Grammar 8.1
Pronoun Agreement
Directions: For each of the sentences below, identify the pronoun and its antecedent. Some sentences may have more than one
pronoun.
Example: Native cultures have faced great threats to their survival.
Pronoun: their
Antecedent: Native cultures
1.
2.
3.
4.
For years, Native Americans were pushed to adopt a white, industrial way of life. They have had to fight to hold on to their
own cultural and spiritual traditions.
Rose Robinson was member of the Hopi tribe. She founded the Native American Journalists’ Association.
Robinson monitored and resisted nuclear-waste dumping in her tribal lands.
Self-determination is the right of a group to make decisions about its future. It is becoming a reality for Native American
nations.
Directions: Choose the pronoun in parentheses that agrees with the indefinite pronoun antecedent.
Example: Everyone likes to think that (he or she, they) is the best at something.
he or she
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
Everyone likes to think that (he or she, they) will leave a mark on the world.
We all want to create something, and we hope (it, they) will outlive us.
Some take an unusual approach; for (him or her, them), a time capsule is the answer.
Anyone who assembles a time capsule hopes that (he or she, they) can send a message to the future.
Each of the people who planned the time capsule at the New York World’s Fair in 1939 had (his or her, their) opinion about
what should go into it.
What did all of those experts finally agree upon? (He or she, They) put nineteen items in the time capsule.
Most of the items would be familiar to us today. (They, It) included an alarm clock, a safety pin, and a dollar bill.
However, none of the people knew at the time that (his or her, their) slide rules would become outdated in just a few decades.
One of California’s tar pits acts as a time capsule because (it, they) contains people’s throwaways.
Although time capsules often remain sealed for decades, few are meant to keep (their, its) treasures hidden for as long as the
Crypt of Civilization. Completed in 1940, it is meant to last until the year 8113!
Directions: Read each sentence carefully. A pronoun is missing from the blank. Choose a pronoun that agrees in number and gender
to the antecedent.
Example: Everyone likes to think that __________ is the best at something.
he or she
15. Earthlings could not live comfortably on Mars because __________ atmosphere is too dense with carbon dioxide.
16. Through __________ study of photographs taken by telescope, scientists have discovered craters on Mars.
17. Scientists put much research into the origin of the craters and think that __________ result from meteor landings on the
planet.
18. Astronomer Ken Croswell has studied Mars for years. __________ findings are in the book Magnificent Mars.
19. Anyone who is interested in the stars and planets should put that book on __________ wish list.
20. My older brother gave _________ this book for the holidays, and I cannot put it down.