Special Problems in Pronoun-Antecedent

Agreement

• A collective noun is singular when the noun refers to the group as a unit and plural when the noun refers to the individual members or parts of the group.

Examples: – The orchestra was looking forward to performing

its rendition of Beethoven’s Pastoral Symphony. – The orchestra were tuning their instruments when

the conductor arrived.

• An expression of an amount (a measurement, a percentage, or a fraction, for example) may take a singular or plural pronoun, depending on how it is used.

• An expression of an amount is – Singular when the amount is thought of as a

unit. – Plural when the amount is thought of as

separate parts.

Examples: • Two days is a long time. It could seem like

forever. --One time.• Two days (Monday and Friday) were especially

cold and rainy. They were so wet that baseball practice was canceled. --Two separate days.

• Five dollars was the price. I had it in my pocket. --One price.

• Five dollars were torn. The vending machine would not accept them. --Separate dollars.

Amounts, continued

• A fraction or percentage is – Singular when it refers to a singular word– Plural when it refers to a plural word.

• Examples: – Nine tenths of the colony has returned to its usual

routine. (refers to singular noun “colony”)– Nine tenths of the ants have returned to their

usual routines. (refers to plural noun “ants”)

• Some nouns that are plural in form take singular pronouns.

• The following nouns take singular pronouns. civics geneticseconomics mathematicsmumps newsphysics electronicsgymnastics measles

• Even when plural in form, the title of a creative work (such as a book, song, movie, or painting) or the name of a country, a city, or an organization generally takes a singular pronoun.

• Examples:– Have you read Thousand Cranes? It was written by

Yasunari Kawabata.– My all-time favorite film is Dances with Wolves.

One of its principal characters is played by the Canadian actor Graham Greene.

• The number of a relative pronoun (such as that, which, or who) is determined by the number of its antecedent.

• Examples: – Jessica, who always takes pride in her

work, has been appointed editor of the school yearbook.–All who want to volunteer for the yearbook

staff should raise their hands.