chomp!

chomp!

This presentation is brought to you by

Grammar Bytes!,

©2015 by Robin L.

Simmons

(modified by

Mrs. Whalum)Grammar Bytes!

provides additional

handouts and exercises on pronoun

agreement. Go to

chompchomp.com!

This presentation covers maintaining

agreement between a

pronoun and its

antecedent.

Pronoun Refresher

▪ Remember; a pronoun replaces a noun (person, place,

thing, or idea) or another pronoun to avoid repetition.

Instead of proclaiming, “Riley is my German short-haired pointer. Riley is my best friend. I love Riley!”,

one would proclaim, “Riley is my German short-haired pointer. He is my best friend. I love him!”

Pronoun Agreement

Should everyoneknow their

pronouns…

…or

his or her

pronouns?

Pronoun Antecedent Agreement

▪ Antecedent is the fancy word for the word to which the pronoun refers (it appears BEFORE the pronoun in the sentence)

▪ When checking for agreement, it may be helpful to first identify (circle or underline) the antecedent. Ask yourself, “Is the antecedent singular or plural?” Then ask yourself, “Is the pronoun singular or plural?”

PRONOUNS AND ANTECEDENTS

MUST MATCH IN NUMBER (singular/plural)

{also consider gender and living vs. non-living}

Agreement in a Nutshell

The kangaroo carries

its joey in a pouch.

The kangaroos carry

their joeys in pouches.

kangaroo = singular antecedent

its = singular pronoun

kangaroos = plural antecedent

their = plural pronoun

Know your pronouns.

Plural

▪ they

▪ them

▪ their, theirs

▪ themselves

Singular!

Singular

▪ he, she, it

▪ him, her, it

▪ his, her, hers, its

▪ himself, herself, itself

Plural!

EXCEPTION #1: Compound subjects

Two [or more] singular

things joined by and make a

plural antecedent (m o s t o f t h e t im e … wa i t fo r t h e n ex t s l i d e )

The new puppy and kitten have destroyed

their owner’s sofa.

Use caution with compound

subjects joined using these

conjunctions: either … or , neither … nor , and not only … but also .

The pronoun should match the

nearest antecedent.

Not only the Smiths but also Louise fixed

their famous squid eyeball stew for the

picnic.

You’ll have two antecedents—the

Smiths and Louise—but

only the closer one

counts!

Not only the Smiths but also Louise fixed

her famous squid eyeball stew for the

picnic.

Not only Louise but also the Smithsfixed their famous squid eyeball stew

for the picnic.

If you want to use their,

you will need to flip the Smiths and Louise so

that the Smiths are

closer to the pronoun.

So…

▪ These conjunctions can indicate the need for

a singular or plural pronoun:

• And → usually plural

• Either … or → match the closest antecedent

• Neither … nor → match the closest antecedent

• Not only … but also → match the closest antecedent

Each new puppy and kitten destroys itsowner’s sofa.

EXCEPTION #2: Indefinite pronouns

When each or every precedes

two [or more] singular things

joined by and, you have a

singular antecedent. (ALWAYS!)

Every new puppy and kitten destroys itsowner’s sofa.

In this situation, no matter

how many singular nouns you

join with and, the antecedent

is stil l singular.

Each new puppy, kitten, rabbit, tarantula, python, parrot, turtle, and ferret destroys itsowner’s sofa.

These indefinite pronounsare ALWAYS singular.

[ e v e n w h e n t h e y s e e m p l u r a l ]

▪ Each, either, neither NOT used as conjunction with “or” or “nor”

▪ Anyone, anybody, anything, one

▪ Every, everyone, everybody, everything

▪ No one, nobody, nothing

▪ Someone, somebody, something

These indefinite pronounsare ALWAYS plural.

▪ Both

▪ Several

▪ Few

▪ Many Be careful! If it says “many a”, it’s singular

Neither of my two brothers show much sense when they date women.

EXCEPTION #3: a phrase or clause

between a subject and a verb

Beware inter rupting phrases.

Neither of my two brothers shows much sense when he dates women.

This sentence might soundright, but it is completely wrong!

Of my two brothers =

prepositional phrase; neither = singular

antecedent.

Prepositional Phrase Refresher

▪ Where is one thing in relation to another?

▪ What is the butterfly’s position compared to the house?• The butterfly is on top of the

house.

• The butterfly is by the house.

• The butterfly is above the house.

• The butterfly is to the right of the house.

Indefinite pronouns modified by a prepositional phrase can be either singular or plural.

▪ If the object of the preposition is

uncountable, then it’s singular.

• Some of the sugar fell out of its bag.

▪ If the object of the preposition is

countable, then it’s plural.

• Some of the marbles fell out of their bag.

These indefinite pronounscan be singular OR plural.

▪ Some

▪ Any

▪ None

▪ All

▪ Most

EXCEPTION #4: col lective nouns

Company, organization,

department, team, and

school names are singular.

One urban legend is that Tito’s Taco Palace makes their burritos with kangaroo meat.

Did you knowthat?

We didnot!

One urban legend is that Tito’s Taco Palace makes its burritos with kangaroo meat.

Are the following nouns singular or plural?

▪ bull

▪ bulls

▪ Chicago Bulls

▪ Chicago Bulls player

▪ Jury member

▪ Jury

▪ Juries

▪ English 2 Honors student

▪ English 2 Honors

▪ grapes

▪ Grapes of Wrath

▪ United States

▪ The number of volunteers

▪ A number of volunteers

▪ The news

▪ Family

▪ Family members

Are the following nouns singular or plural?

▪ bull - singular

▪ bulls - plural

▪ Chicago Bulls - singular

▪ Chicago Bulls player - singular

▪ Jury member - singular

▪ Jury - singular

▪ Juries - plural

▪ English 2 Honors student - singular

▪ English 2 Honors - singular

▪ grapes - plural

▪ Grapes of Wrath - singular

▪ United States - singular

▪ The number of volunteers - singular

▪ A number of volunteers - plural

▪ The news - singular

▪ Family - singular

▪ Family members - plural

A pronoun agreement item on

an objective test, such as the

ACT, might look like this ...

Sample Item

Spendthrifts are quickly parted from their

money. So a person who wants to start saving

should not spend all of their time at the mall.

A. his or her

B. someone

C. his

D. No change is necessary.

Spendthrifts are quickly parted from their

A

money. So a person who wants to start saving

B

should not spend all of their time at the mall.

C

A. his or her

B. someone

C. his

D. No change is necessary.

Spendthrifts are quickly parted from their

A

money. So a person who wants to start saving

B

should not spend all of his time at the mall.

C

A. his or her

B. someone

C. his

D. No change is necessary.

Is the first their,

a person, or the

second their a

problem?

The second their does not agree with

a person, an error

that choice C fixes.

LET’S PRACTICE

Directions: In the items that follow, choose

the option that corrects an error in the

underlined portion(s). If no error exists, choose

“No change is necessary.”

Show me what you know.

Item 1

Not only my brothers but also Mom loves to

drench their omelets in ketchup.

A. his

B. her

C. his and her

D. No change is necessary.

Not only my brothers but also Mom loves to

drench their omelets in ketchup.

A. his

B. her

C. his and her

D. No change is necessary.

Not only my brothers but also Mom loves to

drench their omelets in ketchup.

A. his

B. her

C. his and her

D. No change is necessary.

Item 2

The students and their professor sweated in the

hot classroom. Each one of them wondered why

they had decided to commit to summer school.

A. his or her

B. Every

C. she

D. No change is necessary.

The students and their professor sweated in the

A

hot classroom. Each one of them wondered why

B

they had decided to commit to summer school.

C

A. his or her

B. Every

C. she

D. No change is necessary.

The students and their professor sweated in the

A

hot classroom. Each one of them wondered why

B

she had decided to commit to summer school.

C

A. his or her

B. Every

C. she

D. No change is necessary.

Item 3

Robert and Sue Ellen concentrated on the dead

worm on the dissection tray. They used tweezers

to pick through innards looking for the heart.

A. He

B. She

C. He or she

D. No change is necessary.

Robert and Sue Ellen concentrated on the dead

worm on the dissection tray. They used tweezers

to pick through innards looking for the heart.

A. He

B. She

C. He or she

D. No change is necessary.

Robert and Sue Ellen concentrated on the dead

worm on the dissection tray. They used tweezers

to pick through innards looking for the heart.

A. He

B. She

C. He or she

D. No change is necessary.

Item 4

The students have decided to eat at Tito’s Taco

Palace, where they can order the special. Their

discount burrito and soda will satisfy hunger, and its

cheap prices will help wallets!

A. he or she

B. Its

C. their

D. No change is necessary.

The students have decided to eat at Tito’s Taco

Palace, where they can order the special. Their

A B

discount burrito and soda will satisfy hunger, and its

C

cheap prices will help wallets!

A. he or she

B. Its

C. their

D. No change is necessary.

The students have decided to eat at Tito’s Taco

Palace, where they can order the special. Its

A B

discount burrito and soda will satisfy hunger, and its

C

cheap prices will help wallets!

A. he or she

B. Its

C. their

D. No change is necessary.

Item 5

Either of these thick books by respected authors

will have the answer to your research question in

their many pages.

A. his

B. his or her

C. its

D. No change is necessary.

Either of these thick books by respected authors

will have the answer to your research question in

their many pages.

A. his

B. his or her

C. its

D. No change is necessary.

Either of these thick books by respected authors

will have the answer to your research question in

their many pages.

A. his

B. his or her

C. its

D. No change is necessary.

Item 6

If everyone stopped to smell the roses, they might

get stung by bees and have their allergies kick in to

overdrive!

A. people

B. he or she

C. his or her

D. No change is necessary.

If everyone stopped to smell the roses, they might

A B

get stung by bees and have their allergies kick in to

C

overdrive!

A. people

B. he or she

C. his or her

D. No change is necessary.

If people stopped to smell the roses, they might

A B

get stung by bees and have their allergies kick in to

C

overdrive!

A. people

B. he or she

C. his or her

D. No change is necessary.

Item 7

Weaver Hill High has strange school colors. Their

hot pink and bright yellow combination really

stands out on the field.

A. Its

B. His

C. His and her

D. No change is necessary.

Weaver Hill High has strange school colors. Their

hot pink and bright yellow combination really

stands out on the field.

A. Its

B. His

C. His and her

D. No change is necessary.

Weaver Hill High has strange school colors. Their

hot pink and bright yellow combination really

stands out on the field.

A. Its

B. His

C. His and her

D. No change is necessary.

Item 8

Sam is starving, and his buddies have just ordered

their “upsized” meals. Despite Sam’s drooling,

neither of them will part with their French fries.

A. his

B. him

C. his

D. No change is necessary.

Sam is starving, and his buddies have just ordered

their “upsized” meals. Despite Sam’s drooling,

A

neither of them will part with their French fries.

B C

A. his

B. him

C. his

D. No change is necessary.

Sam is starving, and his buddies have just ordered

their “upsized” meals. Despite Sam’s drooling,

A

neither of them will part with his French fries.

B C

A. his

B. him

C. his

D. No change is necessary.

Item 9

Clyde refuses to return to the weight room

because its staff always pokes fun of his skinny

arms and legs.

A. their

B. his

C. her

D. No change is necessary.

Clyde refuses to return to the weight room

because its staff always pokes fun of his skinny

arms and legs.

A. their

B. his

C. her

D. No change is necessary.

Clyde refuses to return to the weight room

because its staff always pokes fun of his skinny

arms and legs.

A. their

B. his

C. her

D. No change is necessary.

Item 10

Everyone should memorize a Shakespeare

monologue for Mrs. Smith because the extra credit

points will help them improve their averages at

the end of the semester.

A. The students

B. him or her

C. his or her

D. No change is necessary.

Everyone should memorize a Shakespeare

A

monologue for Mrs. Smith because the extra credit

points will help them improve their averages at

B C

the end of the semester.

A. The students

B. him or her

C. his or her

D. No change is necessary.

The students should memorize a Shakespeare

A

monologue for Mrs. Smith because the extra credit

points will help them improve their averages at

B C

the end of the semester.

A. The students

B. him or her

C. his or her

D. No change is necessary.

The End.