Pronoun Agreement and examples

Pronoun agreement refers to the grammatical matching of pronouns with their antecedents in terms of number, gender, and person. It ensures that pronouns properly correspond with the nouns they replace or refer to in a sentence, thus enhancing clarity and coherence in communication.

Number Agreement:

• Singular pronouns: (e.g., he, she, it) should match with singular antecedents (e.g., dog, book, chair).
  Example: The cat (singular) chased its (singular) tail.
• Plural pronouns: (e.g., they, we, you) should be used with plural antecedents (e.g., dogs, books, chairs).
  Example: The children (plural) played with their (plural) toys.

Gender Agreement:

• Gender-neutral pronouns: (e.g., they, them, their) are appropriate when the gender of the antecedent is unknown or when referring to a group of people.
  Example: Jordan (gender-neutral) said they (gender-neutral) would come later.
• Gender-specific pronouns: (e.g., he, she, his, hers) should be used when the gender of the antecedent is known.
  Example: Jessica (female) said she (female) would attend the meeting.

Person Agreement:

• First-person pronouns: (e.g., I, we) refer to the speaker(s).
  Example: We (first-person) are excited for the event.
• Second-person pronouns: (e.g., you) refer to the person(s) being addressed.
  Example: You (second-person) are doing great!
• Third-person pronouns: (e.g., he, she, they) refer to someone or something being spoken about.
  Example: He (third-person) helped her (third-person) with the task.

Examples of Pronoun Agreement:

• The teachers (plural) prepared their (plural) lessons for the week.
• The dog (singular) waited for its (singular) owner.

Examples of Pronoun Disagreement:

• The teacher (singular) asked if their (plural) students were ready. (disagreement in number)
• The boy (singular) took their (plural) books home. (disagreement in number and gender)

Maintaining proper pronoun agreement is crucial for clear communication and grammatical accuracy in both writing and speaking. By considering the number, gender, and person of the antecedent, you can ensure that your sentences are easy to follow and convey the intended meaning effectively.