Pronoun agreement is an essential aspect of grammar that must be observed to make your sentences well-constructed, polished, and professional. In simple terms, it refers to the correlation between the pronoun (he, she, we, they) and its antecedent (the noun that the pronoun represents) in a sentence.
The agreement stands between the gender and number of the pronoun and the antecedent. For instance, if the antecedent is singular and male, the pronoun that coincides with it should also be singular and male. Similarly, if the antecedent is plural and feminine, the pronoun that represents it should also be plural and feminine.
Pronoun agreement can be complex, and it involves several rules that should be understood and adhered to. Here are some examples to explain the concept further:
1. Singular antecedent requires a singular pronoun
In this rule, a singular antecedent requires a singular pronoun. For instance:
The boy lost his book.
In this sentence, „the boy“ is singular, and the pronoun „his“ represents the noun. The pronoun „his“ is singular and male, which corresponds to the antecedent „the boy.“
2. Plural antecedent requires a plural pronoun
A plural antecedent requires a plural pronoun to correspond to it. For example:
The girls lost their books.
In this sentence, „the girls“ is plural, and the pronoun „their“ signifies the plural noun „books.“ The pronoun „their“ is plural and feminine, matching the antecedent „the girls.“
3. Gender agreement
In this rule, the pronoun should correspond to its antecedent in gender. For example:
The doctor prescribed his medication.
In this sentence, „doctor“ is a male noun, and the pronoun „his“ signifies the doctor`s gender.
4. Indefinite pronouns
Indefinite pronouns are pronouns that signify the unspecified noun. In this case, the pronoun should match the gender of the noun it represents. For example:
Someone left their umbrella.
In this sentence, „someone“ is an unspecified noun, but the pronoun „their“ represents a plural and undetermined gender.
5. Compound antecedents
Compound antecedents refer to two or more nouns linked by a conjunction. In this case, the pronoun should match the noun closest to it. For example:
John and his brother lost their wallets.
In this sentence, „John and his brother“ are the compound antecedents, and the pronoun „their“ matches the closest noun, „brother.“
In conclusion, pronoun agreement is crucial in ensuring that our sentences are grammatically correct, coherent, and professional. Understanding and adhering to the rules of pronoun agreement would go a long way in making your writing error-free and easy to read.