Pronoun Agreement with Indefinite Pronouns

A PRONOUN is a word used in place of a noun. Common pronouns are he, she, it, we, they, I, me, you, them, him, her, myself, yourself, everyone, anyone, someone, etc. Pronouns are used to eliminate awkward and confusing repetition in sentences and paragraphs. Sentence without pronouns: Mrs. Compson drove Mrs. Compson’s car to Red Lobster where Mrs. Compson and Mrs. Compson’s husband had dinner. Sentence with pronouns: Mrs. Compson drove her car to Red Lobster where she and her husband had dinner.

An ANTECEDENT is the word that is replaced by the pronoun. For example: William left his ball here. (HIS is the PRONOUN; WILLIAM is the ANTECEDENT) Rebecca and Judith will show their designs. (THEIR is the PRONOUN; REBECCA AND JUDITH is the (plural) ANTECEDENT.

A PRONOUN and its ANTECEDENT must AGREE. That means that if the ANTECEDENT is feminine, the PRONOUN must be feminine (Cathy must be replaced by her or she). If the ANTECEDENT is masculine, the PRONOUN must be masculine, (Steve must be replace by him or he). ETC. Likewise, if an ANTECEDENT is singular, the PRONOUN must be singular (Cathy must be replaced by her or she). If an ANTECEDENT is plural, the PRONOUN must be plural (Cathy and Steve must be replaced by them or they).

ANTECEDENTS can also be OTHER PRONOUNS. Ex. They are enjoying their vacation. This can get pretty complicated when the pronoun antecedent is an INDEFINITE PRONOUN. Examples: Everyone is enjoying his or her vacation. All of the passengers are enjoying their vacations. Both are enjoying their vacation. You must keep in mind which indefinite pronouns are SINGULAR, which are PLURAL, and which can be either SINGULAR or PLURAL.

Depending on the noun to which they refer. INDEFINITE PRONOUNS Singular Plural Singular or Plural Depending on the noun to which they refer. Another Anybody Anyone Anything Each Either Everybody Everyone Everything Much Neither Nobody No one Nothing One Other Somebody Someone Something Both Few Many Others Several All Any More Most None Some

Do a KAHOOT!!

Create your own sentences: Create your own sentence using a possessive pronoun to agree with the indefinite pronoun antecedent EVERYONE. Create your own sentence using a personal pronoun to agree with the indefinite pronoun antecedent EACH. Create your own sentence using a personal pronoun to agree with SOME as a plural antecedent. Create a line of dialogue that ends with the speaker tag using a possessive pronoun to agree with the indefinite pronoun antecedent ONE.