PRONOUN-

ANTECEDENT
AGREEMENT
Rustum A. Pastor Jr.
JD II
PRONOUN VS.
ANTECEDENT
Pronoun
A pronoun is a word that refers
to or replaces a noun.

Examples:
I, me, he, she, herself, himself
 Pronoun
Incorrect Correct
Steven was late Steven was late
because Steven forgot because he forgot to
to set an alarm. set an alarm.
Therefore, Steven
received a detention.
Antecedent
 An antecedent is the noun being
referred to by the pronoun. The
identity of the pronoun is
made obvious by the antecedent.
 An antecedent comes before the
pronoun.
 Antecedent
Example #1 Example #2
The second grade girl Grandma’s cookies
was happy that she were so delicious
brought an eraser to that I couldn’t
school. get enough of them.
Antecedent = “girl” Antecedent = “Grandma’s cookies”
Pronoun = “she” Pronoun = “them”
 Pronoun-Antecedent
Agreement
General Rule:
 A pronoun must match, or agree
with, its antecedent.

 Singular nouns must match singular

pronouns, and plural nouns must
match plural pronouns.
 RECAP:
Common Singular Common Plural
Pronouns Pronouns
I We
Me Us
Myself Ourselves
You You
Yourself Yourselves
 RECAP:
Common Singular Common Plural
Pronouns Pronouns
He/She/It They/Them
His/Her/Its Their
Himself/Herself/Itself Themselves
 Pronoun-Antecedent
Agreement

Person Number

Gender
 #1: Agreement with the Person

 The person of a pronoun must

match the Person of its Antecedent.
1. All students should bring their books.
2. I walked into my room.
3. Do you want your coat?
#1: Agreement with the Person
 #1: Agreement with the Person

Incorrect Correct
The student wanted The student wanted
to go to your dorm to go to his dorm
room after class. room after class.
Your = 2nd person
The student = third person
 #2: Agreement with the Gender

 Pronouns have to agree with their

Antecedent in Gender
1. Masculine pronouns for males
2. Feminine pronouns for females
3. Neuter pronouns for places, things,
ideas and animals
 RECAP:

Masculine Feminine Neuter

He She It
Him Her It
His Her, hers Its
Himself herself itself
 #2: Agreement with the Gender
Incorrect Correct

If a student wants If a student

to make an wants to make an
appointment, he appointment, he or
must do so online. she must do
Student = male or female? so online.
Gender-neutral
 #3: Agreement with the Number
 A plural antecedent takes a plural
pronoun. A singular antecedent
takes a singular pronoun.
1. Patrick and Jeff played their
instruments.
2. Patrick hates his math class.
 RECAP:
Common Singular Common Plural
Pronouns Pronouns
He, she, it They
Him, her, it Them
His, hers, it Their, theirs
Himself, herself, itself Themselves
 #3: Agreement with the Number
Incorrect Correct

The company is The company is

having a party to having a party to
celebrate their celebrate its grand
grand opening. opening.
“the company” is singular
“their” is plural
 #3: Agreement with the Number
Incorrect Correct

The boy wants to do If the boy wants to

well on the test, do well on the test,
they would study. he would study
“dogs” is plural
“her” is singular
 #3: Agreement with the Number
Incorrect Correct

The dogs wanted to The dogs wanted to

play fetch with her play fetch with their
ball. ball.
“the boy” is singular
“they” is plural
INDEFINITE PRONOUN
AGREEMENT
 RECAP:
Indefinite Singular Indefinite Plural
Pronouns Pronouns
(his/her, it, he/she) (their, them, they)
Another All
Any Both
Anyone Few
Each Many
Either Most
 RECAP:
Indefinite Singular Indefinite Plural
Pronouns Pronouns
(his/her, it, he/she) (their, them, they)
Everyone Several
One Some
Other
Neither
Nobody
 RECAP:
Indefinite Singular
Pronouns
(his/her, it, he/she)
No one
Someone
 Singular Indefinite Pronoun Rule

 Singular indefinite pronouns must

always agree with their pronoun
referents (pronouns which refer back to
the indefinite pronouns).
 Singular Indefinite Pronoun Rule
Incorrect Correct
Each of the students Each of the students
has to create a ten has to create a ten
minute presentation minute presentation
for their business for his or her business
class. class.
 Plural Indefinite Pronoun Rule

 Plural indefinite pronouns must

always agree with their pronoun
referents.
 Singular Indefinite Pronoun Rule
Incorrect Correct
Many people enjoy Many people enjoy
taking her children on taking their children
vacation in the on vacation in the
summer. summer.
 Indefinite Pronoun Rule
 Indefinite pronouns must always
agree with their referent pronouns
in number; however, there are
some special circumstances in
which an indefinite pronoun may be
considered singular or plural. These
indefinite pronouns (some, any,
none, all, most) are always modified
by a prepositional phrase.
 Indefinite Pronoun Rule

 If the object of the prepositional

phrase that follows the indefinite
pronoun cannot be counted, then
the indefinite pronoun is singular
and takes a singular referent
pronoun.
 Indefinite pronoun cannot be
counted
Incorrect Correct
Most of the water in Most of the water in
the bay does not the bay does not
move from their move from its primary
primary location. location.
 Indefinite Pronoun Rule

 If the object of the prepositional

phrase that follows the indefinite
pronoun can be counted, then the
indefinite pronoun is plural and
takes a plural referent pronoun.
 Indefinite pronoun cannot be
counted
Incorrect Correct
None of the None of the
employees arrived on employees arrived on
time to her jobs today. time to their jobs
today.
THANK YOU!
Rustum A. Pastor Jr.
JD II