Grammar Lesson

Pronoun Reference, Agreement, and Point of View

Remember that pronouns are words that take the place of nouns so they always
refer to a specific noun which is in the same sentence or previous sentence. In a
previous grammar lesson you examined different types of pronouns. Now in this
lesson you will look at some common pronoun errors in writing.

The following rules which apply to three common pronoun mistakes include:

1. Pronoun Reference--A pronoun must refer clearly to the noun which it

replaces.
Ex. I left my USB drive in the tutoring center and then it disappeared.

What disappeared? The USB or the tutoring center? The pronoun it

has an unclear, or ambiguous, reference.

Ex. I do not buy clothes at the department store because they charge too
much.

Who is they? The department store is not a they. In this sentence

there is not a noun for the word they to refer to.

2. Pronoun Agreement--A pronoun must agree in number (singular or plural)

with the word or words it replaces. If a pronoun refers to a word that is singular,
then the pronoun must be singular. If a pronoun refers to a word that is plural,
then the pronoun must be plural. In English grammar, the word the pronoun
refers to is called an antecedent.
Ex. Megan said that she would lend me her notes from the class.

The pronouns she and her refer to the noun Megan. Because the
word Megan is singular, the pronouns she and her also must
be singular.
 Ex. The students relaxed outside in the courtyard during their break.

The pronoun their refers to the noun students. Because the word
students is plural, the pronoun their also must be plural.

3. Pronoun shift in point of view--Pronouns should not shift unnecessarily in

point of view. Point of view refers to the person of the pronoun used.
1st person refers to the speaker’s point-of-view

2nd person refers to the person being spoken to

3rd person refers to the people being talked about

Subject Subject Object Object

Pronouns Pronouns Pronouns Pronouns
Singular Plural Singular Plural
1st -- I st
1 -- we st
1 -- me st
1 -- us
2nd -- you 2nd -- you nd
2 -- you 2nd -- you
3rd -- he, she, it, one 3rd -- they 3rd -- him, her, it, one 3rd -- them

First person point of view

Ex. I found that many people I interviewed felt that a college education was

valuable.

The speaker, I, is talking about himself and actions that he took.

Ex. We visited the Grand Canyon in Arizona last summer.

The speaker is included in the people doing the action we.

Second person point of view

Ex. You should go to school this summer.

The speaker is talking directly to another person.

Ex. All of you students should go to the workshop about the Accuplacer
test.

The speaker is talking to more than one person.

Third person point of view

Ex. He, Robert, felt that the college should provide more opportunities for
the students.

The speaker is talking about what another person felt.

Ex. They believe that the wealthy should pay more taxes than other
people.

The speaker is talking about what other people believe.

Do not change person or point of view in the middle of a sentence or passage. If

you begin writing in first person, do not switch to 2nd person part way through.
Be consistent in the use of the same person.

Inconsistent point of view

Ex. One reason that I like living in the country is that you have more room
to raise animals.

The sentence changes from first person, I, to the second person, you, in the
same sentence. This is inconsistency and should not be done in most writing!
 Consistent point of view

Ex. One reason that I like living in the country is that I have more room to
raise animals.

This sentence keeps the same first person point of view and is correct.

I. Read Langan’s Sentence Skills with Readings Chapter 13 on Pronoun

Reference, Agreement, and Point of View on pp. 206-213.

II. Do Practices 1, 2, 3, & 4 in Langan textbook on pp. 208-214. Check

answers in back of book.

Do Review Tests 1 & 2 in Langan textbook on pp. 214-216.

Click here and here for answers to Test 1.

Click here and here for answers to Test 2.

III. Do the practice exercises at the online websites below.

http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/quizzes/pron2_quiz.htm

http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/quizzes/niu/niu8.htm

IV. Take the online quiz in Blackboard by the required date.