Pronoun Antecedent Agreement

• Pronoun


  A word that refers to a noun or another pronoun
• Antecedent


  The word or words that a pronoun refers to
• In Latin, the word antecedent means "to go before"
• A pronoun refers to something previously mentioned in the sentence
• When the antecedent comes before the pronoun


  The pronoun refers to it
• When the antecedent comes after the pronoun


  The pronoun still refers to it
• A phrase or clause between the subject and verb does not change the number of the antecedent
• The pronoun must agree with the subject in number, not the object in a prepositional phrase
• Singular antecedents referred to by singular pronouns

  • Anybody
  • Anyone
  • Each
  • Either
  • Everybody
  • Everyone
  • Neither
  • Nobody
  • Somebody
  • Someone
• Singular antecedent


  • Each of the boys has his own savings account
• Everybody and everyone are singular pronouns, even though they seem plural
• Singular antecedent


  • Anyone can achieve his or her goals
• Singular antecedents joined by "or" or "nor" are referred to by a singular pronoun
• Singular antecedents joined by "or"


  • John nor Dave could find his jacket
• Singular antecedent


  • Jessica or Heather will play her violin during Chapel
• Collective nouns may take either a singular or plural pronoun depending on the meaning
• Collective noun with singular pronoun


  • The cast is having its picture taken
• Collective noun with plural pronoun


  • The cast quickly took their places on stage