Pronoun-antecedent agreement is an important aspect of writing that often goes unnoticed. It refers to the agreement between a pronoun and the noun it is referring to, known as the antecedent. In other words, the pronoun must match the antecedent in number, gender, and person.
In this article, we will be discussing which shows pronoun-antecedent agreement. Here are some examples:
1. Singular antecedents: When the antecedent is singular, the pronoun that follows must be singular as well. For instance, “The dog wagged its tail” is a correct sentence because the singular antecedent “dog” is matched with the singular pronoun “its.”
2. Plural antecedents: When the antecedent is plural, the pronoun that follows must be plural as well. For example, “The girls giggled as they walked” is a correct sentence because the plural antecedent “girls” is matched with the plural pronoun “they.”
3. Gender-neutral pronouns: Gender-neutral pronouns are used when the gender of the antecedent is unknown or when the writer wants to avoid using gender-specific pronouns. Examples of gender-neutral pronouns include “they,” “them,” and “their.” For instance, “The person left their phone at home” is a correct sentence because the gender-neutral pronoun “their” is used instead of “his” or “her.”
4. Indefinite pronouns: Indefinite pronouns are used when the antecedent is vague or unknown. Examples of indefinite pronouns include “everyone,” “somebody,” and “anyone.” For instance, “Everybody must bring their own lunch” is a correct sentence because the indefinite pronoun “everybody” is matched with the gender-neutral pronoun “their.”
5. Collective nouns: Collective nouns refer to groups of people or things. Examples of collective nouns include “team,” “family,” and “audience.” When using collective nouns, the writer must decide whether to treat them as singular or plural. For instance, “The team is celebrating its victory” is a correct sentence because the collective noun “team” is treated as singular, so the singular pronoun “its” is used.
In conclusion, pronoun-antecedent agreement is an essential aspect of writing that ensures clarity and coherence in sentence structure. By following the examples provided in this article, writers can ensure that their sentences show proper pronoun-antecedent agreement.