Pronoun agreement

How to ensure that pronouns agree with their antecedents in gender, number, and person.

Pronoun agreement is the concept of ensuring that the pronoun used in a sentence agrees with its antecedent in gender, number, and person. The antecedent refers to the noun or pronoun that the pronoun is referring to or replacing. Pronoun agreement is essential in writing and speaking because it helps to clarify the meaning of the sentence and avoid confusion or ambiguity.

Here are some guidelines to ensure pronoun agreement:

1. Gender Agreement: In English, pronouns can be masculine, feminine, or neuter. The pronoun used should match the gender of the antecedent. For example, “He went to the store” is correct if the antecedent is male, while “She went to the store” is correct if the antecedent is female.
2. Number Agreement: Pronouns should agree in number with their antecedents. If the antecedent is singular, the pronoun should be singular, and if the antecedent is plural, the pronoun should be plural. For example, “The cat is hungry, and it wants to eat” is correct because the antecedent is singular, while “The cats are hungry, and they want to eat” is correct because the antecedent is plural.
3. Person Agreement: Pronouns should agree in person with their antecedents. If the antecedent is in the first person, the pronoun should be in the first person, and if the antecedent is in the second person, the pronoun should be in the second person. For example, “I like to run, and I do it every morning” is correct because the antecedent is in the first person.

Some common errors in pronoun agreement include using the wrong pronoun or using a pronoun that does not agree with the antecedent. For example, “The team won their game, and he was happy” is incorrect because the pronoun “their” does not agree with the singular antecedent “team.” A correct sentence would be “The team won its game, and he was happy.”

In conclusion, proper pronoun agreement is essential in communication to ensure clarity and avoid confusion. By following these guidelines, writers and speakers can ensure that their pronouns agree with their antecedents in gender, number, and person.