Pronoun-antecedent agreement is a key aspect of grammar that often goes unnoticed by many people. However, it is crucial in ensuring that sentences make sense and are grammatically correct. In this article, we will explore which of the following is true about pronoun-antecedent agreement.
Firstly, let`s define what a pronoun is. A pronoun is a word used in place of a noun to avoid repetition. An antecedent, on the other hand, is the noun that the pronoun refers to. For example, in the sentence “John went to the store, and he bought some groceries,” “he” is the pronoun, and “John” is the antecedent.
Now that we have a basic understanding of what pronouns and antecedents are, let`s delve into the true statements about pronoun-antecedent agreement.
1. A pronoun must agree with its antecedent in gender.
This means that if the antecedent is a male, the pronoun used must also be masculine, and vice versa. For example, in the sentence “Mark finished his homework,” “his” is used as the pronoun to refer to the masculine antecedent “Mark.”
2. A pronoun must agree with its antecedent in number.
This means that if the antecedent is singular, the pronoun used must also be singular, and if the antecedent is plural, the pronoun used must also be plural. For example, in the sentence “My cat loves to play with her toys,” “her” is used as the pronoun to refer to the singular antecedent “cat.”
3. The pronoun must agree with the antecedent in person.
This means that if the antecedent is in the 1st person, the pronoun used must also be in the 1st person, if the antecedent is in the 2nd person, the pronoun used must be in the 2nd person, and if the antecedent is in the 3rd person, the pronoun used must be in the 3rd person. For example, in the sentence “I went to the store, and she went to the park,” “I” is the 1st person antecedent, and “she” is the 3rd person pronoun.
In conclusion, it is essential to remember that pronoun-antecedent agreement is a crucial aspect of grammar that is often overlooked. A pronoun must agree with its antecedent in gender, number, and person to ensure that sentences are grammatically correct and make sense. By following these rules, writers can ensure that their writing is clear and concise while avoiding any grammatical errors.