PRONOUN AGREEMENT USE powerpoint presentation

Pronoun and antecedants agreeing in number and gender

1. This PowerPoint
presentation is
©2016 by
Robin L. Simmons.
All Rights Reserved.

2. Pronoun Pronoun
AgreementAgreement
Until You Pass OutUntil You Pass Out !!

3. Rule 1:Rule 1: Know the Know the generalgeneral rule rule
governing pronoun agreement.governing pronoun agreement.
A pronoun must agree with its antecedent.
The The antecedentantecedent is usually a is usually a nounnoun that the that the
pronoun pronoun replacesreplaces. For example, you can . For example, you can
replace replace Mrs. HillMrs. Hill with with she she or or herher, the , the
students students with with theythey or or themthem..

4. Here are two examples:Here are two examples:
The The lizardlizard licked licked
itsits eyeball. eyeball.
The The lizardslizards licked licked
theirtheir eyeballs. eyeballs.
LizardLizard = singular antecedent = singular antecedent
itsits = singular pronoun = singular pronoun
LizardsLizards = plural antecedent = plural antecedent
theirtheir = plural pronoun = plural pronoun

5. Know the difference between Know the difference between
these these singularsingular and and pluralplural
personal pronouns.personal pronouns.
Singular
He, she, itHe, she, it
Him, her, itHim, her, it
His, hers, itsHis, hers, its
Himself, herself, Himself, herself,
itselfitself
Plural
TheyThey
ThemThem
Their, theirsTheir, theirs
ThemselvesThemselves

6. Do not confuse Do not confuse
it’sit’s with with itsits. .
•It’sIt’s [with an apostrophe] means [with an apostrophe] means it isit is or or it hasit has. .
•ItsIts [without an apostrophe] means [without an apostrophe] means belonging to belonging to
itit——for example, for example, itsits bowl, bowl, itsits sharp teeth, sharp teeth, itsits long long
claws, etc.claws, etc.
•Possessive pronouns—Possessive pronouns—unlikeunlike possessive nouns possessive nouns
—do —do notnot need an apostrophe with the need an apostrophe with the
final final ss..

7. Two [or more] singular things joined byTwo [or more] singular things joined by andand
become abecome a pluralplural antecedent.antecedent.
Rule 2, Part 1:Rule 2, Part 1: The conjunction The conjunction aandnd
can cause problems with pronoun can cause problems with pronoun
agreement.agreement.
The new puppy and kitten have destroyed their
owner’s sofa.

8. Rule 2, Part 2:Rule 2, Part 2: When When eacheach or or
everyevery precedes two precedes two [[or moreor more]]
singular things joined by singular things joined by andand, a , a
singularsingular antecedent is formed. antecedent is formed.
Each new puppy and kitten destroys
its owner’s sofa.

9. In this situation, no matter In this situation, no matter how manyhow many
singular nouns that you join with singular nouns that you join with andand, ,
the antecedent is the antecedent is stillstill singular.singular.
Each new puppy, kitten, rabbit, tarantula,
python, parrot, iguana, and ferret
destroys its owner’s sofa.

10. REVIEWREVIEW
1. At the zoo, every lion, tiger,
leopard, bear, snake, and
crocodile roared their approval
when the mean child slipped in a
puddle and cracked his head on
the sidewalk.
Directions:Directions: Find and fix the pronoun Find and fix the pronoun
agreement errors.agreement errors.
1. At the zoo, every lion, tiger,
leopard, bear, snake, and
crocodile roared its approval
when the mean child slipped in a
puddle and cracked his head on
the sidewalk.

11. Rule 3:Rule 3: Use caution with these three Use caution with these three
correlative conjunctions: correlative conjunctions: either … oreither … or, ,
neither … norneither … nor, and , and not only … but alsonot only … but also..
Of the two antecedents in the
sentence, the pronoun must
agree with the one closest
to the second half of the
conjunction.

12. Here are two examples:Here are two examples:
++ ==
Not only Louise but also the Smiths fixed their
famous squid eyeball stew for the picnic.
Not only the Smiths but also Louise fixed her
famous squid eyeball stew for the picnic.

13. Both Mrs. Williams and her Both Mrs. Williams and her
students are happy to hear students are happy to hear
that they can order squid that they can order squid
eyeball stew for their eyeball stew for their
lunch.lunch. Correct!Correct!

14. 4.4.Not only my two dogs but also Not only my two dogs but also
Buster the cat loves to eat Buster the cat loves to eat
pepperoni that I pull off my pepperoni that I pull off my
pizza to give to them. pizza to give to them.
Remember that the Remember that the closercloser of the of the
two antecedents counts:two antecedents counts: Not onlyNot only
Buster the catBuster the cat but alsobut also my two my two
dogsdogs love to eat pepperoni that I pull off love to eat pepperoni that I pull off
my pizza to give to my pizza to give to themthem..
Not Not onlyonly my two dogs my two dogs but but
alsoalso Buster the cat loves to Buster the cat loves to eat eat
pepperoni that I pull off my pepperoni that I pull off my
pizza to give to pizza to give to himhim. .

15. Indefinite pronounsIndefinite pronouns cause cause
the biggest headaches for the biggest headaches for
pronoun agreement.pronoun agreement.

16. Rule 4, Part 1:Rule 4, Part 1: These These indefinite indefinite
pronounspronouns are always are always singular singular
[[even when they even when they seemseem plural plural]]..
•Each, either, neitherEach, either, neither
•Anyone, anybody, anything Anyone, anybody, anything
•Everyone, everybody, everythingEveryone, everybody, everything
•No one, nobody, nothingNo one, nobody, nothing
•Someone, somebody, somethingSomeone, somebody, something

17. EveryoneEveryone on Earth = on Earth = more thanmore than one person— one person—
billionsbillions of people, in fact. of people, in fact.
The word The word everyoneeveryone, however, is still , however, is still singularsingular
and requires a and requires a singular pronoun singular pronoun for agreement.for agreement.

18. Neither of my two brothers shows much sense
when he dates women. [Neither = singular.]
Neither of my two brothers show much sense
when they date women.
This sentence might This sentence might
soundsound right, but it is right, but it is
completely wrong!completely wrong!
Read this example:Read this example:

19. Wow, what
a babe!
Wow,
what a
fat
wallet!

20. 2.2.Each of those worried Each of those worried
students is wondering how to students is wondering how to
cheat effectively on their cheat effectively on their
pronoun agreement quiz.pronoun agreement quiz.
Or try this:Or try this: Those worried Those worried
studentsstudents are wondering how to cheat are wondering how to cheat
effectively on effectively on theirtheir pronoun pronoun
agreement quiz.agreement quiz.
2.2.EachEach of those worried of those worried
students is wondering how to students is wondering how to
cheat effectively on cheat effectively on hishis
pronoun agreement quiz.pronoun agreement quiz.
EachEach of those worried of those worried
students is wondering how to students is wondering how to
cheat effectively on cheat effectively on herher
pronoun agreement quiz.pronoun agreement quiz.

21. 5.Oh, no! Someone left their
greasy French fries on the
essay that I have to turn in to
Mrs. Neal next hour!
Or try this:Or try this: Someone left Someone left greasy greasy
French friesFrench fries on the paper that I have on the paper that I have
to turn in to Mrs. Neal next hour!to turn in to Mrs. Neal next hour!
5.Oh, no! Someone left his
greasy French fries on the
essay that I have to turn in to
Mrs. Neal next hour!
Oh, no! Someone left her
greasy French fries on the essay
that I have to turn in to Mrs.
Neal next hour!

22. 9.9.Either of those two shirts will Either of those two shirts will
enhance your brown eyes with enhance your brown eyes with
their vibrant colors.their vibrant colors.
Or try this:Or try this: Both of those shirtsBoth of those shirts
will enhance your brown eyes with will enhance your brown eyes with
theirtheir vibrant colors. vibrant colors.
EitherEither of those two shirts will of those two shirts will
enhance your brown eyes with enhance your brown eyes with
itsits vibrant colors. vibrant colors.

23. Now imagine a parked car like this one:Now imagine a parked car like this one:

24. The sentence belowThe sentence below soundssounds natural but has an error.natural but has an error.
Rule 4, Part 2:Rule 4, Part 2: When fixing an When fixing an
agreement error, try to avoid agreement error, try to avoid
sexist languagesexist language that might that might
offendoffend your readers. your readers.
Someone left their lights on.

25. In the 1950s, rule books would In the 1950s, rule books would
have recommended using the have recommended using the
masculinemasculine pronoun exclusively. pronoun exclusively.
Oh, my!
Someone left
his lights on.

26. In the 1970s, after criticism from In the 1970s, after criticism from
feminists and civil rights activists, rule feminists and civil rights activists, rule
books next suggested using books next suggested using bothboth
genders so that genders so that males and femalesmales and females had had
equal representationequal representation in the language. in the language.
Someone left
his or her
lights on.
I can see
them along
the watch
tower . . .

27. A writer who begins A writer who begins
with with he or shehe or she or or him or him or
herher will need to be will need to be
consistent. But look consistent. But look
what happens .what happens . .. ..

28. Wanda Wrighter
Professor Pennington
ENC 1101
May 17, 2011
Student Success
If a student wants to improve his or her grades, he or she
should walk himself or herself over to the tutoring center. There,
he or she can request a tutor to help him or her with his or her
homework. This preparation for his or her class will ensure that
he or she is ready when taking his or her quizzes and exams. In
addition, the tutor might have old work to share. This way, the
student can find out himself/herself what to expect on the
assignments for a specific instructor that might change his/her
assignments rarely. Thus, the one thing that will insure the success
of a student is that he or she gets a tutor to help him or her.
Oh, the
horror !

29. In the 21In the 21
stst
century, fix the error century, fix the error
withoutwithout the annoying repetition. the annoying repetition.
There’s a car
with its lights
on.
Thankfully,
my wheels
don’t have
that
problem.

30. Rule 4, Part 3:Rule 4, Part 3: Some indefinite Some indefinite
pronouns are pronouns are singular or pluralsingular or plural, ,
depending on depending on contextcontext..
• AllAll
• AnyAny
• NoneNone**
• MoreMore
• MostMost
• SomeSome
AllAll of Beverly’s hair of Beverly’s hair
gets gets itsits color from a color from a
bottle.bottle.
AllAll of Beverly’s of Beverly’s
fingernails get fingernails get theirtheir
color from a bottle.color from a bottle.

31. 8.8.None of Sabrina’s friends will None of Sabrina’s friends will
give up one of his or her give up one of his or her
pencils so that Sabrina, who is pencils so that Sabrina, who is
always unprepared, can take always unprepared, can take
her pronoun agreement quiz her pronoun agreement quiz
today.today.
NoneNone of Sabrina’s friends will of Sabrina’s friends will
give up one of give up one of theirtheir pencils pencils
so that Sabrina, who is so that Sabrina, who is
always unprepared, can take always unprepared, can take
her pronoun agreement quiz her pronoun agreement quiz
today.today.

32. Some Some groupsgroups of people, like a of people, like a juryjury, also , also
cause pronoun agreement cause pronoun agreement problemsproblems..

33. Rule 5:Rule 5: Collective nouns Collective nouns are are
singular or plural, depending on singular or plural, depending on
contextcontext..
•Collective nouns are groups of people: Collective nouns are groups of people:
teamteam, , juryjury, , classclass, , committeecommittee, , armyarmy, ,
familyfamily, etc., etc.
•If all members are acting If all members are acting in unisonin unison, treat , treat
the collective noun as the collective noun as singularsingular and use a and use a
singular pronounsingular pronoun..
•If, however, all members are acting If, however, all members are acting
individuallyindividually, treat the noun as , treat the noun as pluralplural and and
use a use a plural pronounplural pronoun..

34. Read these examples:Read these examples:
The team celebrated its
victory.
The team changed into
their street clothes and
went home happy.

35. When you cannot When you cannot decidedecide if the if the
collective noun is singular or plural, collective noun is singular or plural,
insert a insert a plural nounplural noun after the after the
collective noun, like this:collective noun, like this:
The team members ran out onto the
field to meet their opponent.

36. 6.6.The class cheered their The class cheered their
approval when Dr. Shuman approval when Dr. Shuman
postponed the frog dissection postponed the frog dissection
so that the students could go so that the students could go
home early on Friday home early on Friday
afternoon.afternoon.
Or try this:Or try this: The The studentsstudents cheered cheered
theirtheir approval when Dr. Shuman approval when Dr. Shuman
postponed the frog dissection so that postponed the frog dissection so that
theythey could go home early . could go home early . .. ..
The The classclass cheered cheered itsits
approval when Dr. Shuman approval when Dr. Shuman
postponed the frog dissection postponed the frog dissection
so that the students could go so that the students could go
home early on Friday home early on Friday
afternoon.afternoon.

37. 10.10.The committee unanimously The committee unanimously
decided to impeach the decided to impeach the
president because they could president because they could
no longer stand his long-no longer stand his long-
winded speeches and unclear winded speeches and unclear
policies.policies.
Or try this:Or try this: The The committee committee
membersmembers unanimously decided to unanimously decided to
impeach the president because impeach the president because theythey
could no longer stand .could no longer stand . .. ..
The The committeecommittee unanimously unanimously
decided to impeach the decided to impeach the
president because president because itit could could
no longer stand his long-no longer stand his long-
winded speeches and unclear winded speeches and unclear
policies.policies.

38. Rule 6:Rule 6: CompaniesCompanies, , organizationsorganizations, and , and
schoolsschools are are singularsingular and thus require and thus require
singularsingular pronouns. pronouns.
One urban legend is that Tito’s Taco Palace
makes its burritos with kangaroo meat.
The Pencil Enthusiast Society uses the
donations it receives to insure all writing
instruments have sharp points.
Next year, Weaver College will try to solve its
parking woes by requiring students to buy a $75
parking decal.

39. 7.7.Nick loves Cluck-a-Buck, but Nick loves Cluck-a-Buck, but
they use so much MSG as they use so much MSG as
flavoring that he sneezes for an flavoring that he sneezes for an
hour after eating just a hour after eating just a
drumstick.drumstick.
Nick loves Nick loves Cluck-a-BuckCluck-a-Buck, but , but
it usesit uses so much MSG as so much MSG as
flavoring that he sneezes for flavoring that he sneezes for an an
hour after eating just a hour after eating just a
drumstick.drumstick.