1. Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement Rule & Examples

2. Jane lost a glove, and she can't find it.
A pronoun is a word used to take the place of a noun.
Antecedent is the word that is replaced by a pronoun later in the same sentence.
antecedent
Jane lost a glove, and she can't find it.
pronoun

3. The pronoun (referent) must AGREE with the antecedent in both number and gender.

4. Singular Indefinite Pronouns Plural Indefinite Pronouns
Each / Each of…
One of…
Neither of / Either of
No one, Nobody, Nothing
Anyone, Anybody
Somebody, Someone, something
Everybody, Everyone, Everything
Singular indefinite pronoun antecedents take singular pronoun referents.
If any of these pronouns are used in the subject, then treat the subject as SINGULAR.

5. Each of the clerks does a great deal of work around his or her office.
singular
antecedent
subject
Each of the clerks does a great deal of
work around his or her office.
pronoun/referent
Hint:
Don’t be fooled by clerks being plural, the use of each makes the subject singular.

6. Singular Indefinite Pronouns Plural Indefinite Pronouns
Each
Neither of / Either of
No one, Nobody, Nothing
Anyone, Anybody
Somebody, Someone, something
Everybody, Everyone, Everything
Several
Few
Many
Both
*** the word “and” creates a compound subject—plural
Plural indefinite pronoun antecedents require plural referents.
Singular indefinite pronoun antecedents take singular pronoun referents.
If any of these pronouns are used in the subject, then treat the subject as SINGULAR.

7. These Pronouns can be either *Uncountable = Singular
Singular Indefinite Pronouns
Plural Indefinite Pronouns
Each
Neither of / Either of
No one, Nobody, Nothing
Anyone, Anybody
Somebody, Someone, something
Everybody, Everyone, Everything
Several
Few
Many
Both
*** the word “and” creates a compound subject—plural
These Pronouns can be either
singular or plural:
All, Some, None, Most; Any
*Uncountable = Singular
*Countable = Plural

8. Both do a good job in their offices.
pronoun/referent
plural
antecedent

9. some, any, none, all, or most can be either singular or plural.
Some indefinite pronouns that are modified by a prepositional phrase may be either singular or plural. 
some, any, none, all, or most can be either singular or plural.
A helpful hint is to determine if the subject is countable or uncountable.

10. Some of the sugar fell out of its bag.
subject
Some of the sugar fell out of its bag.
pronoun/referent
Indefinite pronoun
antecedent
sugar is “uncountable” in this instance, so the antecedent is treated as singular subject

11. Some of the marbles fell out of their bag.
subject
Some of the marbles fell out of their bag.
pronoun/referent
Indefinite pronoun
antecedent
marbles are “countable” in this instance, so the antecedent is treated as plural subject

12. Jones and Smith made their presentation.
Compound subjects joined by and always take a plural referent — joint possession.
Jones and Smith made their presentation.
pronoun/referent
plural
antecedent

13. Lisa, assisted by Kim, completed her research on the novel.
singular
antecedent
Lisa, assisted by Kim, completed her
research on the novel.
pronoun/referent
Hint:
This is not a compound subject because Lisa and Kim are not joined by “and,” so this is a singular subject/antecedent.

14. Lisa OR Kim is treated as singular because it is ONE or the other.
antecedent
Lisa or Kim is going to give her notes for this chapter.
pronoun/referent
Hint:
Using “or” is the opposite of using “and,” so this is a singular subject/antecedent.

15. Neither the director nor the actors did their jobs.
With compound subjects joined by or/nor, the referent pronoun agrees with the antecedent closer to the pronoun.
pronoun/referent
Neither the director nor the actors did their jobs.
plural
antecedent
Hint:
“actors” is closer to the pronoun

16. Neither the actors nor the director did his or her job.
With compound subjects joined by or/nor, the referent pronoun agrees with the antecedent closer to the pronoun.
pronoun/referent
Neither the actors nor the director did his or her job.
singular
antecedent
Hint:
“director” is closer to the pronoun

17. The jury gave its verdict.
Collective Nouns such as group, jury, crowd, or team may be singular or plural, depending on meaning.  
The jury gave its verdict.
pronoun/referent
singular
antecedent

18. The jury members gave their individual opinions.
Collective Nouns such as group, jury, crowd, or, team may be singular or plural, depending on meaning.  
plural
antecedent
The jury members gave their
individual opinions.
pronoun/referent

19. The Grapes of Wrath made its characters seem real.
Titles of single entities such as books, organizations, or countries take a singular referent.
The Grapes of Wrath made its characters
seem real.
pronoun/referent
singular
antecedent

20. The United States cherishes its democracy.
Titles of single entities such as books, organizations, or countries take a singular referent.
The United States cherishes its democracy.
pronoun/referent
singular
antecedent

21. Plural form subjects with a singular meaning such as news, measles, mumps, physics, or economics take a singular referent. 
The news has lost much of its sting two days later.
pronoun/referent
singular
antecedent

22. Every cow, pig, and horse had lost its life in the fire.
“Every” or “Many a” before a noun or a series of nouns requires a singular referent.
singular
antecedent
subject
Every cow, pig, and horse had lost its
life in the fire.
pronoun/referent

23. Many a girl wishes she could sing like Beyoncé.
“Every” or “Many a” before a noun or a series of nouns requires a singular referent.
singular
antecedent
Many a girl wishes she could sing like
Beyoncé.
subject
pronoun/referent

24. The number before a subject is singular.
A number before a subject is plural.
subject
The number of volunteers increases its ranks daily.
singular
antecedent
pronoun/referent
Hint:
The subject is referring to ONE thing, so it is singular.

25. The number before a subject is singular.
A number before a subject is plural.
subject
A number of volunteers are offering their help.
plural
antecedent
pronoun/referent