{"id":4220,"date":"2013-06-27T21:19:00","date_gmt":"2013-06-27T21:19:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/?page_id=4220"},"modified":"2026-03-28T10:46:33","modified_gmt":"2026-03-28T15:46:33","slug":"pronoun-antecedent-agreement","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/pronoun-antecedent-agreement\/","title":{"rendered":"What is Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\t\t\t<div id=\"mmDeferVideoEncompass_7NXfI62tRdE\" style=\"position: relative;\">\n\t\t\t<picture>\n\t\t\t\t<source srcset=\"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/circle-play-duotone.webp\" type=\"image\/webp\">\n\t\t\t\t<source srcset=\"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/circle-play-duotone.png\" type=\"image\/jpeg\"> \n\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"eager\" id=\"videoThumbnailImage_7NXfI62tRdE\" data-source-videoID=\"7NXfI62tRdE\" src=\"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/circle-play-duotone.png\" alt=\"What is Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement? 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Welcome to this Mometrix video over pronoun-antecedent agreement.<\/p>\n<p>Let\u2019s first start by reviewing what a pronoun and antecedent are.<\/p>\n<h2><span id=\"What_is_a_Pronoun\" class=\"m-toc-anchor\"><\/span>What is a Pronoun?<\/h2>\n<p>\nA <a class=\"ylist\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/nouns-and-pronouns\/\">pronoun<\/a> is a word that is used in place of a noun to refer back to a noun.<\/p>\n<p>For example:<\/p>\n<div class=\"transcriptcallout\">Lucy performed her dance at the talent show.<\/div>\n<p>\n&nbsp;<br \/>\n<em>Her<\/em> is the pronoun referring back to the noun <em>Lucy<\/em>.<\/p>\n<h2><span id=\"What_is_an_Antecedent\" class=\"m-toc-anchor\"><\/span>What is an Antecedent?<\/h2>\n<p>\nAn antecedent is the noun that the pronoun is referring back to, or the noun that the pronoun is taking the place of. The prefix <em>ante-<\/em> means &#8220;before,&#8221; so the word <em>antecedent<\/em> just means that something is coming before something else.<\/p>\n<p>In our last example, <em>Lucy<\/em> is the antecedent that the pronoun <em>her<\/em> is referring back to.<\/p>\n<h2><span id=\"PronounAntecedent_Agreement\" class=\"m-toc-anchor\"><\/span>Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement<\/h2>\n<p>\nNow, the phrase pronoun-antecedent agreement refers, basically, to using the correct pronoun to take the place of the noun and the pronoun replacing the noun must agree with it in certain ways.<\/p>\n<p>The pronoun must agree with the antecedent in number, and in gender. But more specifically here is how that plays out:<\/p>\n<h3><span id=\"1_Only_a_Subject_Pronoun_Should_be_used_to_Replace_a_Subject_Noun\" class=\"m-toc-anchor\"><\/span>1. Only a Subject Pronoun Should be used to Replace a Subject Noun<\/h3>\n<p>A subject noun is the noun that does what the verb is saying it does.<\/p>\n<p>For example:<\/p>\n<div class=\"transcriptcallout\">Matthew ran in the 300 meter race.<\/div>\n<p>\n&nbsp;<br \/>\n<em>Matthew<\/em> is the noun that is doing the verb: he ran.<\/p>\n<p>Therefore, Matthew is a subject noun. And remember, to replace a subject noun, we must use a subject pronoun.<\/p>\n<p>There are two types of subject pronouns, singular subject pronouns and plural subject pronouns. In this case we have a singular subject noun, so we must use a singular subject pronoun. Singular subject pronouns include: I, you, he, she, and it. Now, in our example sentence, \u201cMatthew ran in the 300 meter race,\u201d \u201cMatthew\u201d is a person and not a thing, so we would not use the pronoun \u2018it.\u2019<\/p>\n<p>Remaining on the list, \u2018he\u2019 is the singular subject pronoun that makes the most sense. So, we could use the singular subject pronoun, \u2018he\u2019 to replace the singular subject noun Matthew, \u201cHe ran in the 300 meter race.\u201d<\/p>\n<h3><span id=\"2_Only_an_Object_Pronoun_Should_be_Used_to_Replace_an_Object_Noun\" class=\"m-toc-anchor\"><\/span>2. Only an Object Pronoun Should be Used to Replace an Object Noun<\/h3>\n<p>\nAn object noun is a noun that takes upon the action of the verb; so, the <a class=\"ylist\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/subject-verb-agreement\/\">verb<\/a> is acting on this noun.<\/p>\n<p>For example:<\/p>\n<div class=\"transcriptcallout\">The bus driver drove the kids to school every morning.<\/div>\n<p>\n&nbsp;<br \/>\n<em>Kids<\/em> is the noun that is taking upon the action <em>drove<\/em>. They are being driven, they are not driving; so, they are taking or receiving the action of the verb.<\/p>\n<p><em>Kids<\/em> is a plural object noun, so we need to use a plural object pronoun to replace it. Plural object pronouns include: <em>you<\/em>, <em>us<\/em>, and <em>them<\/em>. The plural object pronoun that makes the most sense in the context of this sentence is <em>them<\/em>. So, then when we replace the object noun <em>kids<\/em> as well as the article adjective <em>the<\/em> with <em>them<\/em>, we now have \u201cThe bus driver drove them to school every morning.\u201d<\/p>\n<h3><span id=\"3_Only_a_Feminine_Pronoun_Should_be_Used_in_Place_of_A_Feminine_Noun\" class=\"m-toc-anchor\"><\/span>3. Only a Feminine Pronoun Should be Used in Place of A Feminine Noun<\/h3>\n<p>\nFor example:<\/p>\n<div class=\"transcriptcallout\">Felicity went to the mall with her friend.<\/div>\n<p>\n&nbsp;<br \/>\n<em>Felicity<\/em> is the feminine singular noun, so it needs to be replaced with a feminine singular pronoun. So, \u201cShe went to the mall with her friend.\u201d<\/p>\n<h3><span id=\"4_Only_a_Masculine_Pronoun_Should_be_Used_in_Place_of_A_Masculine_Noun\" class=\"m-toc-anchor\"><\/span>4. Only a Masculine Pronoun Should be Used in Place of A Masculine Noun<\/h3>\n<p>\nFor example, let\u2019s look back at the sentence we used in our first point: \u201cMatthew ran in the 300 meter race.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>We\u2019ve already looked at this one, and replaced it with the correct pronoun. We replaced the singular masculine subject noun with the singular masculine subject pronoun <em>he<\/em>. This is important, because <em>Matthew<\/em>, at least in this case, is referring to a male, so we need to use the correct pronoun.<\/p>\n<h3><span id=\"5_Only_a_Singular_Pronoun_Should_be_Used_in_Place_of_A_Singular_Noun\" class=\"m-toc-anchor\"><\/span>5. Only a Singular Pronoun Should be Used in Place of A Singular Noun<\/h3>\n<p>We\u2019ve already looked at a couple examples of this, but here is another:<\/p>\n<div class=\"transcriptcallout\">The car could go up to two hundred miles per hour.<\/div>\n<p>\n&nbsp;<br \/>\n<em>Car<\/em> is a singular noun, so it needs to be replaced with the singular pronoun <em>it<\/em>.<\/p>\n<h3><span id=\"6_Only_a_Plural_Pronoun_Should_be_Used_in_Place_of_A_Plural_Noun\" class=\"m-toc-anchor\"><\/span>6. Only a Plural Pronoun Should be Used in Place of A Plural Noun<\/h3>\n<p>For example:<\/p>\n<div class=\"transcriptcallout\">Children can bring so much laughter to everyone around them.<\/div>\n<p>\n&nbsp;<br \/>\n<em>Children<\/em> is the plural noun, so it needs to be replaced with the plural pronoun <em>they<\/em>.<\/p>\n<div class=\"transcriptcallout\">They can bring so much laughter to everyone around them.<\/div>\n<p>\n&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><span id=\"PronounAntecedent_Agreement_Examples\" class=\"m-toc-anchor\"><\/span>Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement Examples<\/h2>\n<h3><span id=\"Example_1\" class=\"m-toc-anchor\"><\/span>Example #1<\/h3>\n<p>\nThe following words are always singular indefinite pronouns:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Anyone<\/li>\n<li>Anybody<\/li>\n<li>Someone<\/li>\n<li>Somebody<\/li>\n<li>Something<\/li>\n<li>Each<\/li>\n<li>Either<\/li>\n<li>Neither<\/li>\n<li>Everyone<\/li>\n<li>Everybody<\/li>\n<li>Everything<\/li>\n<li>No one<\/li>\n<li>Nobody<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>An example of this in a sentence would b<\/p>\n<div class=\"transcriptcallout\">Anyone is welcome to play as long as he or she follows the rules.<\/div>\n<p>\n&nbsp;<br \/>\nNow, notice that it would be incorrect to use the pronoun <em>they<\/em> to refer back to anyone, because <em>they<\/em> is a plural pronoun, and remember only singular pronouns can refer back to singular nouns. That is why &#8220;he or she&#8221; is used to refer back to the singular indefinite pronoun <em>anyone<\/em>.<\/p>\n<h3><span id=\"Example_2\" class=\"m-toc-anchor\"><\/span>Example #2<\/h3>\n<p>\nThe words <em>several<\/em>, <em>both<\/em>, <em>few<\/em>, and <em>many<\/em> are always plural indefinite pronouns. If one of these plural indefinite pronouns is an antecedent, then you must use a plural pronoun to refer back to it.<\/p>\n<p>Here is an example:<\/p>\n<div class=\"transcriptcallout\">Only a few really understand what their purpose is.<\/div>\n<p>\n&nbsp;<br \/>\n<em>Few<\/em> is the plural indefinite pronoun antecedent, and <em>their<\/em> is the plural pronoun referring back to the antecedent.<\/p>\n<h3><span id=\"Example_3\" class=\"m-toc-anchor\"><\/span>Example #3<\/h3>\n<p>\nAnytime you have a compound subject or compound antecedent that is linked by and, then you use a plural referent. A referent is just the pronoun referring to the antecedent.<\/p>\n<p>For example:<\/p>\n<div class=\"transcriptcallout\">Madison and Lindsay did their chores.<\/div>\n<p>\n&nbsp;<br \/>\nThe noun <em>Madison<\/em> is singular by itself, and the noun <em>Lindsay<\/em>, by itself, is singular; but, because <em>Madison<\/em> and <em>Lindsay<\/em> are joined by <em>and<\/em>, it is a compound subject and therefore plural. <\/p>\n<p>So that is why the plural referent <em>their<\/em> is used.<\/p>\n<h3><span id=\"Example_4\" class=\"m-toc-anchor\"><\/span>Example #4<\/h3>\n<p>\nAnytime you have a compound subject that is linked by <em>or<\/em> or <em>nor<\/em>, then the referent pronoun should always agree with the antecedent that is closest in proximity to the pronoun.<\/p>\n<p>That may sound confusing at first, but let\u2019s look at some examples of what this means:<\/p>\n<div class=\"transcriptcallout\">Neither the coach nor the players did their best.<\/div>\n<p>\n&nbsp;<br \/>\nSince <em>players<\/em> is closest to the referent, the referent should be plural, because <em>players<\/em> is plural.<\/p>\n<h3><span id=\"Example_5\" class=\"m-toc-anchor\"><\/span>Example #5<\/h3>\n<p>\nLook at this example:<\/p>\n<div class=\"transcriptcallout\">Neither the players nor the coach did his or her job.<\/div>\n<p>\n&nbsp;<br \/>\n<em>Coach<\/em> is closest to the referent, so the referent should be singular, because <em>coach<\/em> is singular.<\/p>\n<h3><span id=\"Example_6\" class=\"m-toc-anchor\"><\/span>Example #6<\/h3>\n<p>\nBe aware of the meaning of a collective noun, it may be singular or plural. Collective nouns include words like <em>team<\/em>, <em>crowd<\/em>, <em>group<\/em>, <em>choir<\/em>, <em>flock<\/em>, <em>jury<\/em>, <em>committee<\/em>, and so on.<\/p>\n<p>Let\u2019s look at an example of one of these nouns being used as both singular and plural:<\/p>\n<div class=\"transcriptcallout\">Mrs. Johnson\u2019s class takes its final exam today.<\/div>\n<p>\n&nbsp;<br \/>\n<em>Class<\/em> in this sentence is singular, so the singular pronoun <em>its<\/em> is the referent.<\/p>\n<h3><span id=\"Example_7\" class=\"m-toc-anchor\"><\/span>Example #7<\/h3>\n<p>\nNow, look at this example:<\/p>\n<div class=\"transcriptcallout\">Upon completing an exam, the class starts on their next assignment.<\/div>\n<p>\n&nbsp;<br \/>\nIn this example, <em>class<\/em> is a plural collective noun, so <em>their<\/em> is the plural pronoun used to refer back to it.<\/p>\n<h3><span id=\"Example_8\" class=\"m-toc-anchor\"><\/span>Example #8<\/h3>\n<p>\nTitles of a single entity should have a singular pronoun referent. Titles of a single entity might include things like books, countries, an organization, and so on.<\/p>\n<p>For example:<\/p>\n<div class=\"transcriptcallout\"><em>The Silence of the Lambs<\/em> left its readers stunned.<\/div>\n<p>\n&nbsp;<br \/>\n<em>The Silence of the Lambs<\/em> is singular therefore we use the singular possessive noun <em>its<\/em> as its referent.<\/p>\n<h3><span id=\"Example_9\" class=\"m-toc-anchor\"><\/span>Example #9<\/h3>\n<p>\nAnother example might be:<\/p>\n<div class=\"transcriptcallout\">The United States just had its 241st year celebration of independence.<\/div>\n<p>\n&nbsp;<br \/>\n<em>The United States<\/em> is singular so the singular possessive pronoun <em>its<\/em> is used to refer back to it.<\/p>\n<h3><span id=\"Example_10\" class=\"m-toc-anchor\"><\/span>Example #10<\/h3>\n<p>\nIf the word <em>every<\/em> or <em>many a<\/em> comes right before a noun, or even a sequence of nouns then it takes a singular referent.<\/p>\n<p>For example:<\/p>\n<div class=\"transcriptcallout\">Every dog has its day.<\/div>\n<p>\n&nbsp;<br \/>\nIt may be counterintuitive to think of <em>every<\/em> as being singular, but such is the case.<\/p>\n<h3><span id=\"Example_11\" class=\"m-toc-anchor\"><\/span>Example #11<\/h3>\n<p>\nWhen the phrase &#8220;a number of&#8221; comes before a noun, then it is plural and should be followed by a plural referent. When the phrase \u201cthe number of\u201d comes before a noun, then it is singular and should be followed by a singular referent.<\/p>\n<p>Here are some examples:<\/p>\n<div class=\"transcriptcallout\">A number of people offered their assistance after the hurricane.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 0em;\">The number of geese flew its way south for the winter.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>\n&nbsp;<br \/>\n\u201cA number of\u201d is plural so it takes on the plural referent <em>their<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe number of\u201d is singular, and therefore takes on a singular referent <em>its.<\/em><\/p>\n<h3><span id=\"Example_12\" class=\"m-toc-anchor\"><\/span>Example #12<\/h3>\n<p>\nIf there is a clause or a phrase in between the subject and the verb, then it does not alter the number of the antecedent. This sounds more confusing than it is.<\/p>\n<p>Let\u2019s take a look:<\/p>\n<div class=\"transcriptcallout\">The teddy bear with big eyes sits in its chair.<\/div>\n<p>\n&nbsp;<br \/>\nEven though the clause that is in between the subject <em>teddy bear<\/em> and the verb <em>sits<\/em> is plural, it does not alter the fact that <em>teddy bear<\/em> is singular, so its referent needs to be singular.<\/p>\n<hr>\n<p>\nThat was a lot of information at once, if you need to, be sure and look back for review.<\/p>\n<p>I hope that this video over pronoun-antecedent agreement was more helpful than overwhelming.<\/p>\n<p>See you guys next time!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"home-buttons\">\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/writing\/\">Return to Writing Videos<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Return to Writing Videos<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":183260,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":{"0":"post-4220","1":"page","2":"type-page","3":"status-publish","4":"has-post-thumbnail","6":"page_category-video-pages-for-study-course-sidebar-ad","7":"page_category-writing-videos","8":"page_type-video","9":"subject_matter-english"},"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/4220","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4220"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/4220\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":280577,"href":"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/4220\/revisions\/280577"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/183260"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4220"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}