Here's a breakdown:
Number:
* Singular antecedent: Requires a singular pronoun.
* Example: "The dog wagged its tail."
* Plural antecedent: Requires a plural pronoun.
* Example: "The dogs wagged their tails."
Gender:
* Masculine antecedent: Requires a masculine pronoun (he, him, his).
* Example: "The man lost his keys."
* Feminine antecedent: Requires a feminine pronoun (she, her, hers).
* Example: "The woman found her purse."
* Neuter antecedent: Requires a neuter pronoun (it, its).
* Example: "The car lost its tire."
Person:
* First person: "I", "we", "me", "us"
* Second person: "you", "your", "yours"
* Third person: "he", "she", "it", "they", "them", "their", "his", "hers", "its", "theirs"
The pronoun and antecedent should be in the same person.
* Example: "I went to the store, and I bought some milk." (Both "I" are in first person)
Important Notes:
* Collective nouns: Often treated as singular, even if they represent a group.
* Example: "The team played its best game."
* Indefinite pronouns: Some are singular, some plural, and some can be either. Pay attention to the context!
* Example: "Everyone wants their own opinion to be heard."
* Pronoun ambiguity: Avoid unclear pronoun references. Make sure it's clear which antecedent a pronoun refers to.
* Example: "Sarah told her sister that she was going to the party." (Who is "she" referring to? Sarah or her sister?)
Understanding these rules helps ensure clear and grammatically correct writing.