WE’RE GOING TO REVIEW PRONOUN-ANTECEDENT AGREEMENT! Journal #6: Grammar Lesson Series

What Are The Rules Of This Fun, Fun, Game!? 1. Every pronoun must have an antecedent!  Pronoun: a pronoun is a word or form that substitutes for a noun or noun phrase  Antecedent: a thing or event that existed before or logically precedes another. 2. Every pronoun must agree with/match its antecedent in number: If the antecedent is singular, the pronoun must be singular too; if the antecedent is plural, the pronoun must be plural, too. 3. Every pronoun must agree with/match its antecedent in gender: Use masculine, feminine, or neuter pronouns (it or its) to match the masculine, feminine, or neuter antecedents.

Last Rule…  Avoid using “you” as a pronoun in academic writing!  You should have watched the trial because it was important. Citizens should watch the trial because it is important. If one had watched the trial, then one would know the outcome.  Replace “you” with “one” or “people” or in some literary analysis papers, “readers”  Use a different sentence structure! Instead of saying “You can get to Ohio by bus,” try:  Travelling to Ohio can be accomplished by bus  Many people travel to Ohio by bus.  Ohio can be reached by bus.

Examples: Which is the pronoun, and which is the antecedent?  The prosecuting attorney presented his case.  Each witness gave his or her testimony.  Judge Judy made her decision.  The jurors gave their opinions.  The court made its decision.  Every journalist wrote his or her story.  The journalists asked each witness for his or her opinion.  The prosecution team has never won any of its cases.

Journal #6: Help this UNCLEAR writer! Re-write these 8 sentences. 1. Javier wrote to his brother when he was away at college. 2. My husband wants me to become a teacher, but I’m not interested in it. 3. In the short story “Thank You Ma’am” by Langston Hughes he teaches us to always be kind to others. 4. At this university, they require students to pass a writing test. 5. It says in today’s paper that the weather will be warmer. 6. In the President’s speech, he said Americans need better health care insurance. 7. In my senior seminar, you have to write three research papers. 8. Hannah is not doing well in her physics class, which is frustrating.