How do pronouns and antecedents agree?

Pronoun-antecedent agreement is a fundamental concept in grammar, ensuring clear and logical communication. It means that the pronoun used in a sentence must match the noun (antecedent) it refers to in terms of number (singular/plural), gender (masculine/feminine/neuter), and person (first, second, third). Here's a breakdown:

1. Number Agreement:

* Singular Antecedent: If the noun is singular, the pronoun must also be singular.

* Example: "The student raised his hand."

* Plural Antecedent: If the noun is plural, the pronoun must also be plural.

* Example: "The students raised their hands."

2. Gender Agreement:

* Masculine Antecedent: Use a masculine pronoun for a male antecedent.

* Example: "The boy finished his homework."

* Feminine Antecedent: Use a feminine pronoun for a female antecedent.

* Example: "The girl finished her homework."

* Neuter Antecedent: Use a neuter pronoun for an inanimate object or something with no gender.

* Example: "The tree shed its leaves."

3. Person Agreement:

* First Person: Use "I," "we," "me," and "us" for yourself and the people you are talking to.

* Example: "I am going to the store."

* Second Person: Use "you" for the person you are talking to.

* Example: "You are going to the store."

* Third Person: Use "he," "she," "it," "they," "him," "her," "them," for the people or things you are talking about.

* Example: "They are going to the store."

Common Mistakes and Tips:

* Collective Nouns: Be careful with collective nouns like "team," "committee," or "family." They can be singular or plural depending on the context.

* Example: "The team played its best." (Singular)

* Example: "The team were celebrating their victory." (Plural)

* Indefinite Pronouns: Indefinite pronouns like "everyone," "someone," "anybody," and "each" are usually singular.

* Example: "Everyone should bring their own lunch."

* Ambiguous Pronouns: Avoid ambiguous pronoun reference. Make sure the pronoun's antecedent is clear.

* Example: "The dog chased the cat, and it ran away." (It could refer to either the dog or the cat)

Example:

"Sarah loves her dog. He is always happy to see her."

* Antecedents: Sarah, her dog

* Pronouns: her, He, her

In this example, the pronouns agree with their antecedents in number (singular), gender (feminine for Sarah, masculine for the dog), and person (third person).

By understanding and applying pronoun-antecedent agreement, you can write clear, concise, and error-free sentences.