1. 11 simple rules to using pronouns correctly
Pronoun Rules
11 simple rules to using pronouns correctly

2. First, a Quick review Pronoun- replaces a noun
Antecedent- the noun the pronoun refers to
Kim is celebrating her birthday. She is 17.
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Antecedent Pronouns

3. Singular pronouns Refer to a single (1) noun Examples: Female Male
Neutral
She He I
Her
Him Me
Hers
His My
You
your it
its

4. Singular Pronouns Jack got a dog for his birthday. It is a lab.
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Singular male Pronouns
His refers to Jack, a singular male noun.
It refers to the dog, a singular neutral noun.

5. Plural pronouns We Us Our You Them Your They Their
Refers to nouns that have more than 1 person, place, thing or idea
Examples: We Us
Our
You
Them
Your
They
Their

6. Plural Pronouns
The students did well in their grammar lessons. They all received perfect scores.
The students is plural
Their refers to the plural the students and shows the lesson belongs to them
They refers to the plural the students

7. Rule #1.
A phrase or clause between the subject and verb does not change the number of the antecedent
The can of lima beans sits on its shelf.
Lima beans may be plural but the pronoun refers to can, which is singular!
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Singular neutral Phrase Singular neutral pronoun

8. Rule #2 Each of the clerks does work around his or her office.
Indefinite pronouns as antecedents.
A. Singular indefinite pronoun antecedents take singular pronoun referents.
Singular: each, either, neither, one, no one, nobody, nothing, anyone, anybody, anything, someone, somebody, something, everyone, everybody, everything
Each of the clerks does work around his or her office.
This rule is the most difficult of all. Take your time with it and practice!
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Singular neutral Singular neutral pronouns

9. Rule #2, continued.
B. Plural indefinite pronoun antecedent require plural referents.
Plural: several, few, both, many
Both do a good job in their office.
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Plural Plural pronoun

10. Rule #2, continued
If the object of the preposition is uncountable, use the singular pronoun. If the object of the preposition is countable, use the plural pronoun. Some of the sugar fell out of its bag. Some of the marbles fell out of their bag.
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Cannot be counted Singular pronoun
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Can be counted Plural pronoun

11. Rule #3
Compound subjects joined by “and” always take the plural referent Jones and Smith made their presentation.
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Compound subjects Plural pronoun

12. Rule #4
With compound subjects joined by “or/nor” the referent pronoun agrees with the antecedent closer to the pronoun.
Neither the director nor the actors did their jobs.
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Singular Plural Plural pronoun

13. Rule #5
Collective nouns (group, jury, team, etc.) may be either singular or plural, depending on their meaning. Is it acting as one unit or as individuals?
The jury read its verdict.
The jury members gave their individual opinions.
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Singular unit Singular pronoun
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Plural individuals Plural pronoun

14. Rule #6
Title of single entitites (books, organizations, countries) take the singular pronoun referent. The Grapes of Wrath made its characters seem real. The United States cherishes its democracy.
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Singular book title Singular pronoun
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Singular country Singular pronoun

15. Rule #7
Plural form subjects with a singular meaning take a singular referent.
The news has lost much of its loyal readers.
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Singular meaning Singular pronoun

16. Rule #8
“Every” or “Many a” before a noun or series of nouns requires a singular referent.
Every cow, pig, and horse lost its life in the fire.
Many a girl wishes she could sing like Whitney Houston.
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Singular Singular pronoun
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Singular Singular pronoun

17. Rule #9 “The number of” is singular. “A number of” is plural.
The number of volunteers increases its ranks daily.
A number of volunteers are offering their help.
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Singular Singular pronoun
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Plural Plural pronoun

18. Rule #10
Do I use “Who” or “whom”? Whom goes with pronouns ending with “m” like him (her) and them Who goes with he/she and it TIP: Insert pronoun instead of who/whom to see if you are correct! Who studies hard. (He studies hard) Whom did they expect? (They expected him)

19. Rule #11 Do I use “I” or “Me” when there are two people in a sentence?
The easiest way to figure this out is to remove the other person in the sentence; if the new sentence makes sense (once you properly conjugate the verb), you are correct!
Ex. Shawna and I are going to the store.
Remove Shawna. Change are to singular form “am”.
I am going to the store.

20. Rule #11, cont.
Example #2:
Do you want to go to the store with Shawna and I?
Remove Shawna.
Do you want to go to the store with I?
THIS DOESN’T MAKE SENSE so it’s wrong!
CORRECT: Do you want to go to the store with Shawna and me?