PRONOUN AGREEMENT Grammar Pronouns Singular A pronoun is

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PRONOUN AGREEMENT Grammar

PRONOUN AGREEMENT Grammar

Pronouns - Singular ■ A pronoun is a word that substitutes for a noun.

Pronouns - Singular ■ A pronoun is a word that substitutes for a noun. ■ Many pronouns have antecedents, or nouns/pronouns to which they agree. ■ EXAMPLE (Singular): Dr. Ava Berto finished her rounds. singular subject requires a singular pronoun “her” is singular and refers back to “Dr. Ava Berto”

Pronouns – Plural ■ EXAMPLE (plural): The hospital interns finished their rounds. the plural

Pronouns – Plural ■ EXAMPLE (plural): The hospital interns finished their rounds. the plural “interns” requires a plural pronoun “their” is plural and refers back to “interns”

Pronouns – Indefinites ■ In general, use singular pronouns refer to singular antecedents. ■

Pronouns – Indefinites ■ In general, use singular pronouns refer to singular antecedents. ■ However, be careful with indefinite pronouns. – While they may seem plural, indefinite pronouns are ALWAYS singular. – List on page 191 – A few indefinite pronouns include anyone, everyone, somebody, nobody ■ EXAMPLE: Everyone passed their final exam last spring. “Everyone” is singular though it is often mistaken for plural Because “everyone” is singular, this pronoun must also be singular – “their” is plural

Pronouns – Collective ■ Collective nouns such as jury, committee, audience, crowd, class, troop,

Pronouns – Collective ■ Collective nouns such as jury, committee, audience, crowd, class, troop, family, team, and couple name a group. ■ Groups function as a unit; therefore, they are typically singular UNLESS the meaning is clearly plural. ■ EXAMPLE (as a unit): The committee granted its permission to begin construction. In this sentence, Because “committee” is used singular, a singular pronoun as a unit, meaning it is is required. singular.

Pronouns - Collective ■ EXAMPLE (as individuals): The committee put their signatures on the

Pronouns - Collective ■ EXAMPLE (as individuals): The committee put their signatures on the document. In this case, all the individual members of the committee put their signatures on the document. Therefore, “committee” is plural here. Because “committee” is plural in this context, it requires a plural pronoun.

Issues with Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement ■ Some antecedents are problematic because they cannot be easily

Issues with Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement ■ Some antecedents are problematic because they cannot be easily identified as singular or plural. ■ COMPOUND ANTECEDENTS: These consist of 2 or more words connected by and or or. – Compound antecedents connected by and are plural and are used with plural pronouns. ■ EXAMPLE: In 1987, Reagan and Gorbachev held a summit where they signed the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty. If “and” is in the sentence, that immediately indicates that a plural pronoun is required. Because the sentence refers to Regan and Gorbachev, the plural “they” is required.

Issues with Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement ■ COMPUND ANTECEDENTS CONTINUED: – Compound antecedents connected by or

Issues with Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement ■ COMPUND ANTECEDENTS CONTINUED: – Compound antecedents connected by or may take a singular or plural pronoun. The pronoun always agrees with the word that is closer to it. ■ EXAMPLE (singular): Either Bruce or Tom should receive first prize for his poem. Singular Because “Tom” is singular, a singular pronoun is required. It refers back to “Tom” which is the noun that is closest to “his. ”

Issues with Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement ■ EXAMPLE (plural): Neither the mouse nor the rats could

Issues with Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement ■ EXAMPLE (plural): Neither the mouse nor the rats could find their way through the maze. Plural Because “rats” is plural, a plural pronoun is required. It refers back to “rats” which is the noun that is closest to “their. ”

Vague and Unnecessary Pronouns ■ Vague and unnecessary pronouns clutter up your writing and

Vague and Unnecessary Pronouns ■ Vague and unnecessary pronouns clutter up your writing and make it hard to understand. Eliminate them to make your writing clearer. ■ EXAMPLE: On the news, they said mail carriers would strike. Who is “they”? ■ REVISION: On the news, the mayor said mail carriers would strike.

Vague and Unnecessary Pronouns ■ EXAMPLE: It says in today’s paper that our schools

Vague and Unnecessary Pronouns ■ EXAMPLE: It says in today’s paper that our schools are overcrowded. Who says schools are overcrowded? ■ REVISION: An editorial in today’s paper said that our schools are overcrowded.

Pronoun Case ■ Pronouns can change form according to their function in a sentence.

Pronoun Case ■ Pronouns can change form according to their function in a sentence. This is a pronoun’s case which can be subjective, or possessive. Subjective Objective Possessive I me my, mine he him his she her, hers it it its we us our, ours you your, yours they them their, theirs whom whose whoever whomever

Pronoun Case ■ Subjective case: When the pronoun functions as the subject of the

Pronoun Case ■ Subjective case: When the pronoun functions as the subject of the sentence. – Finally, she realized that dreams could come true. ■ Objective case: When the pronoun is an object. – Professor Miller sent us information about his research. (The pronoun us is the object of the verb sent. ) ■ Possessive case: When a pronoun shows ownership. – Jacob took his lunch to the meeting. (The pronoun his indicates that the lunch belongs to Jacob. )

Problems with Pronoun Case ■ It is sometimes difficult to determine which case to

Problems with Pronoun Case ■ It is sometimes difficult to determine which case to use in a sentence. ■ Pronouns in compounds are joined with and or or. – EXAMPLE: The teacher and I [not me] met for an hour. – He or she can pick up Jenny at school. ■ If the compound is a subject, use the subjective case. – Toby and I [not me] like jazz. – He and I [not me] like jazz. – To determine whether to use me or I, remove the first part of the compound. You would not write: Me like jazz. You would write: I like jazz.

Problems with Pronoun Case ■ If the compound is an object, use the objective

Problems with Pronoun Case ■ If the compound is an object, use the objective case. – The school sent my father and me [not I] the financial aid forms. – Again, remove the first part of the compound. You would not write: The school sent I the financial aid forms. You would write: The school sent me the financial aid forms.

Pronouns in Comparisons ■ Sometimes a pronoun appears after the word than or as

Pronouns in Comparisons ■ Sometimes a pronoun appears after the word than or as in the second part of a comparison. – EXAMPLE: John is luckier than me. – Correct or incorrect?

INCORRECT ■ The sentence should say: John is luckier than I. ■ Why? ■

INCORRECT ■ The sentence should say: John is luckier than I. ■ Why? ■ You would not say: John is luckier than me am. ■ You would say: John is luckier than I am.

Pronouns in Comparisons ■ To determine the correct pronoun in a comparison, add the

Pronouns in Comparisons ■ To determine the correct pronoun in a comparison, add the missing words to the sentence. This should tell you which pronoun to use. ■ TRY THESE OUT: 1. The survey showed that most people like the candidate’s wife as much as (he/him). 2. No one enjoys shopping more than (she/her). 3. No two people could have a closer relationship than (they/them). 4. He may be as old as (I/me), but he does not have as much work experience. 5. The company had a lower bid than (we/us), but we were awarded the contract.