#Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement: Your Ultimate Guide 📝

Hey there, future SAT superstar! Let's get those pronouns and antecedents dancing in perfect harmony. Think of them as partners – they need to match to make your writing flow smoothly. This guide is your cheat sheet to mastering this crucial skill, especially for the big exam tomorrow. Let's dive in!

#Understanding Antecedents: The Basics

#What are Antecedents?

• Antecedents are the nouns, phrases, or clauses that pronouns replace. They're the original 'dancers' that pronouns step in for.
• Pronouns (he, she, it, they, who, whom, which, that) need clear antecedents to avoid confusion. Think of them as stand-ins; they can't perform without someone to represent.
• Usually, the antecedent comes before the pronoun (e.g., "The cat licked its paw"). But sometimes, it follows (e.g., "After she finished, Mary went home").
• If an antecedent isn't stated, it should be very clear from the context. No guessing games allowed!

#

• Typical Order: Antecedent → Pronoun (e.g., "The students finished their exams.")
• Reversed Order: Sometimes, Pronoun → Antecedent (e.g., "After he studied, John aced the test.")
• Avoid Vague References: Make sure it's crystal clear who or what the pronoun is referring to. No ambiguity!
• Use Specific Nouns: When possible, use a noun instead of a pronoun to avoid confusion. Clarity is key!
• Rewrite for Clarity: If the antecedent is unclear, rewrite the sentence. It's better to be clear than clever.

#Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement: The Core Rules

#Number and Person Agreement

• Match in Number: Singular pronouns for singular antecedents, and plural pronouns for plural antecedents. It's like matching socks!
  • Singular: he, she, it, I, me
  • Plural: they, them, we, us
• Match in Person: First person (I, we), second person (you), third person (he, she, it, they). Keep the perspective consistent.
• Collective Nouns: (team, committee, group) can be tricky. They're singular when acting as a unit and plural when emphasizing individual members. Context is king! 👑

#Complex Antecedent Structures

• "And" Rule: Two or more nouns joined by "and" usually take a plural pronoun. (e.g., "John and Mary finished their work.")
• "Or/Nor" Rule: Nouns joined by "or" or "nor" take a pronoun that agrees with the closest noun. (e.g., "Neither the cat nor the dogs ate their food.")
• Compound Subjects:
  • "And" = Plural (e.g., "The dog and the cat played in their yard")
  • "Or/Nor" = Closest Noun (e.g., "Neither the students nor the teacher finished her work")
• Indefinite Pronouns:
  • Singular (each, either, neither, one) = Singular Pronouns (e.g., "Each student brought his or her lunch")
  • Plural (both, few, many, several) = Plural Pronouns (e.g., "Many students submitted their work")
  • Context-Dependent (all, any, none, some) = Singular or Plural based on context

#

#Ambiguous and Vague References

• Ambiguous: When a pronoun could refer to multiple antecedents. (e.g., "John told Bill that he should study more." Who is 'he'?) 🤨
• Vague: When the pronoun has no clear antecedent. (e.g., "They say it's going to rain." Who are 'they'?) 🤷
• Fixes: Repeat the noun, restructure the sentence, or use a specific noun instead of the pronoun.
• Proximity: Keep pronouns close to their antecedents. Don't make the reader search!

#Consistency and Shift Errors

• Pronoun Shifts: Changing the point of view or number mid-sentence or paragraph. (e.g., "One should always do their best." Should be "one's best")
• Maintain Consistency: Stick with one perspective and number throughout your writing. Don't jump around!
• Avoid Mixing: Don't mix singular and plural pronouns for the same antecedent.
• Correct Shifts: Choose one perspective and stick with it. (e.g., "Everyone should bring his or her own lunch.")

#Special Cases and Corrections

• Indefinite Pronoun Errors: "Everyone," "anybody," and "each" are always singular. (e.g., "Everyone should bring his or her book.")
• Collective Noun Agreement:
  • Singular: The team won its game.
  • Plural: The family expressed their opinions.
• Revise for Clarity: If needed, rewrite sentences to ensure clear pronoun-antecedent relationships.

#

#High-Priority Topics

• Indefinite Pronouns: Especially the tricky singular ones (each, either, neither, one, everyone, everybody, anyone, anybody).
• Collective Nouns: Understand when they act as singular units vs. plural individuals.
• "And" vs. "Or/Nor" Rules: Master how these conjunctions affect pronoun agreement.
• Ambiguous and Vague References: Be a detective and hunt down unclear pronoun references.

#Common Question Types

• Error Identification: Spot the pronoun-antecedent agreement error in a sentence.
• Sentence Correction: Choose the correct pronoun to fix an agreement error.
• Paragraph Revision: Maintain consistent pronoun usage throughout a passage.

#Last-Minute Tips

• Read Carefully: Don't rush! Pay close attention to the antecedents and pronouns.
• Trust Your Ear: If something sounds off, it probably is. Trust your instincts!
• When in Doubt, Rewrite: If you're unsure, rewrite the sentence to make the meaning clear.
• Time Management: Don't get bogged down on one question. Move on and come back if needed.

#

Practice Question

Practice Questions

#Multiple Choice Questions

Question 1:

Each of the students must bring _______ own lunch to the field trip.

(A) their (B) his or her (C) its (D) our

Question 2:

The committee has finally made _______ decision regarding the new policy.

(A) their (B) its (C) his (D) her

Question 3:

Neither the coach nor the players were happy with _______ performance in the last game.

(A) their (B) his (C) her (D) its

#Free Response Question

Instructions: Read the following passage and identify all pronoun-antecedent agreement errors. Then, rewrite the passage with the necessary corrections.

Passage:

The company announced that they would be implementing a new policy. Each employee must now submit their timesheets by Friday. If an employee fails to do so, they will face disciplinary action. The team is working hard, and they hope to finish their project on time. Everyone should make sure that they are following the new rules. The manager stated that he is confident in the team’s ability to adapt to it.

Answer and Point Breakdown:

1. Error 1: "The company announced that they would be implementing a new policy." (1 point)
   • Correction: "The company announced that it would be implementing a new policy."
2. Error 2: "Each employee must now submit their timesheets by Friday." (1 point)
   • Correction: "Each employee must now submit his or her timesheets by Friday."
3. Error 3: "If an employee fails to do so, they will face disciplinary action." (1 point)
   • Correction: "If an employee fails to do so, he or she will face disciplinary action."
4. Error 4: "The team is working hard, and they hope to finish their project on time." (1 point)
   • Correction: "The team is working hard, and it hopes to finish its project on time."
5. Error 5: "Everyone should make sure that they are following the new rules." (1 point)
   • Correction: "Everyone should make sure that he or she is following the new rules."
6. Error 6: "The manager stated that he is confident in the team’s ability to adapt to it." (1 point)
   • Correction: "The manager stated that he is confident in the team’s ability to adapt to them."

Corrected Passage:

The company announced that it would be implementing a new policy. Each employee must now submit his or her timesheets by Friday. If an employee fails to do so, he or she will face disciplinary action. The team is working hard, and it hopes to finish its project on time. Everyone should make sure that he or she is following the new rules. The manager stated that he is confident in the team’s ability to adapt to them.