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Proagree
Proagree
Proagree
PARTNER
ME
Kasi wala
namang
ka YOU!
PRONOUN-
ANTECEDENT
AGREEMENT
Until You Pass Out!
RULE 1: A pronoun must
agree with its antecedent.
SINGULAR PLURAL
• He, she, it • They
• Him, her, it • Them
• His, hers, its • Their,
• Himself, herself, theirs
itself • Themselves
Do not confuse
it’s with its.
+ =
Indefinite pronouns cause
the biggest headaches for
pronoun agreement.
RULE 4, PART 1: These
indefinite pronouns are
always singular (even when
they seem plural).
Oh, my!
Someone left
his lights on.
In the 1970s, after criticism from
feminists and civil rights
activists, handbooks next
suggested using both genders so
that males and females had equal
representation in the language.
Student Success
There’s a Thankfully,
car with its my wheels
lights on. don’t have
that
problem.
RULE 4, PART 3: Some indefinite
pronouns are singular or plural,
depending on context.
• All
All of Beverly’s hair
• Any
gets its color from a
• None*
bottle.
• More All of Beverly’s
• Most fingernails get their
• Some color from a bottle.
Collective nouns—like jury, team,
or committee—also cause
pronoun agreement problems.
RULE 5: Collective nouns are
singular or plural, depending
on context.
The team
celebrated its
win.
The team
changed into their
street clothes and
went home happy.
To choose they, them, their,
etc. without worry, insert a
plural noun after the
collective noun.
Correct!
Both Prof. Williams and her
students are happy to hear
that they can order squid
eyeball stew for their
lunch.
4. Not only my two dogs but
also Buster thecat
Buster the catloves
lovestoto
eat pepperoni that I pull off
my pizza for him.
them.
them.
1. During early rehearsals, an actor may forget (his or her, their ) lines.
5. If any one of the sisters needs a ride, (she, they ) can call me.
6. When someone has been drinking, (he or she, they ) may drive poorly.
7. If the board of directors controls the company, (it, they ) may vote for
a raise.
8. Neither the pilot nor the attendants gave (his or her, their ) opinion
about the mishap.