Pronoun-antecedent agreement is a crucial aspect of writing that often gets overlooked. It is the match between the noun (or pronoun) and the pronoun replacing it. The agreement should be in both gender and number. For instance, if a singular noun is replaced by a pronoun, the pronoun must also be singular. Similarly, if the noun is masculine, the pronoun should also be masculine. In this article, we will provide examples of proper pronoun-antecedent agreement.
Example 1: John took his dog for a walk.
The pronoun “his” correctly refers back to the antecedent “John,” who is male.
Example 2: The students must hand in their assignments by the deadline.
In this case, “students” is the antecedent noun, and “their” is the correct pronoun to replace it, because it matches the noun`s plural form.
Example 3: The cat licked her paws.
The pronoun “her” correctly refers back to the antecedent “cat,” which is a feminine noun.
Example 4: The team won. They are celebrating their victory.
In this sentence, the antecedent changes from “team” to “they.” However, the pronoun “their” still agrees with the new plural subject.
Example 5: Every child must bring their own snacks.
This example is a tricky one because “child” is singular, but “their” is plural. However, this is considered acceptable in modern usage to avoid gender bias and is known as `the singular they.`
Example 6: The company wants to hire someone who has experience in their field.
In this sentence, the antecedent is “someone,” which is gender-neutral, meaning the pronoun “their” is appropriate to refer back to it.
In conclusion, proper pronoun-antecedent agreement is crucial for clear and effective communication in writing. It helps readers understand which noun or pronoun is being referred to and prevents confusion. By using these examples, writers can ensure that their writing is grammatically correct and professional.