Pronoun-Antecedent

Rules
Antecedent
- is the word that a pronoun refers to.
A singular pronoun must
replace a singular noun; a
plural pronoun must replace a
plural noun.
Pronoun - Antecedent
Agreement Rules
 Rule #1
• A phrase or clause between
the subject and verb does
not change the number of
antecedent.
 Rule #2
• Indefinite Pronouns as antecedents
Singular indefinite pronoun antecedents take a
singular pronoun referents.
Plural indefinite pronoun antecedents require
plural referents.
Some indefinite pronouns that are modified by
a prepositional phrase maybe either be singular
or plural.
 Rule #3
• Compound subjects joined by
and always take a plural
referent.
 Rule #4
• With compound subjects joined
by or/nor, the referent pronoun
agrees with the antecedent
closer to the pronoun.
 Rule #5
• Collective nouns may be
singular or plural,
depending on meaning.
 Rule #6
• Titles of single entities
(books, organizations,
countries, etc.) take a singular
referent.
 Rule #7
• Plural form subjects with
a singular meaning take a
singular referent.
 Rule #8
• Every or Many a before a
noun or a series of nouns
requires a singular referent.
 Rule # 9
• The number of vs A number
of before a subject.