The Problem with Pronouns Pronoun and Antecedent Agreement

Refresh my memory.. What’s a pronoun?

That’s right!

List of common pronouns

Get it?

So, what’s an antecedent?

Pronoun-Antecedent

The Pronoun must… Agree in “number” (singular or plural) with the antecedent. Example: Everyone going on the trip must bring his or her lunch.

A singular antecedent must have a singular pronoun. A plural antecedent must have a plural pronoun.

Some words are always singular even though they seem plural… Anybody Each Everybody Somebody Someone

Try these… W0uld everyone please bring their computer to the writing workshop? When one student forgets their assignment, the entire class suffers the consequences. Every player on the team must play to the best of their ability. When you give someone your trust, you believe they will not betray it.

Now try this…. Open up your composition notebook to your earliest writing. See if you can find pronoun-antecedent agreement. See if you can find pronoun-antecedent disagreement. Circle it, then raise your hand, and I’ll check it out!

Watch this…