1. Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement

2. copyright 2006 www.brainybetty.com; All Rights Reserved.
What is an antecedent?
Antecedent: the word or group of words to which the pronoun refers or that a pronoun replaces
Edgar Allan Poe’s life was difficult because he lost many people close to him.
A pronoun must agree with its antecedent in…
Number (singular or plural)
Gender (masculine, feminine, or neuter)
5/29/2018
copyright All Rights Reserved.

3. Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement
Emily Bronte published her novel, Wuthering Heights, in 1847.
Emily, Charlotte, and Anne Bronte published ________ collected poems in 1846.
The spruce, because of ________ soft wood, is used to make paper.
5/29/2018
copyright All Rights Reserved.

4. Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement
When the gender is not known, a masculine form is traditionally used. Other options include using both forms, using a plural form, or deleting the pronoun.
A skier must keep his legs strong and limber.
A skier must keep his or her legs strong and limber.
Skiers must keep their legs strong and limber.
Skiers’ legs must be kept strong and limber.
5/29/2018
copyright All Rights Reserved.

5. Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement
Remember which indefinite pronouns are singular, plural, or either.
Ignore prepositional phrases!
Always Singular
each, either, neither everyone, everybody, nobody someone, anything, no one, etc.
Always Plural
several, others, few, both, many
Singular or Plural
some, none, all, any, most
5/29/2018
copyright All Rights Reserved.

6. Conjunction vs. Pronoun
Words like either and neither can function as pronouns or conjunctions
Neither of the girls brought her purse.
Neither is the antecedent; it functions as a pronoun and the subject of the sentence.
Neither the principal nor the girls brought their purses.
The antecedent is principal/girls; neither/nor functions as a conjunction joining the antecedents.
Because one antecedent is singular and the other is plural (and they’re joined by neither/nor), you should choose the antecedent closest to the verb.
5/29/2018
copyright All Rights Reserved.

7. Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement
Neither of the men wants to drive (his/their) car to work.
Each of the girls rides (her/their) bike to school.
Several of the neighbors make (his/their) commute by train.
Everyone can’t ride ________ bicycle to school.
All should ride _______ bicycles to school.
5/29/2018
copyright All Rights Reserved.

8. copyright 2006 www.brainybetty.com; All Rights Reserved.
Compound Antecedents
Use a plural pronoun to refer to two or more antecedents joined by and.
Ms. Free and Mrs. Horn brought their lunches.
Use a singular pronoun to refer to two or more singular antecedents joined by or or nor.
Neither Brandon nor Jabari remembered his homework.
5/29/2018
copyright All Rights Reserved.

9. Special Problems with Agreement
Collective nouns may function as singular or plural nouns.
An amount may take a singular or plural form.
Certain nouns that appear plural take singular pronouns (civics, economics, molasses).
The title of a work is singular (Dances with Wolves)
Relative pronouns are determined by their antecedent (that, which, who).
5/29/2018
copyright All Rights Reserved.

10. Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement
Work with a partner to complete the following exercises:
Exercises 7-8
Review F
5/29/2018
copyright All Rights Reserved.