Download 08le 03 pgp pronounagreement

MODULE 8: AGREEMENT
1
© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company
Module 8
PRONOUN AGREEMENT
8m
A pronoun agrees with its antecedent in number and gender.
When a pronoun refers to a noun or to another pronoun, that word is called the pronoun’s
antecedent.
Some singular personal pronouns have forms that indicate gender. Masculine pronouns (he,
him, his) refer to males. Feminine pronouns (she, her, hers) refer to females. Neuter pronouns
(it, its) refer to things (neither male nor female), ideas, and animals.
EXAMPLES
Susan hurt her leg in the race.
Roberto finally found his lost dog.
That bicycle is missing its seat.
The antecedent of a personal pronoun can be another kind of pronoun, such as each, neither,
or one. To determine the gender of a personal pronoun that refers to one of these other
pronouns, look in the phrase that follows the antecedent.
EXAMPLES
One of the women has left her briefcase in the conference room.
Neither of the men has bought his ticket yet.
(1)
A singular pronoun is used to refer to anyone, anybody, each, either, everybody,
everyone, neither, nobody, one, no one, someone, or somebody.
EXAMPLES
Each of the dogs has its own bed.
Someone on the girls’ track team has forgotten her cleats.
(2) A singular pronoun is used to refer to two or more singular antecedents joined by or
or nor.
Maria or Fern will donate her time to the committee.
EXAMPLES
Either Justin or Andrew will drive his car to the meeting.
NOTE Sometimes the gender of the antecedent may be either masculine or feminine. To avoid
using his or her, revise the sentence completely.
Either Ezra or Nicole might bring her baseball.
CLEAR Ezra might bring his baseball, and Nicole might bring hers.
AWKWARD
(3) A plural pronoun is used to refer to two or more antecedents joined by and.
EXAMPLES
My uncle and aunt sold their house and moved back to Italy.
The bluebird and the sparrow have built their nests.
2
© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company
Module 8
EXERCISE 15 Identifying Antecedents and Writing Pronouns That
Agree with Them
Complete each of the sentences below by inserting a pronoun that agrees with its antecedent.
EX.
1. Both of my brothers write down
1.
Someone on the boys’ basketball team has left __________ jersey on the bus.
2.
All of the students have learned __________ lines for the play.
3.
Polly or Beth will lead off the debate with __________ own opinion.
4.
Nina has completed her homework, and Marcelo has completed __________.
5.
The elephants raised __________ trunks and called to each other.
6.
All of the people at the family reunion brought __________ cameras.
7.
Either of the girls will sign __________ name on your nomination papers.
8.
Neither the father nor the son had worn __________ watch.
9.
Aunt Beatrice and Uncle Lorenzo sent __________ best wishes to the bride and groom.
10.
their
daily thoughts in a journal.
Mrs. Leon put __________ baby in the car seat.
3
© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company
Module 8