LESSON 7: PRONOUNS AND ANTECEDENTS
A pronoun is a word that replaces or stands for a noun or another pronoun.
Here are some common pronouns:
I it me he she we
they them himself herself this that
those any some everyone who what
The word that a pronoun replaces or refers back to is called its antecedent.
Pronouns must agree with their antecedents in number and, in some cases, in gender.
EXAMPLE: My friend thought that she had lost her tickets for the concert.
She is the pronoun taking the place of the word friend.
EXERCISES:
Underline the pronoun and circle its antecedent. Connect the pronoun and antecedent with an arrow.
1. Larissa was not a person who enjoyed skydiving.
2. Wesley's cellphone battery died because he forgot to recharge it.
3. Sarah gave herself a pat on the back.
4. The students in Austin's homeroom knew he was bound for glory.
When one of the signular indefinite pronouns listed below is used as the antecedent to a pronoun, the pronoun must be singular.
Here are some examples of singular indefinite pronouns:
everyone everybody someone somebody anyone
anybody no one nobody each either
neither nothing
In everyday conversation, the pluaral pronouns they, them,
or their are often used to replace a singular indefinite pronoun.
However, this is not acceptable in formal writing. Instead,
you must use his or her, or change the subject to make it plural.
EXAMPLES: Incorrect- Everyone is responsible for their own belongings.
Correct- Everyone is responsible for his or her own belongings.
Correct- Passengers are responsible for their own belongings.
EXERCISES:
Underline the pronouns and their antecedents in the following sentences. Write Y if they agree and N if they do not agree.
1. Everyone driving a car is adding their contribution to global warming. ________
2. I believe that no one has the right to force their ideas on somebody else. ___________
3. People in this city need to get their priorities straight. ______
Here are some common pronouns:
I it me he she we
they them himself herself this that
those any some everyone who what
The word that a pronoun replaces or refers back to is called its antecedent.
Pronouns must agree with their antecedents in number and, in some cases, in gender.
EXAMPLE: My friend thought that she had lost her tickets for the concert.
She is the pronoun taking the place of the word friend.
EXERCISES:
Underline the pronoun and circle its antecedent. Connect the pronoun and antecedent with an arrow.
1. Larissa was not a person who enjoyed skydiving.
2. Wesley's cellphone battery died because he forgot to recharge it.
3. Sarah gave herself a pat on the back.
4. The students in Austin's homeroom knew he was bound for glory.
When one of the signular indefinite pronouns listed below is used as the antecedent to a pronoun, the pronoun must be singular.
Here are some examples of singular indefinite pronouns:
everyone everybody someone somebody anyone
anybody no one nobody each either
neither nothing
In everyday conversation, the pluaral pronouns they, them,
or their are often used to replace a singular indefinite pronoun.
However, this is not acceptable in formal writing. Instead,
you must use his or her, or change the subject to make it plural.
EXAMPLES: Incorrect- Everyone is responsible for their own belongings.
Correct- Everyone is responsible for his or her own belongings.
Correct- Passengers are responsible for their own belongings.
EXERCISES:
Underline the pronouns and their antecedents in the following sentences. Write Y if they agree and N if they do not agree.
1. Everyone driving a car is adding their contribution to global warming. ________
2. I believe that no one has the right to force their ideas on somebody else. ___________
3. People in this city need to get their priorities straight. ______