Transcript Pronoun-Antecedent_Agreement

Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement
 Pronoun is a word used to stand for (or take the place of) a
noun.
 A word can refer to an earlier noun or pronoun in a
sentence.
Example: President Lincoln delivered Lincoln’s
Gettysburg Address in 1863.
We don’t talk or write this way. Automatically, we replace the
noun Lincoln’s with a pronoun. More naturally, we say
President Lincoln delivered his Gettysburg Address in 1863.
The pronoun his refers to President Lincoln.
In this sentence, the pronoun his is called the referent because it
“refers back.”
It refers back to President Lincoln, the antecedent.
 An antecedent is a word for which a pronoun stands.
(ante=before)
Rules for pronoun-antecedent
agreement.
 A phrase or clause between the subject and verb does not
change the number of the antecedent.
Example: The can (of lima beans) sits on its shelf.
Can is singular so the pronoun has to be singular.
 Indefinite pronouns as antecedents.
1.
Singular indefinite pronoun antecedents take singular
pronoun referents.
Example: Each (of the clerks) does a good deal (of
work) around his or her office.
Plural indefinite pronoun antecedents require plural
referents.
2.
Example: Both do a good job in their office.
Some indefinite pronouns that are modified by a prepositional
phrase may be either singular or plural.
3.

When the object of the preposition is uncountable use a singular referent
pronoun.
Ex: Some of the sugar fell out its bag. (sugar is
uncountable)
 When an object of the preposition is countable use a plural
referent pronoun.
Ex: Some of the marbles fell out of their bag. (marbles
are countable.)
 Compound subjects joined by and always take a plural
referent.
Ex: Jones and Smith made their presentation.
 subjects joined by or/nor, the referent pronoun agrees with
the antecedent closer to the pronoun.
Ex: Neither the director nor the actors did their jobs.
Ex: Neither the ac tors nor the director did his or her
job. (his or her because of gender)
 Collective Nouns (group, jury, crowd, team, class, etc .) may
be singular or plural, depending on meaning.
Ex: The jury read its verdict. (Singular)
Ex: The jury members gave their individual opinions.
(plural)
 Titles of single entities. (books, organizations, countries,
etc.) take a singular referent.
Ex: The Grapes ofWrath made its characters seem real.
Ex: The United States cherishes its democracy.
 Plural form subjects with a singular meaning take a singular
referent. (news, measles, mumps, physics, etc)
EX: The news has lost much of its sting two days later.
 “Every” or “Many a” before a noun or a series of nouns
requires a singular referent.
ex: Every cow, pig, and horse had lost its life in the fire.
ex: Many a girl wishes she could sing like Tina Turner.
 “The number of ” vs. “A number of ” before a subject.
1. The number of is singular.
The number of volunteers increases its ranks
daily.
2. A number of is plural.
A number of volunteers are offering their help.
Ambiguous Pronouns
 Ambiguous means NOT CLEAR!
Ex: Jerry and Owen are brothers, but he has always
been taller. (Who is “he”?)
She enjoys oranges, bananas, and grapes, but they
are her favorite. (Which ones?)
Mr. Jones told Billy that he needed to study.
(Which person needed to study?)
Practice
Directions Read each sentence. Then, write the correct
personal pronoun!!!!!!!
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Jim and Doreen called loudly from the cave, but nobody
heard _____.
Annie will read _____ report to the class.
The president and the congress announced _____new
ideas.
Either Ryan or Cal will drive _____ truck.
Neither Heather nor Celia had a pencil with _____.