1. Pronoun/Antecedent Agreement
Put the PRO in Pronoun

2. What is a pronoun?

3. A pronoun is the word that takes the place of a noun or another pronoun.
Examples of Pronouns:
MASCULINE: he, him, his, himself
FEMININE: she, her, hers, herself
NEUTRAL: it, its, itself
PLURAL: they, them, their, theirs,
themselves

4. What is an antecedent?

5. An antecedent is the word that the pronoun is referring to (usually earlier in the sentence).
Example:
Laura sold her bike to buy in-line skates Antecedent Pronoun

6. Why can’t they just get along?
We always want pronouns to agree with their antecedents in both NUMBER and GENDER.

7. WRONG EXAMPLES Everybody has their own way of studying.
Anyone could forget their homework.
Neither Jim nor Frank took their case to court.
Everybody who is going to the movie needs to bring their money.
Either Mom or Lucy will volunteer their time.

8. RIGHT EXAMPLES
Joe took his car out of the shop. Bob and Terri ate their lunches. Either Katie or Bob is taking his or her car. Beth ate her ham.

9. ANTECEDENTS TO LOOK OUT FOR
WARNING
ANTECEDENTS TO LOOK OUT FOR

10. WARNING Antecedents = Singular Indefinite Pronouns
Anybody
Anyone
Each
Neither
Everybody
Everyone
Nobody
Either
No one
One
Somebody
Someone

11. Plural Indefinite Pronouns
Both
Few
They (General form)
Fewer
Many
Others
Several

12. Singular or Plural
None
All
Any
More
Most
Some
Such

13. What about Reflexive Pronouns?
Reflexive pronouns are those that refer directly back to the subject of the sentence. We use reflexive pronouns for emphasis.
Examples of REFLEXIVE Pronouns:
Myself, ourselves, yourself, himself, herself, itself, themselves

14. Sentences Using Reflexive Pronouns
John spilled grape juice all over himself.
Mrs. Johnson tried to clean his white shirt by herself, but she needed something stronger.

15. John and Mr. Johnson offered to go to the grocery store by themselves to get Bleach.
The store itself was stocked with hundreds of other cleaning supplies, but ironically the bleach was sold outside.

16. Groups
With group antecedents, you must use judgment to determine if the pronoun should be singular or plural. The band did its best. (All working as one) The band cleaned their instruments. (All doing separate things)

17. Either/Or, Neither/Nor
When dealing with choices, you must pick the antecedent closest to the pronoun. Why? Who knows! You just do! The girls or John must bring his or her book. John or the girls must bring their book.

18. Many a, Every
When an antecedent begins with “Many a” or “Every,” treat it as singular. Many a cat and dog has found its owner. Every man, woman, and child must find his or her own way.

19. Titles
Titles are always treated as singular. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn has much to offer in its pages. The Mermaids has a lot of cussing in it.

20. The Number of, A Number of
Pay attention! “The number of” is always singular while “A number of” is always plural! The number of viruses increases itself daily. A number of men have their chests waxed.

21. Sentences for Practice
In the world of Impressionist Painting, Mary Cassatt made their work known.
Edgar Degas suggested Cassatt create a series of paintings for herself, and she accepted her suggestion.
Each of the women in her paintings seemed to have their own identity.