How Can You Make this Simpler?
The boys were excited about the boys’ first day
at camp. The boys got lost and wandered
around the huge lake. The boys asked a
fisherman to help the boys find the boys’ way
back to the main building.
Grammar Mini Lesson
Pronoun Uses and Agreement
By: Meghan, Jill, Kim and Rachel
What is a Pronoun?
A pronoun is a word used in place of a noun or
more than one noun
The word that a pronoun stands for is called its
antecedent.
When Cindy Davis came to the bus stop, she was
wearing a raincoat.
My aunt sold her car.
Pronoun Pointers
• A pronoun must agree in number —
singular/plural — with the thing to which it
refers (its antecedent).
Bill took his hat
(Bill=singular antecedent) + (his= singular pronoun)
The girls read their book.
(girls = plural) + (their= plural pronoun)
Pronoun Pointers
• The indefinite pronouns:
anyone, anybody, everyone, everybody,
someone, somebody, no one, and nobody
are always
singular.
This is sometimes confusing
because some feel that everyone
and everybody are referring to
more than one person.
Compound Subjects
When there are multiple subjects joined by
“or” or “nor” the pronoun must agree with
the closest subject
Neither the actor nor the director did his or her job.
(director = singular subject)
Neither the girl nor the boys would clean their hands.
(boys = plural subject)
Plural Indefinite Pronouns
Several, few, both and many are plural
Several of the children played with their toys.
Gender Agreement
The need for pronoun-antecedent agreement
can create gender problems
• If one were to write, for instance, "A student must
see his counselor before the end of the semester,"
when there are female students this would be an
issue.
• One can instead pluralize, in this situation, to avoid
the problem:
-“Students must see their counselor before the end
of the semester.” -“A student must see his or her
counselor.”
Whom or Who????
One of the most frequently asked questions
about grammar is about choosing between
the various forms of the pronoun who: who,
whose, whom, whoever, whomever.
To choose correctly among the forms of who,
re-phrase the sentence so you choose
between he and him. If you want him, write
whom; if you want he, write who
• Who do you think is responsible? (Do you think
he is responsible?)
• Whom shall we ask to the party? (Shall we ask
him to the party?)
• Give the box to whomever you please. (Give the
box to him.)
• Give the box to whoever seems to want it most.
(He seems to want it most.)
Subject or Object
Are you looking for the subject?
Or are you looking for the object
of a verb or preposition?
The subject is the doer of
the action – use these
pronouns if it is
subjective:
The object is the receiver
of the action – use these
pronouns if it is objective:
I you she he
it we
they who
Him them
you me
her us it
References
• http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/
pronouns.htm
• http://www.towson.edu/ows/pro_antagree.
htm
Let’s Practice!!
The dogs tugged on
_______ leashes.
1. its
2. their
Answer: their
Everyone should bring
_____ mother to the
picnic.
1. their
2. his or her
Answer: his or her
This is a matter for you
and ___ to decide.
1. I
2. me
Answer: me
_____ and ___ are
going on a long trip.
1. she--I
2. her--me
Answer: she--I
Linda gave _____ a
pumpkin from her
garden.
1. he
2. him
Answer: him
Saul’s brother left the
matter up to ___ and
____.
1. him--me
2. him---I
Answer: him---me
Did you see Derek and
____ at the game?
1. her
2. she
Answer: her
The cost of the movie
shocked both my
brother and ____.
1. I
2. me
Answer: me
_______ is bringing the
holiday turkey?
1. who
2. whom
Answer: who
To _____ is the
envelope addressed?
1. who
2. whom
Answer: whom