Usage 3: Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement

2. Indefinite pronouns as antecedents Singular indefinite pronoun antecedents take singular pronoun referents.

"Each [of the clerks] does a good deal of work around [his or her] office."

6. Titles of single entities. (books, organizations, countries, etc.) take a singular referent.

"The Grapes of Wrath made its characters seem real." Singular = The Grapes of Wrath Singular = its

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."

7. Plural form subjects with a singular meaning take a singular referent. (news, measles, mumps, physics, etc)

"the news has lost much of tis sting two days later." Singular = news Singular = its

8. Every or Many a before a noun or a series of nouns requires a singular referent.

Every cow, pig, and horse had lost its life in the fire. Singular = every singular = its

4. With compound subjects joined by or/nor, the referent pronoun agrees with the antecedent closer to the pronoun.

Example #1: (plural antecedent closer to pronoun) Neither director nor the actors did their jobs. Example #2: (singular antecedent closer to pronoun) Neither the actors nor the director did his or her job.

3. Compound subjects joined by and always take a plural referent.

Joe and Smith made [their] presentation.

5. Collective Nouns (group, jury, crowd, team, etc.) may be singular or plural, depending on meaning.

The jury read its verdict In this example, the jury is acting as one unit; therefore, the referent pronoun is singular. The jury members gave their individual In this example, the jury members are acting as twelve individuals; therefore, the referent pronoun is plural.

9. The number of vs A number of before a subject:

The number of volnteers increases its ranks daily. Singular = number Singular = its A number of colunteers are offering their help. Plural = number Plural = their

What is a Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement

The pronoun must agree with its antecedent in number. Rule: A singular pronoun must replace a singular noun; a plural pronoun must replace a plural noun. Thus, the mechanics of the sentence above look like this: