* Look for the noun closest to "they" in the sentence. Often, the antecedent will be the noun phrase immediately before "they."
* Consider the context of the sentence. The antecedent may be mentioned earlier in the text or paragraph.
* Pay attention to singular and plural. "They" is a plural pronoun, so its antecedent must also be plural.
Example:
* Sentence: The students were excited about the field trip. They packed their bags and waited eagerly for the bus.
* Antecedent: The students
Here's a common error:
* Incorrect: The dog wagged its tail. They were happy to see their owner.
* Correct: The dogs wagged their tails. They were happy to see their owner.
Let me know if you have a specific sentence in mind, and I can help you identify the antecedent!