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Grammar Exercise Thirteen: Pronouns
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2. Pronoun agreement
Pronouns are words that substitute for nouns in sentences.

  • The company denies that it has paid women less than men for comparable work.
  • The job went to him , even though she was more qualified.

Pronouns have three forms, depending on how they function in a sentence:

  • Subjective (I, you, he/she/it, we, you, they)
  • Objective (me, you, him/her/it, us, you, them)
  • Possessive (mine, your, his/hers/its, our, your, their)

Pronouns must agree in number, person, and gender with their antecedents (the nouns or other pronouns they refer to). The most common errors are shifts in number and shifts in person.
The organization added basketball and hockey to their winter program.
The organization added basketball and hockey to its winter program.
When one wants to ski, you have to buy good equipment.
When one wants to ski, he or she has to buy good equipment.
The team played their best shortstop.
The team played its best shortstop.
The Police Department wants recruits. They need 1,500 applicants.
The Police Department wants recruits. It needs 1,500 applicants.
Everyone tried their best.
Everyone tried his or her best.

Wrap Up
Agreement between subjects and verbs, and between pronouns and their antecedents is critical in producing clear meaning.

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Mike Roemer


Choose One


Choose the correct sentence.

1
 
A)The team has added two players to their volleyball squad.
B)The team has added two players to its volleyball squad.
2
 
A)Everyone on the team does their best.
B)Everyone on the team does her best.
3
 
A)Each of the players knows their responsibilities.
B)Each of the players knows her responsibilities.
4
 
A)Neither Ellen nor Betty was pleased by their play.
B)Neither Ellen nor Betty was pleased by her play.
5
 
A)No one on the team liked their performance last year.
B)No one on the team liked her performance last year.







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