Presented by: Trenida Charlton and Julie Enzenberger

A pronoun is a word used as a substitute for a noun.

Make pronouns and antecedents agree.

It is important you understand when to use each type of pronoun agreement for this class and its assignments.

Some pronouns are called “INDEFINITE” because the refer to non-specific persons or things.SINGULAR: another, anyone, anything,

each, everybody, everyone, everything, little, much, neither, nobody, no one, nothing, one, other, somebody, someone, something

PLURAL: both, few, many, others, severalSingular OR Plural: all, any, more, most,

none, some

In this class everyone performs at their fitness level.Singular:

In this class everyone performs at his/her fitness level.Plural:

In this class they perform at their fitness level.

When someone has been drinking, they are likely to speed.Singular:

When someone has been drinking, he/she are likely to speed.

Plural: When drivers have been drinking, they are likely to speed.

Some nouns are called “GENERIC” because they represent a typical member of a group. Generic nouns may seem plural, they are SINGULAR.

A medical student must study hard if they want to succeed.A medical student must study had if he or

she wants to succeed.Medical students must study hard if they

want to succeed.A medical student must study hard to

succeed.

A collective noun is a noun that names a class or group of things.

The collective noun can function as a single unit or as a group of individuals.

The verb in the sentence can help tell you if the collective noun is functioning singularly or plurarly.

When the group functions as a unit, the pronoun used to replace it should be singular.

The class follows it’s teacher. The audience sang along to it’s

perfomers.

When the group functions as individuals, the pronoun agreement is plural.

The class wrote their first essays. The audience paid their entrance fees

on their way inside.

A compound antecedent is two nouns joined by and, or, or nor.

Compound antecedents should be treated as plural when joined by and.

Joe and Bob lost their wallets. Kelly and Karl are redecorating their

house.

When compound antecedents are joined by or or nor, use the pronoun that agrees with the closer antecedent.

Either Joe or Bob lost his wallet. Neither Sara nor Megan has her phone.

Place plural antecedents last in sentences.

Either a couch or two chairs were the perfect fit.

If different gender antecedents are joined by or or nor, revise the sentence so no pronoun is necessary.

Either Jack or Jill broke her bucket. Either Jack or Jill has a broken bucket.

One of the girls gave up their seat.

One of the girls gave up her seat.

A few of the justices were voicing their opposition.

A few of the justices were voicing his/her opposition.

Every student must study hard if he or she wants good grades.

Every student must study hard if they want good grades

Every runner must train vigorously if they want to excel.

Every runner must train vigorously if he or she wants to excel.

The family ate it’s dinners.

The family ate their dinners.

The team practiced it’s chant.

The team practiced their chant.

Carly and Kim took their papers.

Carly and Kim took her paper.

Either Jared or Matt forgot his book.

Either Jared or Matt forgot their book.