Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement: Mastering Common Errors in English Grammar
Introduction:
Pronoun-antecedent agreement is a fundamental rule in English grammar that ensures pronouns and their antecedents (the nouns they replace) match in number, gender, and person. While this rule seems simple, many writers often make errors when it comes to singular/plural forms, gender agreement, or when dealing with collective nouns. Correct pronoun-antecedent agreement is essential for clarity and precision in writing, especially in formal academic or professional contexts.
This module will explore the common errors associated with pronoun-antecedent agreement, provide examples, and guide you through strategies to avoid these mistakes. By the end of this module, you’ll be equipped to identify and correct these errors, improving the quality of your writing and helping you excel in your exams.
Table of Contents:
- Understanding Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement
- Definition and Importance
- Basic Rules of Agreement
- Examples
- Common Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement Errors
- Gender Agreement Errors
- Number Agreement Errors
- Ambiguous Antecedents
- Collective Noun Agreement
- How to Fix Common Pronoun-Antecedent Errors
- Identifying Agreement Issues
- Correcting Gender Agreement Mistakes
- Resolving Number Agreement Confusion
- Pronoun Agreement in Complex Sentences
- Agreement with Compound Antecedents
- Agreement with Indefinite Pronouns
- Applications in Writing
- Correct Usage in Academic Writing
- Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Practice Exercises
- Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
- Descriptive Questions
- Fill in the Blanks
1. Understanding Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement
Definition and Importance
Pronoun-antecedent agreement refers to the grammatical relationship between a pronoun and its antecedent (the noun the pronoun refers to). This relationship requires the pronoun to match its antecedent in number (singular or plural), gender (male, female, or neutral), and person (first, second, or third).
Basic Rules of Agreement
- A singular pronoun refers to a singular antecedent (e.g., he, she, it).
- A plural pronoun refers to a plural antecedent (e.g., they).
- Gender agreement means that a pronoun must agree with its antecedent in gender (e.g., he for a male, she for a female).
Examples:
- Each student must bring their notebook. (Incorrect; “Each student” is singular, so it should be his or her.)
- The teachers gave their students assignments. (Correct: teachers is plural, so their is appropriate.)
2. Common Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement Errors
Gender Agreement Errors
- Mistake: Using the wrong gender pronoun for the antecedent.
- Example: The teacher forgot to bring his or her laptop.
- Correct Usage: The pronoun should match the gender of the antecedent. For example, if the antecedent refers to a female teacher, use her.
Number Agreement Errors
- Mistake: Mixing singular and plural pronouns.
- Example: The dog wagged their tail.
- Correct Usage: If the antecedent is singular, the pronoun should also be singular: The dog wagged its tail.
Ambiguous Antecedents
- Mistake: Using a pronoun when it’s unclear which noun it refers to.
- Example: Tom told Jack that he was late.
- Correct Usage: It’s unclear if “he” refers to Tom or Jack. Rewriting for clarity: Tom told Jack, “You are late.”
Collective Noun Agreement
- Mistake: Collective nouns like team, family, or committee are singular in form but can take plural or singular pronouns depending on whether the group is acting as a unit or as individuals.
- Example: The committee gave their decision.
- Correct Usage: The committee gave its decision. (as a unit)
3. How to Fix Common Pronoun-Antecedent Errors
Identifying Agreement Issues
- Ensure that the pronoun agrees in both number and gender with the antecedent.
- Use context to determine if the antecedent is singular or plural.
Correcting Gender Agreement Mistakes
- When the gender is unspecified or mixed, use his or her or their.
- Alternatively, rephrase to use a plural subject: Each teacher should take their own lunch.
Resolving Number Agreement Confusion
- Match the pronoun with its antecedent’s number: singular with singular, plural with plural.
4. Pronoun Agreement in Complex Sentences
Agreement with Compound Antecedents
- Rule: When two or more nouns joined by and are the antecedent, the pronoun should be plural.
- Example: Tom and Jerry went to their meeting. (Both are plural, so their is correct.)
- Exception: When the compound subject is preceded by each or every, use a singular pronoun.
- Example: Each of the boys has his own room.
Agreement with Indefinite Pronouns
- Some indefinite pronouns (e.g., everyone, someone, nobody) are singular and require singular pronouns.
- Example: Everyone should bring his or her own materials.
5. Applications in Writing
Correct Usage in Academic Writing
- Pronoun-antecedent agreement is crucial in academic writing to maintain clarity and professionalism.
- Avoid using vague or indefinite antecedents in formal writing.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Watch out for collective nouns that take singular pronouns.
- Be cautious with ambiguous antecedents in complex sentences.
- Always check if the gender of the pronoun agrees with the antecedent.
6. Practice Exercises
Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
- Which of the following sentences is correct?
a) Each of the students must submit their assignment.
b) Each of the students must submit his or her assignment.
c) Each of the students must submit their assignments.
d) None of the above
Answer: b) Each of the students must submit his or her assignment.
Explanation: “Each” is singular, so the pronoun should be singular. - Choose the correct pronoun for the following sentence:
The committee made ______ decision yesterday.
a) their
b) its
c) his
d) her
Answer: b) its
Explanation: “Committee” is a singular collective noun, so “its” is the correct pronoun. - Select the grammatically correct sentence:
a) Neither Tom nor Jack forgot to bring his books.
b) Neither Tom nor Jack forgot to bring their books.
Answer: a) Neither Tom nor Jack forgot to bring his books.
Explanation: “Neither” is singular, so it requires a singular pronoun. - Which of the following is an example of a number agreement error?
a) The children took their books.
b) The teacher took their books.
Answer: b) The teacher took their books.
Explanation: “Teacher” is singular, so the correct pronoun should be his or her. - Identify the correct sentence:
a) The dog wagged their tail.
b) The dogs wagged their tail.
Answer: b) The dogs wagged their tail.
Explanation: “Dogs” is plural, so the pronoun should also be plural. - Choose the correct sentence:
a) She gave a book to anyone who wanted their help.
b) She gave a book to anyone who wanted his or her help.
Answer: b) She gave a book to anyone who wanted his or her help.
Explanation: “Anyone” is singular, so it requires a singular pronoun. - Which is the correct pronoun for the following sentence?
The teacher praised his or her students for ______ hard work.
a) their
b) its
c) his or her
d) their
Answer: c) his or her
Explanation: “Teacher” is singular, so the pronoun should also be singular. - Choose the correct sentence:
a) Neither the teacher nor the students brought their assignments.
b) Neither the teacher nor the students brought his or her assignment.
Answer: a) Neither the teacher nor the students brought their assignments.
Explanation: When compound subjects are joined by “nor,” the pronoun matches the nearest antecedent. - Select the correct sentence:
a) The team won their match.
b) The team won its match.
Answer: b) The team won its match.
Explanation: “Team” is singular, so “its” is correct. - Which of the following is correct?
a) Neither John nor Sue will bring their book.
b) Neither John nor Sue will bring his or her book.
Answer: b) Neither John nor Sue will bring his or her book.
Explanation: “Neither” is singular, so the pronoun should also be singular.
Descriptive Questions
- Explain the importance of pronoun-antecedent agreement in writing. Provide examples.
Answer: Pronoun-antecedent agreement ensures clarity and avoids confusion in
writing. A mismatch between a pronoun and its antecedent can make sentences unclear, as shown in the examples below:
Incorrect: The student lost their pencil.
Correct: The student lost his or her pencil.
- What are the main types of pronoun-antecedent agreement errors? Explain each with examples.
Answer: The main types of pronoun-antecedent errors are gender agreement, number agreement, and ambiguous antecedents.
Gender Agreement: Incorrect: The woman brought his car. (Correct: her car)
Number Agreement: Incorrect: The teachers gave their feedback. (Correct: their feedback, as teachers is plural.) - Discuss how collective nouns affect pronoun agreement, with examples.
Answer: Collective nouns can be singular or plural, depending on the context. If the group acts as a single entity, a singular pronoun is used: The committee made its decision. However, if the group acts as individuals, a plural pronoun is used: The committee members gave their opinions.
Fill in the Blanks
- Everyone needs to bring ______ notebook.
Answer: his or her - The group decided to submit ______ report today.
Answer: its - Neither my brother nor my sister completed ______ homework.
Answer: their - Each of the students must submit ______ assignment by Friday.
Answer: his or her - The team played ______ best game ever.
Answer: its - The committee members had ______ meeting yesterday.
Answer: their - The teacher praised the students for ______ participation.
Answer: their - Every person must bring ______ own lunch to the picnic.
Answer: his or her - The company made ______ annual report available to all employees.
Answer: its - Either Tom or Jerry will bring ______ report to the meeting.
Answer: his
