. Conductor is singular. Therefore, use a singular pronoun. Therefore, use a singular pronoun.

5 INTERROGATIVE PRONOUNS Used to begin a question Used to begin a question All begin with W’s : what, which, who, whom, whose All begin with W’s : what, which, who, whom, whose 1.What is your name? 2.Which is your favorite? 3.Who arrived first? 4.Whom did you choose for Student Council? 5.Whose dog is that chasing our cat?

4 DEMONSTRATIVE PRONOUNS Point out a specific person, place or thing Point out a specific person, place or thing Two are singular: this, that Two are singular: this, that 1.This is my house. 2.Give the hoodie to that boy. Two are plural: these those Two are plural: these those 1.He wants these boots for hunting. 2.Those boots cost too much.

INDEFINITE PRONOUNS Refer to people, places, or things, often WITHOUT specifying which ones Refer to people, places, or things, often WITHOUT specifying which ones They are indefinite or vague—the opposite of demonstrative pronouns, which indicate exactly which person, place or thing. They are indefinite or vague—the opposite of demonstrative pronouns, which indicate exactly which person, place or thing. Most are singular Most are singular Some are plural Some are plural Some can be either singular or plural, depending upon the sentence Some can be either singular or plural, depending upon the sentence

INDEFINITE PRONOUNS: MOST ARE SINGULAR another much another much anybody neither anybody neither anyone nobody anyone nobody anything no one anything no one each nothing each nothing either one either one everybody other everybody other everyone somebody everyone somebody everything someone everything someone little something little something

SINGULAR ANTECEDENTS REQUIRE SINGULAR PRONOUNS 1. Everybody hopes to have (their, his) name in lights someday. someday. --Everyone is singular, so the correct answer is his. --Everyone is singular, so the correct answer is his. 2. Nobody enjoys having (their, his) teeth cleaned. --Nobody is singular, so the correct answer is his. --Nobody is singular, so the correct answer is his. 3. Anybody who wants (their, his) car washed should park over there. park over there. --Anybody is singular, so the correct answer is his. --Anybody is singular, so the correct answer is his.

INDEFINITE PRONOUNS: SOME ARE PLURAL BothFewManyOthersSeveral

PLURAL ANTECEDENTS REQUIRE PLURAL PRONOUNS 1. Both girls have lost (their, her) tennis racquets. --Both is plural, so the correct answer is their. --Both is plural, so the correct answer is their. 2. Few cats want (their, its) owners to bathe them. --Few is plural, so the correct answer is their. --Few is plural, so the correct answer is their. 3. Several of the doctor’s patients complained that (their, his) medical records were not up to date. (their, his) medical records were not up to date. --Several is plural, so the correct answer is their.

INDEFINITE PRONOUNS: SOME CAN BE SINGULAR OR PLURAL allanymoremostnonesome

HOW TO TELL 1.Address these on a case-by-case basis. 2.Determine the meaning of the indefinite pronoun in the sentence. 3.If there is a prepositional phrase after the indefinite pronoun, examine it to determine if it indicates singular or plural. 4.If there is a collective noun, determine if it is acting as a unit or acting individually.

PREPOSITIONAL PHRASES Remember that a prepositional phrase consists of a preposition followed by the object of the preposition. Remember that a prepositional phrase consists of a preposition followed by the object of the preposition. Prepositions are words that show the relationship between two people or things. Prepositions are words that show the relationship between two people or things. There are approximately fifty prepositions and fifteen compound prepositional phrases. There are approximately fifty prepositions and fifteen compound prepositional phrases. Refer to your study guide for the list and a quick review. Refer to your study guide for the list and a quick review.

PLURAL INDEFINITE PRONOUNS WITH PREPOSITIONAL PHRASES Isolate the prepositional phrase from the indefinite pronoun so that you can focus on whether or not the antecedent is singular or plural. Isolate the prepositional phrase from the indefinite pronoun so that you can focus on whether or not the antecedent is singular or plural. Example: Both of the pianists played (their, his) own compositions. Example: Both of the pianists played (their, his) own compositions. Both is the indefinite pronoun. It is always plural. Both is the indefinite pronoun. It is always plural. “of the pianists” is the prepositional phrase. “of the pianists” is the prepositional phrase. The pronoun their is the correct answer since it is plural. The pronoun their is the correct answer since it is plural. Pianists is not the antecedent of their. Both is. Pianists is not the antecedent of their. Both is.

SINGULAR INDEFINITE PRONOUNS WITH PREPOSITIONAL PHRASES Isolate the prepositional phrase from the indefinite pronoun so that you can focus on whether or not the antecedent is singular or plural. Isolate the prepositional phrase from the indefinite pronoun so that you can focus on whether or not the antecedent is singular or plural. Example: Each of the instruments has (their, its) own special sound. Example: Each of the instruments has (their, its) own special sound. Each is the indefinite pronoun. It is always singular. Each is the indefinite pronoun. It is always singular. “of the instruments” is the prepositional phrase. “of the instruments” is the prepositional phrase. The pronoun its is the correct answer since it is singular. The pronoun its is the correct answer since it is singular. Instruments is NOT the antecedent of its. Each is. Instruments is NOT the antecedent of its. Each is.

COLLECTIVE NOUNS AS ANTECEDENTS They name a group of people, animals, or things. They name a group of people, animals, or things. Examples: Examples: army council audience army council audience band faculty family band faculty family class senate committee class senate committee jury team company jury team company majority department society majority department society

COLLECTIVE NOUNS AS ANTECEDENTS Collective nouns take singular OR plural pronouns, depending upon the meaning of the word in the sentence. Collective nouns take singular OR plural pronouns, depending upon the meaning of the word in the sentence. Determine if the collective noun is acting as a unit or acting individually Determine if the collective noun is acting as a unit or acting individually If the collective noun is acting as a unit, use a SINGULAR pronoun. If the collective noun is acting as a unit, use a SINGULAR pronoun. If the parts of the collective noun are acting individually, use a PLURAL pronoun. If the parts of the collective noun are acting individually, use a PLURAL pronoun.

COLLECTIVE NOUNS: ACTING AS A UNIT OR INDIVIDUALLY? 1. The orchestra will give its final performance tonight. --acting as a unit; so use singular pronoun --acting as a unit; so use singular pronoun 2. The orchestra have tuned their instruments. --acting individually; all have different instruments; --acting individually; all have different instruments; therefore, use plural pronoun. therefore, use plural pronoun.

VIDEO CLIP TUTORIAL (12 minutes long) (12 minutes long) Use this as a study tool and for review and practice! Use this as a study tool and for review and practice!