1. Pronoun and Antecedent Agreement

2. Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement
Person, number, and gender in pronoun-antecedent agreement.
Person Singular Plural
First I we
Second you you
Third he, she, it they
Gender: 1) Masculine: he, him, himself; 2) Feminine: she, her, herself; 3) Neuter: it, itself

3. Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement
1) Antecedents joined by and usually take plural pronouns.
Ex: Anne and Jane sold their textbooks.
Ex: Mr. Mister and I cannot settle our dispute.
Exception:
When the compound antecedent refers to single person, idea, or thing, then the pronoun is singular.
Ex: My brother and friend offered his help.

4. Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement
2) When parts of an antecedent are joined by or or nor, the pronoun agrees with the nearer part.
Ex: Either Anne or Jane left her umbrella.
When one antecedent is plural and the other singular, the sentence will be awkward unless you put the plural antecedent second.
Ex: Neither the principal nor the parents have made their choice.

5. Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement
3) With an indefinite word as antecedent, use a singular or plural pronoun as appropriate.
Ex: Neither of the Girl Scouts paid her fee. (Neither is singular.)
Ex: Each of the men succeeded in his chosen career. (Each is singular.)
Ex: Everyone took his or her seat. (Everyone is singular.)
Ex: All the students took their seats. (All is plural.)
Avoid using the pronouns he, him, and his to refer to antecedents of unspecified gender.

6. Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement
4) Reflexive pronouns must agree with an antecedent that is clearly stated.
Correct
Skippy gave himself a break after studying for two hours.
Incorrect
The trouble between Sue and myself arose over jealousy.
Should be: The trouble between Sue and me arose over jealousy.

7. Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement
5) Collective noun antecedents take singular or plural pronouns depending on meaning.
When the group acts as one unit, the pronoun is singular.
Ex: The herd of cows is too cramped in its small pasture.
When the members of a group act separately, the pronoun is plural.
Ex: The couple divided their belongings.

8. Special Problems with Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement
A personal pronoun should have a clear, single, close, and logical antecedent, stated or understood.
Problem:
They make a lot of mistakes in the paper.
Correct:
Newspaper stories are not always accurate. That paper has many typographical errors.

9. Special Problems with Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement
A personal pronoun should have a clear, single, close, and logical antecedent, stated or understood.
Problem:
Bruce told Danny his mother was sick.
Correct:
Bruce told Danny that Danny’s mother was sick.
Bruce told Danny that Bruce’s mother was sick.

10. Special Problems with Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement
A personal pronoun should have a clear, single, close, and logical antecedent, stated or understood.
Problem:
When Joyce invited Anna and her family to come for the weekend, she forgot to check the date.
Correct:
Joyce forgot to check the date when she invited Anna and her family to come for the weekend.

11. Special Problems with Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement
A personal pronoun should have a clear, single, close, and logical antecedent, stated or understood.
Problem:
In English literature you will read Shakespeare and Milton.
Correct:
A student of English literature will read Shakespeare and Milton.