Pronoun-Antecedent
Agreement
PRACTICE!
FIRST, IDENTIFY WHICH RULE YOU NEED
TO USE IN ORDER TO COME UP WITH THE
RIGHT ANSWER
2. NEXT, WRITE THE FULL SENTENCE USING
ONLY THE CORRECT PRONOUN
1.
5 points
Almost anybody who has worked with wood would say
that woodworking soothes (his or her, their) spirit.
THE “ALWAYS SINGULAR” RULE
“Anybody” is always singular
5 points
Each of the Hopi Indian fathers carved (his, their)
daughter a kachina doll from cottonwood root.
THE “ALWAYS SINGULAR” RULE
“Each” is always singular
5 points
Every one of the Iroquois carvers used basswood for
(his or her, their) healing ritual mask.
THE “ALWAYS SINGULAR” RULE
“Every” is always singular
5 points
One of the wooden masks from the Pacific Northwest
shows by (its, their) detail the customs of the tribe.
THE “ALWAYS SINGULAR” RULE
“One” is always singular
8 points
A reporter talked to Mrs. Bea Zwack after (her, their)
home was struck by a tornado.
AGREE IN GENDER & NUMBER
3 points
Jack Zwack spent most of (his, their) time cleaning up
the yard.
AGREE IN GENDER & NUMBER
5 points
Nick, Mack, and Patty Zwack are staying with (his or
her, their) neighbors for the time being.
THE “AND” RULE
5 points
The Zwacks now have a healthy respect for tornadoes
and (its, their) power.
AGREE IN NUMBER
The antecedent is “tornadoes,” and “tornadoes” is plural.
3 points
The reporter finally submitted (her, their) assignment
to the editor of the paper.
AGREE IN NUMBER
The antecedent is “the reporter,” which is singular,
so you must choose the singular pronoun option.
5 points
The newspaper featured tornadoes on (its, their) front
page.
AGREE IN NUMBER –OR – COLLECTIVE NOUNS
The antecedent is “the newspaper,” which is one thing (or one organization),
so you must choose the singular pronoun option.
3 points
Subscribers that read the story and saw the pictures
realize that (he or she, they) could have been the
victims of the storm.
AGREE IN NUMBER
The antecedent is “subscribers,” and “subscribers” is plural.
5 points
A mature person is responsible for (his or her, their)
actions.
AGREE IN NUMBER
The antecedent is “a mature person,” which is singular.
5 points
The detective told (his or her, their) chief that (he or
she, they) had caught the criminal.
AGREE IN NUMBER
The antecedent is “the detective,” which is singular.
3 points
Each of the Olympic champions proudly wore (his,
their) medal.
THE “ALWAYS SINGULAR” RULE
“Each” is always singular
8 points
Either the professional craftsmen or the amateur
woodworkers enjoyed working with (his or her,
their) hands.
THE “OR/NOR” RULE
The “either ____ or ____” construction follows the Or/Nor rule,
meaning the pronoun must agree with the noun closest to the verb. In
this case, you would choose a pronoun to agree with “woodworkers.”
5 points
Each of my sisters has tried (her, their) hand at
whittling.
THE “ALWAYS SINGULAR” RULE
“Each” is always singular
5 points
Neither cut (herself, themselves).
THE “ALWAYS SINGULAR” RULE
“Neither” is always singular
5 points
Everybody used to buy (his or her, their) tobacco at the
store with the carved wooden Native American in
front.
THE “ALWAYS SINGULAR” RULE
“Everybody” is always singular
5 points
Anybody who likes (his or her, their) home uncluttered
with detail would appreciate the simple wooden
furniture made by the Quakers.
THE “ALWAYS SINGULAR” RULE
“Anybody” is always singular
5 points
Everyone, including Queen Victoria, wished (he or she,
they) could own the fancy Victorian furniture
painstakingly carved by William Bartels.
THE “ALWAYS SINGULAR” RULE
“Everyone” is always singular