Grammar Packet Pronoun Antecedent Agreement

Posted by: admin | Posted on: februari 16th, 2022 | 0 Comments

Grammar Packet Pronoun Antecedent Agreement: A Guide for Writers

As a writer, your primary goal is to convey your message to your audience effectively. However, poor grammar and incorrect sentence structure can distract from your message and even cause misunderstandings. Pronoun antecedent agreement is a significant aspect of grammar that can have a significant impact on the clarity of your writing.

Pronoun antecedent agreement refers to the relationship between a pronoun and the noun or noun phrase it refers to, called the antecedent. A writer must ensure that the pronoun agrees in number, gender, and person with its antecedent. This agreement is vital because it helps readers identify the noun or noun phrase to which the pronoun is referring.

Take for instance the following sentence:

“Every student must complete their homework before the deadline.”

In this sentence, the pronoun “their” does not agree with the singular noun “student.” To correct this error, the writer should use the singular pronoun “his or her” instead of “their.”

“Every student must complete his or her homework before the deadline.”

Another example of incorrect pronoun antecedent agreement is the use of gender-neutral pronouns such as “they” or “them” when referring to a singular antecedent. While some writers opt to use gender-neutral pronouns to avoid the use of gender-specific pronouns like “he” or “she,” this practice can be grammatically incorrect.

For example:

“Someone left their coat on the chair.”

The pronoun “their” refers to the singular antecedent “someone,” which is incorrect. To correct this sentence, you can either rewrite the sentence to make the antecedent plural:

“People left their coats on the chair.”

Or use a gender-neutral pronoun that agrees with the singular antecedent:

“Someone left his or her coat on the chair.”

Similarly, it is essential to ensure that the pronoun agrees in person with its antecedent. For example:

“When you arrive at the airport, they will check your identification.”

In this sentence, the pronoun “they” is plural, while the antecedent “you” is singular. To correct the sentence, you should use a singular pronoun like “he” or “she.”

“When you arrive at the airport, he or she will check your identification.”

In conclusion, pronoun antecedent agreement is an important aspect of grammar that writers should pay close attention to. By ensuring that your pronouns agree in number, gender, and person with their antecedent, you will convey your message clearly and effectively to your readers. So, whether you`re writing an academic essay, a social media post, or a business proposal, remember to double-check your pronoun antecedent agreement.