This Power Point gives examples of how to use pronouns in sentences. The main focus is pronoun number and person. It also gives examples of ambiguous/vague antecedents, collective nouns, and indefinite pronouns.

1. Ms. Bunn
Ms. Cummings
Ms. Beardsley
PRONOUN AGREEMENT
Number, Person, & Special Situations

2. “Is it just me, or am I the only one who needs their fan on when they
sleep?”
Possible Solution:
Is it just me, or am I the only girl who needs a fan on when she sleeps?
“One might need a fan on when they sleep, but you shouldn’t have it on
every night.”
Possible Solution:
One might need a fan on when he or she sleeps, but one shouldn’t
have it on every night.
“Why are we talking about fans when you should be focusing on the
lesson?”
Possible Solution:
Why are we talking about fans when we should be focusing on the
lesson?

3. HOW DO WE AVOID THEM?
The pronoun must agree with its antecedent in number
and gender
singular + female singular + female
antecedent pronoun
The word for which a
pronoun stands
(ante = “before”)
Britney Spears shaved her head in 2007.
plural
antecedent plural pronoun
Celebrities that go crazy shave their heads.
singular antecedent singular pronoun
The rehab facility is largely funded by its crazy celebrity inhabitants.

4. AMBIGUOUS ANTECEDENTS
 When the antecedent could refer to more than
one pronoun in the sentence
Tracy told the student that she was working too hard.
Tracy or the student?
 In the case of an ambiguous antecedent, it may
be best not to use the pronoun.
Possible Solutions:
Tracy told Karen that Karen was working too hard.
Tracy told the student that the student was working too hard.

5. AMBIGUOUS ANTECEDENTS
What is “it” referring to?

6. VAGUE PRONOUNS
 Every pronoun should have an easily identifiable
noun as its antecedent
I don’t think they should show violence on TV.
Possible solutions?

7. COLLECTIVE NOUNS & THEIR ANTECEDENTS
 A collective noun is a word used to describe a
group of objects
team herd faculty
family class audience cast
 Collective nouns can be singular or plural
depending on:
- context
- if they indicate one unit or several units
Tracy’s class was told to separate into their groups.
The news of Whitney Houston’s death has lost much of its hype.

8. INDEFINITE PRONOUNS
SINGULAR
each, either, neither, no
one, nobody, nothing, anyone, anybody, anything, so
meone, somebody, something, everyone, everything
Neither of the Western students passed his or her exam.
PLURAL
several, few, both, many
Many enjoy wearing their UGG boots on campus in the winter.

9. INDEFINITE PRONOUNS
SINGULAR or PLURAL
some, any, none, all, most
• When the object of the preposition is uncountable, use a
singular referent pronoun.
Some of the milk leaked out of its carton.
• When the object of the preposition is countable, use a plural
referent pronoun.
None of the students knew what they were doing at the Wayside.

10. http://www.idontwannagrowup.com/869/bab
y-pictures/funny-cute-cheerios-baby/
“That baby looks so adorable in its costume!”
Is this sentence correct?

11. OTHER THINGS TO KEEP IN MIND
 “One” substitutes “you” in formal essays
 Avoid using “one” too frequently, as it can become
redundant
 Evenly disperse the use of feminine & masculine
pronouns