In the journey of mastering the English language, one of the fundamental aspects you will need to understand is pronoun agreement. Pronouns are essential in making our sentences less repetitive and more concise. However, using them correctly requires an understanding of how they should agree with their antecedents in number, gender, and person. This article will delve into the intricacies of pronoun agreement, providing you with clear explanations and practical examples to aid your learning process.
Understanding Pronouns and Antecedents
To begin, let’s clarify what pronouns and antecedents are. A pronoun is a word that takes the place of a noun. Common pronouns include words like “he,” “she,” “it,” “they,” “we,” and “you.” The antecedent is the noun to which the pronoun refers. For example, in the sentence “Lisa lost her keys,” “Lisa” is the antecedent and “her” is the pronoun.
Number Agreement
One of the most crucial aspects of pronoun agreement is ensuring that the pronoun matches the antecedent in number. This means that if the antecedent is singular, the pronoun must also be singular, and if the antecedent is plural, the pronoun must be plural.
Consider the following examples:
1. Singular: “The dog wagged its tail.”
2. Plural: “The dogs wagged their tails.”
In the first sentence, “dog” is singular, so the pronoun “its” is also singular. In the second sentence, “dogs” is plural, so the pronoun “their” is plural.
Gender Agreement
Pronouns must also agree with their antecedents in gender. In English, we have gender-specific pronouns like “he” and “she,” as well as gender-neutral pronouns like “they.”
Consider these examples:
1. “Mary brought her book.”
2. “John brought his book.”
In the first sentence, “Mary” is female, so the pronoun “her” is used. In the second sentence, “John” is male, so the pronoun “his” is used.
Person Agreement
Pronouns must also agree with their antecedents in person. The antecedent can be in the first person (I, we), second person (you), or third person (he, she, it, they).
Examples:
1. First Person: “I lost my keys.”
2. Second Person: “You lost your keys.”
3. Third Person: “She lost her keys.”
In each case, the pronoun agrees with the antecedent in person.
Common Pitfalls in Pronoun Agreement
Even native speakers can sometimes struggle with pronoun agreement. Here are some common pitfalls to watch out for:
Collective Nouns
Collective nouns, such as “team,” “group,” “family,” and “committee,” can be tricky because they refer to a group of individuals but are often treated as singular entities.
Consider the sentence: “The team celebrated its victory.” Here, “team” is a collective noun treated as singular, so we use the singular pronoun “its.”
However, if you want to emphasize the individuals within the group, you might say: “The team celebrated their victories.” This usage treats the team as a collection of individuals, thus requiring a plural pronoun.
Indefinite Pronouns
Indefinite pronouns, such as “everyone,” “someone,” “anyone,” “each,” and “nobody,” are usually singular, even though they may seem to refer to more than one person or thing.
For example:
1. “Everyone needs to bring his or her own lunch.”
2. “Each of the students has his or her own book.”
Using “their” in these sentences would be incorrect because “everyone” and “each” are singular.
Compound Antecedents
When you have compound antecedents connected by “and,” the pronoun should be plural.
Example: “John and Mary brought their books.”
However, when compound antecedents are connected by “or” or “nor,” the pronoun should agree with the nearest antecedent.
Example:
1. “Neither John nor Mary brought her book.” (nearest antecedent “Mary” is singular and female)
2. “Neither the students nor the teacher brought his or her book.” (nearest antecedent “teacher” is singular)
Ambiguous Antecedents
Sometimes, a sentence can be confusing because it is unclear which antecedent a pronoun is referring to. This is known as an ambiguous antecedent.
Example: “When Susan talked to Alice, she was very upset.”
In this sentence, it is unclear whether “she” refers to Susan or Alice. To avoid confusion, you should clarify the antecedent.
Revised: “When Susan talked to Alice, Susan was very upset.”
Strategies for Ensuring Pronoun Agreement
Here are some strategies to help you ensure pronoun agreement in your writing:
Identify the Antecedent
Always identify the antecedent before selecting the pronoun. This step helps in making sure that the pronoun correctly matches the antecedent in number, gender, and person.
Example: “The cat chased its tail.” (Identifying “cat” helps you choose “its”)
Rewrite Sentences to Avoid Ambiguity
If a sentence has an ambiguous antecedent, consider rewriting it for clarity.
Ambiguous: “When Tom met Jerry, he smiled.”
Clear: “When Tom met Jerry, Tom smiled.”
Use Plural Pronouns for Gender Neutrality
In cases where the gender of the antecedent is unknown or irrelevant, you can use plural pronouns to maintain gender neutrality.
Example: “Each student should bring their notebook.”
Proofread for Consistency
Always proofread your writing to ensure that your pronouns agree with their antecedents. Reading your work aloud can help you catch errors that you might otherwise miss.
Advanced Considerations
As you become more comfortable with basic pronoun agreement, you may encounter more advanced considerations, particularly in formal writing and complex sentences.
Pronoun Agreement in Relative Clauses
Relative clauses often include pronouns like “who,” “whom,” “whose,” “which,” and “that.” Ensuring pronoun agreement in these clauses can be challenging.
Example: “The scientist who won the award is giving a lecture.”
In this sentence, “who” agrees with “scientist” in number and person.
Pronoun Agreement in Comparative Constructions
Comparative constructions can sometimes lead to pronoun agreement issues, especially when the comparison is implied rather than stated outright.
Example: “Jessica is better at math than he (is).”
In this sentence, “he” is the correct pronoun because it agrees with the implied comparison “he is.”
Pronoun Agreement in Formal Writing
In formal writing, maintaining pronoun agreement is crucial for clarity and professionalism. Avoiding contractions and ensuring precise language can help in achieving this.
Example: “Each candidate must submit his or her application by the deadline.”
Common Exercises for Practice
To master pronoun agreement, consistent practice is essential. Here are some exercises you can use to test your understanding:
Exercise 1: Identifying and Correcting Errors
Identify and correct the pronoun agreement errors in the following sentences:
1. “Everyone should bring their own lunch.”
2. “Neither the manager nor the employees submitted their report.”
3. “The team celebrated their victory.”
4. “If a student wants to succeed, they must study hard.”
5. “The cat chased its tail until they got tired.”
Exercise 2: Rewriting Sentences
Rewrite the following sentences to avoid ambiguous antecedents:
1. “When Jane saw Sarah, she waved.”
2. “If Tom calls Mike, tell him to wait.”
3. “After the meeting, the manager gave his team their assignments.”
Exercise 3: Creating Sentences
Create sentences using the following guidelines:
1. Use a collective noun with a singular pronoun.
2. Use an indefinite pronoun with a singular pronoun.
3. Use compound antecedents with a plural pronoun.
4. Use a relative clause with a pronoun.
5. Use a comparative construction with a pronoun.
Conclusion
Mastering pronoun agreement is a crucial step in becoming proficient in the English language. By ensuring that your pronouns agree with their antecedents in number, gender, and person, you can make your writing clearer and more professional. Remember to watch out for common pitfalls, such as collective nouns, indefinite pronouns, and ambiguous antecedents. Consistent practice and careful proofreading will help you avoid errors and improve your overall language skills.
Pronoun agreement might seem challenging at first, but with dedication and practice, it will become second nature. Use the strategies and exercises provided in this article to enhance your understanding and application of pronoun agreement, and you will be well on your way to mastering this essential aspect of English grammar.
