Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement: Style and Usage

Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement

Welcome to the section on Style and Usage! In this lesson, we’ll delve into an essential aspect of English grammar: Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement. Understanding this concept will help you communicate more effectively in English.

What is Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement?

Pronoun-antecedent agreement refers to the need for pronouns to agree in number (singular or plural) with their antecedents (the words they refer to) in a sentence. This agreement ensures clarity and coherence in writing.

Examples:

1.  Incorrect: Each of the students brought their own book. Correct: Each of the students brought his or her own book.
2.  Incorrect: The team celebrated its victory by lifting their coach. Correct: The team celebrated its victory by lifting its coach.

In the first example, “each” is singular, so the pronoun “their” (plural) does not agree with its antecedent. In the corrected version, the pronoun “his or her” matches the singular antecedent “each.”

In the second example, “team” is singular, so the plural pronoun “their” does not agree with its antecedent. The corrected version uses the singular pronoun “its” to maintain agreement with “team.”

Common Errors to Avoid:

1.  Using plural pronouns with singular antecedents or vice versa.
2.  Failing to ensure agreement when using indefinite pronouns like “each,” “every,” “anyone,” etc.
3.  Ignoring gender neutrality when referring to individuals or groups.

Practice Exercises:

1.  Identify the antecedent and choose the correct pronoun to complete the sentence:
   • The cat washed ___ face. a) its b) their c) his
2.  Rewrite the following sentence to correct the pronoun-antecedent agreement error:
   • Every student needs to submit their assignment by Friday.

Key Takeaways:

• Pronoun-antecedent agreement is crucial for clear and effective communication.
• Pay attention to the number and gender of pronouns to ensure agreement with their antecedents.
• Practice identifying and correcting errors in pronoun-antecedent agreement to improve your writing skills.

Exercises :

• Exercise 1: Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement | Practice Test Online
• Exercise 2: Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement | Practice Test Online
• Exercise 3: Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement | Practice Test Online

Now that you understand the basics of pronoun-antecedent agreement, you’re ready to apply this knowledge in your writing with confidence. Keep practicing, and soon it will become second nature to you.