1. Number:
* Singular antecedent: Use a singular pronoun.
* Plural antecedent: Use a plural pronoun.
Examples:
* Singular: *The dog wagged its tail.*
* Plural: *The dogs wagged their tails.*
2. Gender:
* Masculine antecedent: Use a masculine pronoun (he, him, his).
* Feminine antecedent: Use a feminine pronoun (she, her, hers).
* Neuter antecedent: Use a neuter pronoun (it, its).
* Common gender antecedent: Use "he or she" or "they" (depending on context).
Examples:
* Masculine: *The boy rode his bike.*
* Feminine: *The girl rode her bike.*
* Neuter: *The car was parked in its garage.*
* Common gender: *The teacher gave their students a quiz.* (Using "they" is increasingly common for common gender antecedents)
3. Person:
* First person: Use "I, me, my" (speaking about oneself).
* Second person: Use "you, your" (speaking to someone).
* Third person: Use "he, she, it, they, him, her, them, his, hers, theirs" (speaking about someone or something else).
Examples:
* First person: *I went to the store and bought my favorite snack.*
* Second person: *You should go to the park and take your dog for a walk.*
* Third person: *The dog chased its tail.*
Important Considerations:
* Indefinite pronouns: Some indefinite pronouns (like "everyone", "someone", "each") are singular and require singular pronouns.
* Collective nouns: Nouns that represent a group can be singular or plural depending on the context.
Example:
* *The team celebrated its victory.* (The team is acting as a unit.)
* *The team members celebrated their victories.* (The team members are acting individually.)
By following these rules, you can ensure that your pronoun usage is grammatically correct and your writing is clear and concise.