HMH Into Literature.

Grammar Quick Fix.

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How to Correct Pronoun-
Antecedent Agreement
Learn.
How to Correct Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement.
A pronoun is a word used in place of a noun or another pronoun. An
antecedent is the word that a pronoun refers to or replaces. A pronoun
must agree with its antecedent in gender and number.

• Maria said she was taking her new laptop to the store for a refund.
(The singular feminine pronouns she and her refer to Maria.)
Image: A person holds a fanned-out stack of
• Tom said that he was upset because his new computer was also broken. hundred-dollar bills.

(The singular masculine pronouns he and his refer to Tom.) Tip.

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• They asked for their money back, and it was returned. Some people use the
pronouns they, them, and
(The plural pronoun their refers to they, and the neutral pronoun it their. To avoid confusion,
refers to the money.) you can mention this choice
before using their pronouns
Learn.
How to Correct Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement.
When the gender of a subject is unclear, there are several options you can use
to maintain correct pronoun-antecedent agreement.

• Anyone bringing in their computer for repair should check whether the
technician is qualified.
(Use a gender-neutral pronoun such as their to agree with Anyone.)
Image: A hand reaches into a computer to

• Anyone bringing in a computer for repair should check whether the make a repair.

technician is qualified.
(Avoid using a pronoun with a gender-neutral subject like Anyone.)

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• People bringing in their computers for repair should check whether the
technicians are qualified.
(Make the subject and its pronoun plural so that both are gender neutral.)
Learn.
How to Correct Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement.
Two or more subjects joined by and should be referred to by a plural pronoun.
• The engineers and the designer were excited that their robot won
the competition.

A pronoun that refers to antecedents joined by or or nor should agree with

the noun or pronoun closest to it. Image: A robot moves along a floor.

• Neither the designer nor the engineers expected their project

to succeed. Tip.

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A sentence with a plural and
a singular antecedent joined
by or or nor may be awkward
or confusing. You can switch
the order of the antecedents
or rewrite the sentence to
avoid this construction.
Learn.
How to Correct Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement.
A phrase or clause that comes between the subject and verb does not change
the number of the antecedent.
• The box of spare robot parts fell on its side.
(The singular pronoun its agrees with box.)

When the antecedent is a collective noun, use a singular pronoun if the group Image: A robot moves along a floor.
acts together. Use a plural pronoun if the group members act individually.
• The robotics team proved its creativity today. Tip.

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(The team acted as one unit.) A collective noun names a
• The team had their moments of doubt during the process. group of people or things.

(Team members have individual experiences.)

Practice.
How to Correct Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement.
Correct the pronoun-antecedent agreement errors in this passage.

A drone is a flying vehicle with no pilot on board guiding their movements.

Drones are widely used in the film industry because of its ability to maneuver
in tight spaces. You've probably seen footage where the camera follows the
actors from just overhead as they race across a landscape. Most likely, that Image: A white drone with a video camera

scene was shot by a drone. Sally Reynolds, a director of hit films, says that hovers in the sky.

they can't imagine shooting action scenes without a drone. All of her camera

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operators must prove that he or she can operate a drone safely.
Correct.
How to Correct Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement.
A drone is a flying vehicle with no pilot on board guiding its movements.
Drones are widely used in the film industry because of their ability to
maneuver in tight spaces. You've probably seen footage where the camera
follows the actors from just overhead as they race across a landscape. Most
likely, that scene was shot by a drone. Sally Reynolds, a director of hit films,
Image: A white drone with a video camera
says that she can't imagine shooting action scenes without a drone. All of her hovers in the sky.

camera operators must prove that they can operate a drone safely.

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What Changed?
In the first sentence, the pronoun was made singular to agree with drone. In
the second sentence, the pronoun was made plural to agree with drones. In the
fifth sentence, the pronoun was changed to she to agree with Sally Reynolds. In
the sixth sentence, they replaced he or she to refer to camera operators.
Write.
How to Correct Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement.
Describe your use of one kind of technology. Write at least three sentences
with pronouns that agree with their antecedents. Circle the antecedents and
underline the pronouns.

Image: A young woman reaches out her

hand while wearing a virtual reality headset.

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IMAGE CREDITS
Slide 1: ©Happy Art/Shutterstock
Slide 2: ©Happy Art/Shutterstock; money ©Lyutikov 713/Shutterstock
Slide 3: ©Happy Art/Shutterstock; computer repair ©thechatat/Shutterstock
Slide 4: ©Happy Art/Shutterstock; robot ©Frances Roberts/Alamy
Slide 5: ©Happy Art/Shutterstock; robot ©Frances Roberts/Alamy
Slide 6: ©Happy Art/Shutterstock; drone ©Maria Dryfhout/Shutterstock
Slide 7: ©Happy Art/Shutterstock; drone ©Maria Dryfhout/Shutterstock
Slide 8: ©Happy Art/Shutterstock; VR headset ©Max kegfire/Shutterstock