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Pronouns
A matter of agreement
Pronouns
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A pronoun is a word used in place of a noun.
Pronouns may refer to the person speaking: This is a
first-person pronoun.
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They may refer to the person spoken to. These are
second-person pronouns.
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I, mine, we, our
you, your
They may refer to other people, places, or things.
These are called third-person pronouns.
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she, him, its, they, their
Pronouns
As the previous examples show, a pronoun usually
refers to a person. Thus, the largest group of pronouns
is made up of personal pronouns.
They can be singular:
I, me, mine, my, he, she, it, him, her, its
Or they can be plural:
we, us, our, ours, they, them, their, theirs
Pronouns
Pronouns can also be classified by gender:
feminine pronouns refer to females (she, her);
masculine pronouns refer to males (he, his,
him). Pronouns that refer to things (and often
animals) are in the neuter gender.
Pronouns
What are the pronouns used in place of the italicized
nouns in the following sentences?
A crane lifted the boulder and loaded it onto a truck.
Mark said, “I was born in Michigan.”
The paramedics finally arrived, and they immediately
took charge.
Pronouns
The antecedent of a pronoun is the noun or other
pronoun for which the pronoun stands. A pronoun
must agree with its antecedent in number and gender.
The mean girls coordinated their wardrobes.
Sam loves his imaginary girlfriend.
Emma put a beat-down on her swimming opponent.
Pronouns
Agreement in number: rules
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If the antecedent of a pronoun is singular, use a
singular pronoun. If the antecedent is plural, use a
plural pronoun.
Use a singular pronoun to refer to two or more
singular antecedents joined by or or nor.
Did either Jon or Jason think that his brilliant
writing would be read generations from now?
Pronouns
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If the antecedents joined by or or nor are not both singular, the
pronoun agrees with the antecedent nearer the verb.
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Neither this poem nor other poems by Ayesha use strict
rhythm for their effect.
Use either a singular or plural pronoun to refer to a collective noun
antecedent, depending on the meaning you intend.
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The class will present its program of modern verse.
The class will read their chosen poems aloud.
Pronouns
Correct or incorrect?
Everybody should write their own poem.
Everybody should write your own poem.
Everybody should write his or her own poem.
Pronouns
Agreement in person
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A personal pronoun must be in the same person
as its antecedent. The words one, everyone, and
everybody are in the third person. They are
referred to by he, his, him, she, her, or hers.
Pronouns
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Some pronouns do not refer to a definite person
or thing. These are called indefinite pronouns.
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another, each, anybody, anything, anyone, either,
everybody, everyone, everything, neither, nobody, no
one, one, somebody, someone
Pronouns
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Use singular possessive pronouns with singular
indefinite pronoun antecedents.
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Everyone has his or her favorite poet.
Neither of the poets – Kelsey or Maya – would think of herself
as a writer of simple poetry.
Use plural possessive pronouns with plural indefinite
pronoun antecedents.
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Both of the poets have had their poems reprinted.
Many of us wish our poems were as good as theirs.
Pronouns: Examples
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A person should be responsible for themselves.
A person should be responsible for himself or herself.
Whomever would do that is definitely not a good
friend, and they obviously should not be trusted.
Whomever would do that is definitely not a good
friend, and he or she obviously should not be trusted.
Pronouns: examples
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I believe that it is easy for one to turn a blind eye to
their personal shortcomings.
I believe that it is easy for one to turn a blind eye to his
or her personal shortcomings.
This person might be so used to plagiarizing work that
when they write up a report, it is mostly copied work.
This person might be so used to plagiarizing work that
when he or she writes up a report, it is mostly copied
work.
Pronouns: examples
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Even if that person does get a bad grade on the test or
assignment, in the long run they will feel better about
themselves for not cheating.
Even if people do not get a bad grade on the test or
assignment, in the long run they will feel better about
themselves for not cheating.
Pronouns: examples
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I once let a friend copy my homework because they forgot
to do it.
I once let a friend copy my homework because he forgot to
do it.
If someone doesn’t listen to their friends about cheating, they
may lose their social status among friends.
If someone doesn’t listen to his or her friends about cheating,
he or she may lose social status among friends.
Eventually, everyone is going to have to fend for themselves.
Eventually, everyone is going to have for himself or herself.
Pronouns: examples
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High school students need more patience, or
they need different friends. They need different
friends because his or her stealing might be a
result of his or her acquaintance peer pressuring
the student.
High school students need more patience, or
they need different friends. They need different
friends, because their stealing might be a result
of their acquaintances peer pressuring them.
Parallel structure
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When we talk about parallel structure,
we're dealing with a balancing act. The
idea isn't too hard, but most people don't
think about it.
So what are we balancing? . . . pairs of
words or series of words. Look at the
following:
Parallel structure
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Pairs
a and b
a or b
Series
a, b, and c
a, b, or c
Think of the letters as standing for words or groups of
words. Any words or groups of words that you plug in
have to be the same kinds of words or word patterns.
That's all there is to it! Let's see how the "formula"
works:
Parallel structure
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Pairs: running and jumping, bothered and bewildered, open or shut,
laughing or crying (all are verbs)
Series: broken, bedraggled, and bone-tired (all are adjectives)
an old shoe, a stuffed bear, and a chewed-up blanket (all are nouns)
When you write your sentences using parallel structure, your ideas come
across more clearly because they're easier to read. Compare the following
sentences:
Non-parallel structure: Peggotty's toys were an old shoe, a bear that was
stuffed, and she had chewed up an old blanket.
Parallel structure: Peggotty's toys were an old shoe, a stuffed bear, and a
chewed-up blanket.
See how the second sentence is smoother and more balanced?
Adapted from “Big Dog’s Grammar” http://aliscot.com/bigdog/parallel.htm
Parallel structure
Peggotty's toys were an old shoe, a
stuffed bear, and a chewed-up blanket.
 We have three groups of words that are
parallel in their construction:
adjective/noun
 old shoe, stuffed bear, chewed-up
blanket.
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