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Pronoun Pronoun AgreementAgreement

Until You Pass OutUntil You Pass Out !!

Rule 1:Rule 1: Know the Know the generalgeneral rule rule governing pronoun agreement.governing pronoun agreement.

A pronoun must agree with its antecedent.

The The antecedentantecedent is usually a is usually a nounnoun that the that the pronoun pronoun replacesreplaces. For example, you can . For example, you can

replace replace Mrs. HillMrs. Hill with with she she or or herher, the , the students students with with theythey or or themthem..

Here are two examples:Here are two examples:The The lizardlizard licked licked itsits eyeball.eyeball.

The The lizardslizards licked licked theirtheir eyeballs. eyeballs.

LizardLizard = singular antecedent = singular antecedentitsits = singular pronoun = singular pronoun

LizardsLizards = plural antecedent = plural antecedenttheirtheir = plural pronoun = plural pronoun

Know the difference between these Know the difference between these singularsingular and and pluralplural personal personal pronouns.pronouns.

Singular He, she, itHe, she, it Him, her, itHim, her, it His, hers, itsHis, hers, its Himself, herself, Himself, herself,

itselfitself

Plural TheyThey ThemThem Their, theirsTheir, theirs ThemselvesThemselves

Do not confuse Do not confuse it’sit’s with with itsits. .

• It’sIt’s [with an apostrophe] means [with an apostrophe] means it isit is or or it hasit has. . • ItsIts [without an apostrophe] means [without an apostrophe] means belonging to belonging to

itit——for example, for example, itsits bowl, bowl, itsits sharp teeth, sharp teeth, itsits long long claws, etc.claws, etc.

• Possessive pronouns—Possessive pronouns—unlikeunlike possessive nouns possessive nouns—do —do notnot need an apostrophe with the need an apostrophe with the final final ss..

Two [or more] singular things joined byTwo [or more] singular things joined by andand become abecome a pluralplural antecedent.antecedent.

Rule 2, Part 1:Rule 2, Part 1: The conjunction The conjunction aandnd can can cause problems with pronoun agreement.cause problems with pronoun agreement.

The new puppy and kitten have destroyed their owner’s sofa.

Rule 2, Part 2:Rule 2, Part 2: When When eacheach or or everyevery precedes two precedes two [[or moreor more]] singular singular things joined by things joined by andand, a , a singularsingular antecedent is formed.antecedent is formed.

Each new puppy and kitten destroys its owner’s sofa.

In this situation, no matter In this situation, no matter how manyhow many singular nouns that you join with singular nouns that you join with andand, the , the antecedent is antecedent is stillstill singular.singular.

Each new puppy, kitten, rabbit, tarantula, python, parrot, iguana, and ferret destroys its owner’s sofa.

Rule 3:Rule 3: Use caution with these three Use caution with these three correlative conjunctions: correlative conjunctions: either … oreither … or, , neither … norneither … nor, and , and not only … but alsonot only … but also..

Of the two antecedents in the sentence, the

pronoun must agree with the closer one.

Here are two examples:Here are two examples:

++ ==

Not only Louise but also the Smiths fixed their famous squid eyeball stew for the picnic.

Not only the Smiths but also Louise fixed her famous squid eyeball stew for the picnic.

Indefinite pronounsIndefinite pronouns cause the cause the biggest headaches for biggest headaches for pronoun agreement.pronoun agreement.

Rule 4, Part 1:Rule 4, Part 1: These These indefinite indefinite pronounspronouns are always are always singular singular [[even even when they when they seemseem plural plural]]..

• Each, either, neitherEach, either, neither• Anyone, anybody, anything Anyone, anybody, anything • Everyone, everybody, everythingEveryone, everybody, everything• No one, nobody, nothingNo one, nobody, nothing• Someone, somebody, somethingSomeone, somebody, something

EveryoneEveryone on Earth = on Earth = more thanmore than one person— one person—billionsbillions of people, in fact.of people, in fact.

The word The word everyoneeveryone, however, is still , however, is still singularsingular and and requires a requires a singular pronoun singular pronoun for agreement.for agreement.

Neither of my two brothers shows much sense when he dates women. [Neither = singular.]

Neither of my two brothers show much sense when they date women.

This sentence might This sentence might soundsound right, but it is completely right, but it is completely

wrong!wrong!

Read this example:Read this example:

Wow, what a babe!

Wow, what a

fat wallet!

Now imagine a parked car like this one:Now imagine a parked car like this one:

The sentence belowThe sentence below soundssounds natural but has an error.natural but has an error.

Rule 4, Part 2:Rule 4, Part 2: When fixing an When fixing an agreement error, try to avoid agreement error, try to avoid sexist sexist languagelanguage that might that might offendoffend your your readers.readers.

Someone left their lights on.

In the 1950s, rule books would have In the 1950s, rule books would have recommended using the recommended using the masculinemasculine pronoun exclusively.pronoun exclusively.

Oh, my! Someone lefthis lights on.

In the 1970s, after criticism from feminists In the 1970s, after criticism from feminists and civil rights activists, rule books next and civil rights activists, rule books next suggested using suggested using bothboth genders so that genders so that males males and femalesand females had had equal representationequal representation in in the language. the language.

Someone left his or her lights on.

I can see them along the watch tower . . .

A writer who begins with A writer who begins with he or shehe or she or or him or herhim or her will need to be consistent. will need to be consistent. But look what happens .But look what happens . .. ..

Wanda WrighterProfessor PenningtonENC 1101May 17, 2011

Student Success

If a student wants to improve his or her grades, he or she should walk himself or herself over to the tutoring center. There, he or she can request a tutor to help him or her with his or her homework. This preparation for his or her class will ensure that he or she is ready when taking his or her quizzes and exams. In addition, the tutor might have old work to share. This way, the student can find out himself/herself what to expect on the assignments for a specific instructor that might change his/her assignments rarely. Thus, the one thing that will insure the success of a student is that he or she gets a tutor to help him or her.

Oh, the horror !

In the 21In the 21stst century, fix the error century, fix the error withoutwithout the annoying repetition. the annoying repetition.

There’s a car with its lights

on.

Thankfully, my wheels don’t have

that problem.

Rule 4, Part 3:Rule 4, Part 3: Some indefinite Some indefinite pronouns are pronouns are singular or pluralsingular or plural, , depending on depending on contextcontext..

• AllAll• AnyAny• NoneNone**• MoreMore• MostMost• SomeSome

AllAll of Beverly’s hair of Beverly’s hair gets gets itsits color from a color from a bottle.bottle.AllAll of Beverly’s of Beverly’s fingernails get fingernails get theirtheir color from a bottle.color from a bottle.

Some Some groupsgroups of people, like a of people, like a juryjury, also , also cause pronoun agreement cause pronoun agreement problemsproblems..

Rule 5:Rule 5: Collective nouns Collective nouns are singular are singular or plural, depending on or plural, depending on contextcontext..

• Collective nouns are groups of people: Collective nouns are groups of people: teamteam, , juryjury, , classclass, , committeecommittee, , armyarmy, , familyfamily, etc., etc.

• If all members are acting If all members are acting in unisonin unison, treat the , treat the collective noun as collective noun as singularsingular and use a and use a singular pronounsingular pronoun..

• If, however, all members are acting If, however, all members are acting individuallyindividually, treat the noun as , treat the noun as pluralplural and and use a use a plural pronounplural pronoun..

Read these examples:Read these examples:

The team celebrated its victory.

The team changed into their street clothes and went home happy.

When you cannot When you cannot decidedecide if the if the collective noun is singular or plural, collective noun is singular or plural, insert a insert a plural nounplural noun after the collective after the collective noun, like this:noun, like this:

The team members ran out onto the field to meet their opponent.

Rule 6:Rule 6: CompaniesCompanies, , organizationsorganizations, and , and schoolsschools are are singularsingular and thus require and thus require singularsingular pronouns. pronouns.

One urban legend is that Tito’s Taco Palace makes its burritos with kangaroo meat.

The Pencil Enthusiast Society uses the donations it receives to insure all writing instruments have sharp points.

Next year, Weaver College will try to solve its parking woes by requiring students to buy a $75 parking decal.

Quick TestQuick Test

1. At the zoo, every lion, tiger, leopard, bear, snake, and crocodile roared their approval when the mean child slipped in a puddle and cracked his head on the sidewalk.

Directions:Directions: Find and fix the pronoun Find and fix the pronoun agreement errors.agreement errors.

1. At the zoo, every lion, tiger, leopard, bear, snake, and crocodile roared its approval when the mean child slipped in a puddle and cracked his head on the sidewalk.

2.2. Each of those worried Each of those worried students is wondering how to students is wondering how to cheat effectively on their cheat effectively on their pronoun agreement quiz.pronoun agreement quiz.

Or try this:Or try this: Those worried studentsThose worried students are wondering how to cheat effectively are wondering how to cheat effectively on on theirtheir pronoun agreement quiz.pronoun agreement quiz.

2.2. EachEach of those worried of those worried students is wondering how to students is wondering how to cheat effectively on cheat effectively on hishis pronoun agreement quiz.pronoun agreement quiz.

2.2. EachEach of those worried of those worried students is wondering how to students is wondering how to cheat effectively on cheat effectively on herher pronoun agreement quiz.pronoun agreement quiz.

3.3. Both Mrs. Williams and her Both Mrs. Williams and her students are happy to hear students are happy to hear that they can order squid that they can order squid eyeball stew for their eyeball stew for their lunch.lunch.

Correct!Correct!

4.4. Not only my two dogs but also Not only my two dogs but also Buster the cat loves to eat Buster the cat loves to eat pepperoni that I pull off my pepperoni that I pull off my pizza to give to them. pizza to give to them.

Remember that the Remember that the closercloser of the two of the two antecedents counts:antecedents counts: Not onlyNot only Buster Buster the catthe cat but alsobut also my two dogsmy two dogs love to eat love to eat pepperoni that I pull off my pizza to give to pepperoni that I pull off my pizza to give to themthem..

4.4. Not Not onlyonly my two dogs my two dogs but alsobut also Buster the cat loves to eat Buster the cat loves to eat pepperoni that I pull off my pepperoni that I pull off my pizza to give to pizza to give to himhim. .

5. Oh, no! Someone left their greasy French fries on the essay that I have to turn in to Mrs. Neal next hour!

Or try this:Or try this: Someone left Someone left greasy greasy French friesFrench fries on the paper that I have on the paper that I have to turn in to Mrs. Neal next hour!to turn in to Mrs. Neal next hour!

5. Oh, no! Someone left his greasy French fries on the essay that I have to turn in to Mrs. Neal next hour!

5. Oh, no! Someone left her greasy French fries on the essay that I have to turn in to Mrs. Neal next hour!

6.6. The class cheered their The class cheered their approval when Dr. Shuman approval when Dr. Shuman postponed the frog dissection postponed the frog dissection so that the students could go so that the students could go home early on Friday home early on Friday afternoon.afternoon.

Or try this:Or try this: The The studentsstudents cheered cheered theirtheir approval when Dr. Shuman approval when Dr. Shuman postponed the frog dissection so that postponed the frog dissection so that theythey could go home early . could go home early . .. ..

6.6. The The classclass cheered cheered itsits approval when Dr. Shuman approval when Dr. Shuman postponed the frog dissection postponed the frog dissection so that the students could go so that the students could go home early on Friday home early on Friday afternoon.afternoon.

7.7. Nick loves Cluck-a-Buck, but Nick loves Cluck-a-Buck, but they use so much MSG as they use so much MSG as flavoring that he sneezes for an flavoring that he sneezes for an hour after eating just a hour after eating just a drumstick.drumstick.

7.7. Nick loves Nick loves Cluck-a-BuckCluck-a-Buck, but , but it usesit uses so much MSG as so much MSG as flavoring that he sneezes for an flavoring that he sneezes for an hour after eating just a hour after eating just a drumstick.drumstick.

8.8. None of Sabrina’s friends will None of Sabrina’s friends will give up one of his or her give up one of his or her pencils so that Sabrina, who is pencils so that Sabrina, who is always unprepared, can take always unprepared, can take her pronoun agreement quiz her pronoun agreement quiz today.today.

8.8. NoneNone of Sabrina’s friends will of Sabrina’s friends will give up one of give up one of theirtheir pencils pencilsso that Sabrina, who is always so that Sabrina, who is always unprepared, can take her unprepared, can take her pronoun agreement quiz pronoun agreement quiz today.today.

9.9. Either of those two shirts will Either of those two shirts will enhance your brown eyes with enhance your brown eyes with their vibrant colors.their vibrant colors.

Or try this:Or try this: Both of those shirtsBoth of those shirts will will enhance your brown eyes with enhance your brown eyes with theirtheir vibrant colors.vibrant colors.

9.9. EitherEither of those two shirts will of those two shirts will enhance your brown eyes with enhance your brown eyes with itsits vibrant colors. vibrant colors.

10.10. The committee unanimously The committee unanimously decided to impeach the decided to impeach the president because they could president because they could no longer stand his long-no longer stand his long-winded speeches and unclear winded speeches and unclear policies.policies.

Or try this:Or try this: The The committee committee membersmembers unanimously decided to unanimously decided to impeach the president because impeach the president because theythey could no longer stand .could no longer stand . .. ..

10.10. The The committeecommittee unanimously unanimously decided to impeach the decided to impeach the president because president because itit could couldno longer stand his long-no longer stand his long-winded speeches and unclear winded speeches and unclear policies.policies.

The End.The End.