Conjunctive Adverb Pronoun Agreement: Notes Stolen from: _penguinhb_1/7/1978/ cw/index.html

And, or, nor Sometimes the antecedents of a pronoun are words joined by and, or, or nor. Follow these steps to make sure the pronoun agrees with a compound antecedent. Identify the conjunction—the word that joins the antecedents together. The conjunctions in the following sentences are italicized. Choose the pronoun form based on the conjunction.

Choosing adverb 1. If the conjunction is and, use the plural pronoun (in this case, their). 2.If the conjunction is or or nor, use the pronoun that agrees in number with the closer antecedent.

Sample sentences 1. Both Dave and Joel had their bikes stolen last week. 2. Neither Dave nor the other apartment residents had been locking their bikes. 3. Neither the police officers who investigated the thefts nor the apartment manager offered his help.

Single and Plural antecedents In cases where a singular and a plural antecedent are joined by or or nor, it will usually sound more natural to place the plural antecedent second and use a plural pronoun. Awkward: Neither the police officers nor the apartment manager offered his help. (apartment manager is singular, so his is used) Revised: Neither the apartment manager nor the police officers offered their help. (police officers is plural, so their is used)

Notes Simplified If a compound antecedent is joined by and, use a plural pronoun. If it is joined by or or nor, use a pronoun that agrees with the last noun. Revise the sentence if this rule results in an awkward construction.

Pronoun agreement: sample Neither the dancers nor the actors brought his costumes. A. no change B. her C. themselves D. their

ACT Prep: Pronoun Agreement Pronouns must agree with their antecedents in number, gender, and person.

Pronoun agreement Marta organized her desk for greater efficiency. A. no change B. its C. their D. his

Pronoun agreement Each of the stores sets their own hours. A. no change B. its C. it’s D. his

Pronoun agreement Many of the early twentieth century photographers found their work treated merely as a fad. A. no change B. his C. her D. its

Pronoun agreement All of the water has chemicals in them. A. no change B. itself C. theirs D. it