Understanding and mastering pronoun agreement is a fundamental aspect of achieving fluency in English. Pronouns replace nouns in sentences and must agree with their antecedents—the words they refer to—in number, gender, and person. This article aims to clarify the rules and common pitfalls associated with pronoun agreement, providing language learners with the tools they need to use pronouns accurately and effectively.
Basics of Pronoun Agreement
Pronoun agreement is essential for clarity and coherence in writing and speech. When pronouns and their antecedents do not agree, the sentence can become confusing or misleading. Let’s break down the key aspects of pronoun agreement:
Number Agreement
Pronouns must agree in number with the nouns they replace. If the antecedent is singular, the pronoun must be singular. Conversely, if the antecedent is plural, the pronoun must be plural.
**Examples:**
1. Singular: “The *cat* licked *its* paw.”
2. Plural: “The *cats* licked *their* paws.”
In the first example, “cat” is singular, so the pronoun “its” is also singular. In the second example, “cats” is plural, so the pronoun “their” is also plural.
Gender Agreement
Pronouns must also agree in gender with their antecedents. This rule applies primarily to third-person singular pronouns. English has gender-specific pronouns (he, she, it) that must match the gender of the noun they replace.
**Examples:**
1. Masculine: “The *boy* lost *his* backpack.”
2. Feminine: “The *girl* found *her* book.”
3. Neutral: “The *company* revised *its* policy.”
In these examples, “boy” is replaced by “his,” “girl” by “her,” and “company” by “its.”
Person Agreement
Pronouns must also agree in person with their antecedents. English pronouns are divided into three persons:
1. First person: I, we
2. Second person: you
3. Third person: he, she, it, they
**Examples:**
1. First person: “I finished *my* homework.”
2. Second person: “You need to complete *your* assignment.”
3. Third person: “She forgot *her* keys.”
In these examples, the pronouns “my,” “your,” and “her” agree with the first, second, and third person antecedents, respectively.
Common Pronoun Agreement Errors
Despite the straightforward nature of these rules, pronoun agreement errors are common. Below are some frequent mistakes and tips to avoid them.
Indefinite Pronouns
Indefinite pronouns such as “everyone,” “someone,” “anyone,” and “nobody” are singular and require singular pronouns. However, these pronouns often lead to confusion because they seem to imply plurality.
**Incorrect:** “Everyone should bring *their* own lunch.”
**Correct:** “Everyone should bring *his or her* own lunch.”
While the correct form can sound awkward, it is grammatically accurate. To avoid awkwardness, you can often rephrase the sentence.
**Revised:** “All participants should bring *their* own lunch.”
Collective Nouns
Collective nouns like “team,” “family,” and “group” can be tricky because they are singular in form but refer to a group of individuals.
**Incorrect:** “The *team* celebrated *their* victory.”
**Correct:** “The *team* celebrated *its* victory.”
However, if you are emphasizing the individuals within the group, a plural pronoun may be appropriate.
**Revised:** “The *team members* celebrated *their* victory.”
Compound Antecedents
When antecedents are joined by “and,” they typically take a plural pronoun. However, when joined by “or” or “nor,” the pronoun should agree with the nearest antecedent.
**Examples:**
1. “Tom and Jerry finished *their* project.”
2. “Neither the *teacher* nor the *students* remembered *their* lines.”
3. “Either the *students* or the *teacher* forgot *his or her* keys.”
In the second example, “students” is closer to the pronoun, so “their” is used. In the third example, “teacher” is closer, so “his or her” is used.
Pronouns with Collective Nouns and Indefinite Pronouns
When dealing with collective nouns and indefinite pronouns, context often determines the correct pronoun.
**Example:**
“The *jury* reached *its* verdict after much deliberation.”
Here, the jury is acting as a single entity, so the singular pronoun “its” is used.
However:
“The *jury* were divided in *their* opinions.”
In this case, the individual members of the jury are being emphasized, so the plural pronoun “their” is appropriate.
Pronoun Case
Pronoun agreement also involves using the correct pronoun case. English pronouns have three cases: subjective, objective, and possessive.
Subjective Case
Subjective pronouns are used as the subject of a sentence.
**Examples:**
1. “He went to the store.”
2. “She is reading a book.”
3. “They are playing soccer.”
In these examples, “he,” “she,” and “they” are the subjects of their respective sentences.
Objective Case
Objective pronouns are used as the object of a verb or preposition.
**Examples:**
1. “The teacher called *him*.”
2. “She gave the book to *me*.”
3. “They invited *us* to the party.”
In these examples, “him,” “me,” and “us” are the objects of the verb or preposition.
Possessive Case
Possessive pronouns show ownership or possession.
**Examples:**
1. “This is *my* car.”
2. “That is *her* house.”
3. “The book is *theirs*.”
In these examples, “my,” “her,” and “theirs” indicate possession.
Advanced Pronoun Agreement
As you become more proficient in English, you may encounter more complex pronoun agreement scenarios. Let’s explore some advanced topics.
Pronoun Agreement with Collective Nouns in Different Dialects
In American English, collective nouns are usually treated as singular, while in British English, they can be singular or plural depending on the context.
**American English:**
“The *team* won *its* game.”
**British English:**
“The *team* won *their* game.”
Understanding these regional differences can help you navigate pronoun agreement in various English dialects.
Generic Nouns
When referring to generic nouns, the pronoun “one” is often used in formal writing, while “you” is used in informal contexts.
**Formal:**
“One should always do *one’s* best.”
**Informal:**
“You should always do *your* best.”
Pronoun Agreement in Relative Clauses
When a pronoun is used in a relative clause, it must agree with the antecedent in the main clause.
**Example:**
“The *student* who lost *his or her* backpack should come to the office.”
Here, “his or her” agrees with “student.”
Pronoun Agreement with Intervening Phrases
Sometimes, phrases or clauses come between the antecedent and the pronoun, which can create confusion. Always ensure the pronoun agrees with the main antecedent, not the intervening phrase.
**Example:**
“The *box* of chocolates is missing *its* label.”
In this sentence, “its” agrees with “box,” not “chocolates.”
Practice and Application
Mastering pronoun agreement requires practice. Here are some exercises and tips to help you improve.
Exercise 1: Identify and Correct Errors
Identify the pronoun agreement errors in the following sentences and correct them.
1. Each of the students should bring *their* book to class.
2. The team celebrated *their* victory.
3. Neither the teacher nor the students remembered *his or her* lines.
4. The company revised *their* policy.
**Answers:**
1. Each of the students should bring *his or her* book to class.
2. The team celebrated *its* victory.
3. Neither the teacher nor the students remembered *their* lines.
4. The company revised *its* policy.
Exercise 2: Fill in the Blanks
Fill in the blanks with the appropriate pronouns.
1. Everyone should do _______ best.
2. The jury delivered _______ verdict.
3. Either the manager or the employees forgot _______ keys.
4. The book club members shared _______ thoughts.
**Answers:**
1. his or her
2. its
3. their
4. their
Exercise 3: Rewrite Sentences
Rewrite the following sentences to correct pronoun agreement errors or to improve clarity.
1. If anyone has lost *their* keys, please come to the front desk.
2. The team won *their* game last night.
3. Someone left *their* umbrella in the hallway.
4. Either the students or the teacher forgot *their* book.
**Answers:**
1. If anyone has lost *his or her* keys, please come to the front desk.
2. The team won *its* game last night.
3. Someone left *his or her* umbrella in the hallway.
4. Either the students or the teacher forgot *his or her* book.
Conclusion
Pronoun agreement is a vital component of clear and effective communication in English. By understanding and applying the rules of number, gender, and person agreement, as well as mastering the correct pronoun case, you can avoid common errors and enhance your writing and speaking skills. Practice regularly, pay attention to context, and don’t hesitate to rephrase sentences when necessary to maintain clarity and correctness. With time and effort, you’ll find that pronoun agreement becomes second nature, allowing you to express yourself more precisely and confidently in English.
