1. Pronoun Agreement (Grammar #8) and Raymond Carver's "Popular Mechanics"
Pronouns
replace nouns (or other pronouns) so you do not have to repeat them. Tina let me borrow Tina’s coat. Tina let me borrow her coat. You met Mark. Mark is my cousin. You met Mark. He is my cousin.

2. Antecedent
(the word that a pronoun replaces) A personal pronoun refers to a specific person, place, or thing. The lawyer handed out the papers. They were very complicated.

3. A pronoun must AGREE with its antecedent (just like a subject and verb agree). Singular antecedent singular pronoun Plural antecedent plural pronoun
0 or 1
2 or more

4. Keep pronouns consistent
Keep pronouns consistent. Do not switch from “he/she” or “I” to “you” without reason. When the caller presses 1, you get a recording. Ginny loves peanut butter but wears braces, and you can’t eat peanut butter with braces.

5. Indefinite pronouns = not specific
Most indefinite pronouns are either always singular or always plural.
HINT: -one / -body / -thing = singular

6. Singular indefinite pronouns
Pronoun Agreement (Grammar #8) and Raymond Carver's "Popular Mechanics"
Plural indefinite pronouns
both few many several
Singular indefinite pronouns
someone anyone no one everyone
somebody anybody nobody everybody
something anything nothing everything
each either neither

7. However, the indefinite pronouns
Pronoun Agreement (Grammar #8) and Raymond Carver's "Popular Mechanics"
However, the indefinite pronouns
all
most
some
can be singular or plural.
HINT: Look at the object of the prepositional phrase that follows. (most of the workers = plural; most of the salt = singular)

8. Pronoun agreement with indefinite pronouns
A singular pronoun requires a singular verb (-s ending) and a singular pronoun.
Someone has lost his or her books.
A plural pronoun requires a plural verb (no -s ending) and a plural pronoun.
Many have lost their books.
Everybody fails Ms. Bielecki’s tests unless he or she studies.
Few survive to tell their tales of addiction to methamphetamines.

9. Collective nouns A collective noun names a group that acts as a single unit, so use the pronoun “it.”
audience band class
college committee company
couple* crowd family
government group jury
office party society
staff team union
Purdue University Writing Lab

10. Collective nouns
The band played its biggest hit at the end of the concert. (acting as a unit) The team won the last three games of its season. (acting as a unit) HINT: There’s no “I” in “team.”

11. Grammar Exercise #8 (50 points) Complete the entire exercise on MyHCC / Canvas before class begins on its due date.
Every presidential candidate must appeal to a wide variety of ethnic and social groups if ____________ to win the election. A. they want B. it wants C. he wants D. he or she wants
By refusing to take a blood or breath test, a driver will have _______________ license suspended for six months. A. their B. its C. his D. his or her
The Department of Education issued new guidelines for school security. _____________ trying to anticipate problems and avert disaster. A. They were B. It was C. We were D. He or she was
Either the boys or their father should give ____________ seat to the elderly woman. A. their B. its C. his D. his or her

12. Raymond Carver’s “Popular Mechanics”pp

13. Raymond Carver’s “Popular Mechanics”
1981, pp
Early that day the weather turned and the snow was melting into dirty water. Streaks of it ran down from the little shoulder-high window that faced the backyard. Cars slushed by on the street outside, where it was getting dark. But it was getting dark on the inside too.
He was in the bedroom pushing clothes into a suitcase when she came to the door.
I’m glad you’re leaving! I’m glad you’re leaving! she said. Do you hear?
He kept on putting his things into the suitcase.
Son of a bitch! I’m so glad you’re leaving! She began to cry. You can’t even look me in the face, can you?
Then she noticed the baby’s picture on the bed and picked it up.
He looked at her and she wiped her eyes and stared at him before turning and going back to the living room.
Bring that back, he said.
Just get your things and get out, she said.

14. He did not answer. He fastened the suitcase, put on his coat, looked around the bedroom before turning off the light. Then he went out to the living room.
She stood in the doorway of the little kitchen, holding the baby.
I want the baby, he said.
Are you crazy?
No, but I want the baby. I’ll get someone to come for his things.
You’re not touching this baby, she said. The baby had begun to cry and she uncovered the blanket from around his head.
Oh, oh, she said, looking at the baby.
He moved toward her.
For God’s sake! she said. She took a step back into the kitchen.
I want the baby.
Get out of here!
She turned and tried to hold the baby over in a corner behind the stove.
But he came up. He reached across the stove and tightened his hands on the baby.
Let go of him, he said.

15. Get away, get away! she cried.
The baby was red-faced and screaming. In the scuffle they knocked down a flowerpot that hung behind the stove. He crowded her into the wall then, trying to break her grip. He held onto the baby and pushed with all his weight.
Let go of him, he said.
Don’t, she said. You’re hurting the baby, she said.
I’m not hurting the baby, he said.
The kitchen window gave no light. In the near dark he worked on her fisted fingers with one hand and with the other hand he gripped the screaming baby up under an arm near the shoulder.
She felt her fingers being forced open. She felt the baby going from her.
No! she screamed just as her hands came loose.
She would have it, this baby. She grabbed for the baby’s other arm. She caught the baby around the wrist and leaned back.
But he would not let go. He felt the baby slipping out of his hands and he pulled back very hard.
In this manner, the issue was decided.

16. Raymond Carver’s “Popular Mechanics”
Elements of Plot:
Climax
Raymond Carver’s “Popular Mechanics”
1981 pp
Rising Action
No Falling Action
Setting & Exposition
Resolution