Pronoun antecedent agreement can be a tricky concept to master, but it is essential for clear and effective writing. An antecedent is a noun or pronoun that a pronoun refers to, and pronoun antecedent agreement means that the pronoun and its antecedent must agree in number and gender. In other words, a singular pronoun must refer to a singular antecedent, and a plural pronoun must refer to a plural antecedent.
To help you practice pronoun antecedent agreement, we have provided some exercises with answers.
Exercise 1:
Choose the correct pronoun in each sentence.
1. The dog wagged ___ tail happily.
a) its
b) their
c) his
Answer: a) its
2. The students handed in ___ papers on time.
a) their
b) its
c) her
Answer: a) their
3. The book was missing from ___ shelf.
a) its
b) their
c) his
Answer: a) its
4. The girls tried on ___ new dresses in the store.
a) their
b) its
c) his
Answer: a) their
5. The teacher gave ___ students a difficult assignment.
a) her
b) their
c) its
Answer: b) their
Exercise 2:
Rewrite the following sentences, correcting any errors in pronoun antecedent agreement.
1. The team played their best, but they still lost.
Answer: The team played its best, but it still lost.
2. My sister and me went to the store.
Answer: My sister and I went to the store.
3. Each of the children picked out their favorite candy.
Answer: Each of the children picked out his or her favorite candy.
4. The employees were excited about their new benefits package.
Answer: The employees were excited about its new benefits package.
5. Neither the students nor the teacher brought their books.
Answer: Neither the students nor the teacher brought his or her books.
By practicing these exercises, you can improve your understanding of pronoun antecedent agreement and avoid common errors in your writing. Remember to always pay attention to the number and gender of your pronouns and their antecedents to ensure clear and effective communication.