Pronoun AgreementPronoun Agreement

PronounsPronouns replace nouns or other replace nouns or other pronouns in a sentence so that pronouns in a sentence so that you do not have to repeat them.you do not have to repeat them.

Theresa let me borrowTheresa let me borrow Theresa’sTheresa’s sweater.sweater.You have met Marc. You have met Marc. MarcMarc is my is my cousin.cousin.

The noun or pronoun that a The noun or pronoun that a pronoun replaces is called the pronoun replaces is called the antecedentantecedent, which means , which means “something that comes before”. In “something that comes before”. In most cases, a pronoun refers to a most cases, a pronoun refers to a specific antecedent nearby.specific antecedent nearby.

She gave out the She gave out the paperspapers. . TheyThey were very complicated.were very complicated.

There are There are four typesfour types of pronouns: of pronouns:

SubjectSubject pronouns pronounsObjectObject pronouns pronounsPossessivePossessive pronouns pronounsReflexiveReflexive pronouns pronouns

These different types show the These different types show the way pronouns can be used in a way pronouns can be used in a sentence.sentence.

A pronoun’s case is determined A pronoun’s case is determined by its role in the sentence: as by its role in the sentence: as subjectsubject, , objectobject, or indicator of , or indicator of possessionpossession..

When a pronoun follows a version When a pronoun follows a version of the verb of the verb to beto be (a linking verb), it (a linking verb), it explains the subject.explains the subject.The killer was she.The killer was she.This is he.This is he.

A A subject pronounsubject pronoun refers to the refers to the person, place, or thing that is the person, place, or thing that is the subject of a verb.subject of a verb.

An An object pronounobject pronoun either either receives the action of a verb or is receives the action of a verb or is part of a prepositional phrase.part of a prepositional phrase.

SubjectSubject Pronouns Pronouns vsvs Object Object PronounsPronouns II YouYou He, she, itHe, she, it WeWe YouYou theythey

MeMe YouYou Him, her, itHim, her, it UsUs YouYou themthem

Possessive Adjectives and Possessive Adjectives and PronounsPronouns show ownership show ownership

Possessive Possessive adjectivesadjectives vsvs possessive possessive pronounspronouns

MyMy YourYour His, her, itsHis, her, its OurOur YourYour theirtheir

MineMine YoursYours His, hers, His, hers, OursOurs YoursYours theirstheirs

Possessive Forms of NounsPossessive Forms of NounsAdd apostrophe + -s to singular Add apostrophe + -s to singular nouns and irregular plural nounsnouns and irregular plural nounsAdd apostrophe only to plural Add apostrophe only to plural nouns ending in –snouns ending in –sNames that end in –s take both Names that end in –s take both apostrophe only or apostrophe apostrophe only or apostrophe + -s+ -sUse “the ______ of ___ for Use “the ______ of ___ for Inanimate objects. Do not use Inanimate objects. Do not use apostrophe + s. apostrophe + s.

PossessivesPossessives

The bride’s dressThe bride’s dress My parents’ houseMy parents’ houseThe men’s suitsThe men’s suitsThe women’s dressesThe women’s dressesCharles’ wife or Charles’s wife.Charles’ wife or Charles’s wife.

WHOSE + NOUN +Aux. +Subject + verb?

Whose book is this?Whose car did you see in front of the house?Whose name will you keep?

If a noun is If a noun is singularsingular the pronoun the pronoun must be singular as well. must be singular as well.

The pronoun must agree with the The pronoun must agree with the noun or pronoun it refers to. noun or pronoun it refers to.

Try to make pronouns consistent Try to make pronouns consistent in person.in person.

Identify PronounsIdentify Pronouns

A A bankbank needs to find customers needs to find customers wherever wherever itit can. can.

Many poor Many poor peoplepeople feel that feel that theythey can depend on big banks.can depend on big banks.

Please correct.Please correct.

After a caller presses 1, you get a After a caller presses 1, you get a recording.recording.

I love peanut butter, but you can’t I love peanut butter, but you can’t eat a peanut butter sandwich in eat a peanut butter sandwich in my house.my house.

ReflexiveReflexive pronouns pronouns

MyselfMyself YourselfYourself Himself, herself, itselfHimself, herself, itself OurselvesOurselves YourselvesYourselves ThemselvesThemselves

Three pronoun trouble spotsThree pronoun trouble spots

1.1. Compound subjects and Compound subjects and objectsobjects

2. comparisons2. comparisons

3.sentences that need 3.sentences that need whowho or or whomwhom

1.Compound subjects and objects1.Compound subjects and objects

A A compound subjectcompound subject has more has more than one subject joined by a than one subject joined by a conjunction.conjunction.Tim and I work together.Tim and I work together.

A A compound objectcompound object has more has more than one object joined by a than one object joined by a conjunction.conjunction.John baked the cookies for Jim John baked the cookies for Jim and me.and me.

To decide what type of pronoun to To decide what type of pronoun to use in a compound construction, use in a compound construction, try leaving out the other part of the try leaving out the other part of the compound and the conjunction. compound and the conjunction. Then say the sentence aloud to Then say the sentence aloud to yourself.yourself.

Jack andJack and (me I) like hot dogs. (me I) like hot dogs.The package was for The package was for Karen andKaren and (she her).(she her).

If a pronoun is part of a If a pronoun is part of a compound object in a compound object in a prepositional phrase, use an prepositional phrase, use an object pronounobject pronoun..

I will keep that information just I will keep that information just between you andbetween you and (I me). (I me).

2. Comparisons2. Comparisons

To decide whether to use a To decide whether to use a subject or object pronoun in a subject or object pronoun in a comparison, try adding the comparison, try adding the implied words and saying the implied words and saying the sentence aloud or finish the sentence aloud or finish the comparison in your mind.comparison in your mind.

To find comparisons, look for To find comparisons, look for the words the words thanthan or or asas

The professor knows more than The professor knows more than (us we).(us we).

The professor knows more than The professor knows more than we know.we know.

Jen likes other professors more Jen likes other professors more than (he him).than (he him).

Jen likes other professors more Jen likes other professors more than she likes him.than she likes him.

3. Choosing between 3. Choosing between WhoWho and and WhomWhom

WhoWho is always a subject; use this is always a subject; use this form if the pronoun performs an form if the pronoun performs an action.action.

WhomWhom is always an object; use is always an object; use this form if the pronoun does not this form if the pronoun does not perform an action.perform an action.

When the pronoun When the pronoun whowho or or whomwhom is followed by a verb use is followed by a verb use WhoWho..

When the pronoun When the pronoun whowho or or whom whom is followed by a noun or pronoun, is followed by a noun or pronoun, use use WhomWhom..

The person (who whom) spoke The person (who whom) spoke was boring.was boring.

The person (who whom) I met The person (who whom) I met was boring.was boring.

Two types of words often cause Two types of words often cause errors in pronoun agreement: errors in pronoun agreement:

indefinite pronouns indefinite pronouns and and collective nounscollective nouns

Most Most indefiniteindefinite pronouns are pronouns are either always singular or always either always singular or always plural.plural.

IndefiniteIndefinite pronouns pronouns

someonesomeone anyoneanyone no one no one everyoneeveryone

somebodysomebody anybody nobody everybodyanybody nobody everybody

somethingsomething anything nothing everythinganything nothing everything

eacheach either ofeither of neither ofneither of

An An indefiniteindefinite pronoun does not pronoun does not refer to a specific person, place or refer to a specific person, place or thing; it is general.thing; it is general.

Using a masculine pronoun Using a masculine pronoun (he, his, or him)(he, his, or him)alone to refer to a singular alone to refer to a singular indefinite pronoun such as indefinite pronoun such as everyoneeveryone is now considered is now considered sexistsexist..

SomeoneSomeone forgot forgot hishis or or herher coat. coat.

One way to avoid using One way to avoid using he or shehe or shehim or herhim or herhis or herhis or heris to change the sentence so that is to change the sentence so that the pronoun refers to a plural the pronoun refers to a plural noun or pronoun.noun or pronoun.The children forgot their coats.The children forgot their coats.

Please correct.Please correct.

A student should buy her books A student should buy her books before the first day of class.before the first day of class.

Neither of the brothers has his or Neither of the brothers has his or their own bedroom.their own bedroom.

A A collective nouncollective noun names a group names a group that acts as a single unit.that acts as a single unit.

AudienceAudience groupgroup ClassClass juryjury CompanyCompany societysociety CollegeCollege teamteam CommitteeCommittee policepolice CrowdCrowd facultyfaculty FamilyFamily bandband GovernmentGovernment couplecouple

In American English, a In American English, a collective collective noun noun isis singular when the group singular when the group acts as a unit and plural when the acts as a unit and plural when the members of the group act members of the group act individually. In British English, individually. In British English, collective nouns are plural.collective nouns are plural.

The band played its biggest hit at The band played its biggest hit at the end of the concert.the end of the concert.(acting as a unit)(acting as a unit)

The band packed up their The band packed up their instruments and left.instruments and left.(acting individually)(acting individually)

The audience took (its, their) The audience took (its, their) _______ seats._______ seats.

The salesclerk gave Jim and The salesclerk gave Jim and (I, me)___________the wrong (I, me)___________the wrong packages.packages.

(I, me) Molly and __________ (I, me) Molly and __________ searched the piles of sweaters for searched the piles of sweaters for my size.my size.

The movers or (we, us) _______ The movers or (we, us) _______ will pack the dishes in the kitchen.will pack the dishes in the kitchen.

Dr, Amin wants Julia and (he, him) Dr, Amin wants Julia and (he, him) _______ as lab assistants._______ as lab assistants.

Marcus is a better basketball Marcus is a better basketball player than (I, me) __________ player than (I, me) __________

The news report disturbed Harriet The news report disturbed Harriet as much as (I, me)________. as much as (I, me)________.

Carol always liked Julio more Carol always liked Julio more than (I, me) _________.than (I, me) _________.

Avoid Avoid ambiguous or vagueambiguous or vague pronoun referencepronoun reference

An ambiguous pronoun reference An ambiguous pronoun reference is one in which the pronoun does is one in which the pronoun does not refer clearly to any particular not refer clearly to any particular person or thing.person or thing.

I threw my bag on the table and it I threw my bag on the table and it broke.broke.

I put the chicken in the oven and I put the chicken in the oven and the broccoli in the microwave. An the broccoli in the microwave. An hour later it burned.hour later it burned.

Sasha carefully removed the vase Sasha carefully removed the vase from the coffee table before from the coffee table before dusting it.dusting it.

I went to see my advisor, but they I went to see my advisor, but they said that she was sick.said that she was sick.

During finals week, you always During finals week, you always know that students are working know that students are working hard.hard.

The paint had a few blisters in it The paint had a few blisters in it near the ceiling, but for the most near the ceiling, but for the most part, they did an excellent job.part, they did an excellent job.

Either… orEither… or and and neither… norneither… nor

pronouns agree with the nearer pronouns agree with the nearer subjectsubjectEither John or his parents forgot Either John or his parents forgot theirtheir jacket. jacket.Either John’s parents or John Either John’s parents or John forgot forgot hishis jacket. jacket.Either John or his parents forgot Either John or his parents forgot aa jacket. jacket.

Remember:Remember:

Don’t use Don’t use itit or or theythey to refer to to refer to unnamed things or person.unnamed things or person.

Make sure that Make sure that hehe or or sheshe refers to refers to only one persononly one person

Don’t use Don’t use thisthis or or thatthat to refer to an to refer to an entire idea or action. Give entire idea or action. Give thisthis or or thatthat a specific antecedent or a specific antecedent or replace replace thisthis or or thatthat with specific with specific words.words.The teacher said that this is isn’t a The teacher said that this is isn’t a good idea.good idea.

Rose and Kyle are talking. Change boldfaced nouns to pronouns and Rose and Kyle are talking. Change boldfaced nouns to pronouns and possessive adjectives.possessive adjectives.

Rose: Jane lost Rose: Jane lost Jane’sJane’s camera on camera on Jane, Jane, Kyle, Rose, Andrea, Peter and Donald’sKyle, Rose, Andrea, Peter and Donald’s adventure trip last week. adventure trip last week. Does KyleDoes Kyle know know where the camera is?where the camera is?

Kyle: Kyle: KyleKyle found found Jane’sJane’s camera in camera in Kyle’s Kyle’s backpack. backpack. KyleKyle put put the camerathe camera there by there by mistake. mistake. KyleKyle will bring will bring the camerathe camera to to RoseRose today.today.

Rose: Oh, no! Not to Rose: Oh, no! Not to RoseRose! Could ! Could KyleKyle please take please take the camerathe camera to Donald and to Donald and Peter’s house? Jane wants to give Peter’s house? Jane wants to give the the cameracamera to to Donald andDonald and PeterPeter. . Donald and Donald and PeterPeter need need the camerathe camera this week. Jane this week. Jane bought bought JaneJane a new camera. a new camera. JaneJane doesn’t doesn’t need need Jane’sJane’s old camera anymore. old camera anymore.