Pronoun antecedent agreement is a basic grammar rule that often gets overlooked, even by experienced writers. This rule states that a pronoun must agree, in number and gender, with its antecedent. This means that if the antecedent is singular, the pronoun that refers to it must also be singular, and if the antecedent is plural, the pronoun must be plural as well. In this article, we will take a closer look at this important rule and how to apply it correctly in your writing.
First, let`s define what we mean by “antecedent.” An antecedent is the noun or pronoun that a pronoun refers to. For example, in the sentence “Mary is going to the store, and she needs to buy some milk,” “Mary” is the antecedent for the pronoun “she.” It is important to make sure that the pronoun agrees with the antecedent in number and gender.
Number Agreement
Number agreement means that the pronoun and the antecedent must match in singular or plural form. For example, in the sentence “The boy lost his hat,” “boy” is singular, so the pronoun “his” is also singular. However, in the sentence “The boys lost their hats,” “boys” is plural, so the pronoun “their” is also plural. It is important to remember that even if the antecedent is a collective noun, such as “team” or “group,” the pronoun should still agree with the noun`s number. For example, in the sentence “The team won their game,” “team” is singular, but “their” is plural, which is incorrect. The correct sentence should be “The team won its game.”
Gender Agreement
Gender agreement means that the pronoun and the antecedent must match in male or female form. For example, in the sentence “John lost his wallet,” “John” is male, so the pronoun “his” is also male. If the antecedent is a female, the pronoun should be a female pronoun, such as “her.” For example, in the sentence “Mary lost her wallet,” “Mary” is female, so the pronoun “her” is also female.
Exceptions
There are some exceptions to the pronoun antecedent agreement rule. First, when using a gender-neutral pronoun, such as “they” or “them,” it is important to make sure that the antecedent is not gender-specific. For example, in the sentence “Each of the students submitted their homework,” “each” is singular, but “their” is plural, which is incorrect. The correct sentence should be “Each of the students submitted his or her homework” or “Each of the students submitted their homework, using a singular “they” in a gender-neutral context.
Second, there are some cases where the pronoun can refer to an implied antecedent. For example, in the sentence “I bought a car, and it`s red,” the antecedent is not explicitly stated, but it is implied to be “car.”
Conclusion
In conclusion, pronoun antecedent agreement is an essential grammar rule that writers must master in order to create clear and effective communication. Remember to ensure that the pronoun agrees with the antecedent in number and gender, and to avoid common mistakes, such as using gender-specific pronouns when the antecedent is not gender-specific. By following these guidelines, you can enhance your writing and communicate your thoughts effectively.
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