Pronoun/Antecedent Agreement

1. Pronouns must agree with their antecedent in gender and number.

a. John gave his money to the charity.
b. Shelly is late to school. She will need a tardy slip.
c. The players gave their jerseys to their teachers.
d. The coach and the team captains picked up their clipboards.

2. With indefinite pronouns such as each, either, one, everyone, and anyone, you
must use singular antecedents.
a. Everyone must bring his or her book bag to class.
b. Anyone with a suggestion should share his or her idea with the crowd.
c. Each girl on the soccer time must bring her uniform.
d. Either Philip or Ryan will display his project.

3. With pronouns such as all, any, some, none and most, look at the words
connected with the pronoun to determine the correct usage.
a. All of the children brought their toys outside.
b. Any boy who would like to play soccer must sign his name to the roster.

4. The subject of a verb and the subject complement are in the subjective case and
must agree. Use he, she, they, it, we, or who for subjective because it is the
subject of the sentence.
a. George had an appointment. _____ left early. (he is correct, not him)
b. ______ noticed? (If you can place he or she in the blank use who.)
c. Laura and I went to the store. (ignore the other person)
d. The boys and we swam in deep water. (ignore the other people)

5. The object of a verb or preposition is in the objective case. Use him, her, them,
and whom for the objective case.
a. Marcella blamed me.
b. Telephoning them is a nuisance.
c. I gave him the book.
d. He gave the flowers to her for her birthday.
e. The principal asked Laura and me to speak at the assembly (ignore the
other person)
f. To whom was it addressed? (If you cannot place he or she in the blank,
and it would make sense to use him or her use whom).
g. Bill sat behind Nadine and me. (ignore other person)