Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement
THE LAZY EDITOR: “Helping Hand”
February 2015
®
THE LANGUAGE ARTS MAGAZINE
Name: ___________________________________________________ Date: ________________________
Pronoun Power
A pronoun is a word that replaces a noun. The noun or noun phrase
to which the pronoun refers is the antecedent. Check out the following sentence:
George was racing down the street when he crashed and flew off his bicycle.
The pronouns he and his refer to George, so the antecedent is George.
A pronoun must agree with, or match, its antecedent in:
3 number (a singular pronoun replaces a singular noun; a plural pronoun replaces a plural noun)
3 person (referring to first, second, or third person)
3 gender (he, him, or his replaces a masculine noun; she, her, or hers replaces a feminine noun)
There are a few situations that can trip you up if you are not careful. Watch out for:
1. Indefinite pronouns (pronouns that refer to unknown people, places, or things) as antecedents
Each of these words is always replaced by
a singular pronoun:
each
either
neither
anyone
anybody
nothing
everyone
anything someone
everybody
no one
somebody
everything
nobody
something
Examples:
Each girl who danced wore a flower in her hair.
Everyone should proofread his or her work
before handing it in.
Each of these words is always replaced by
a plural pronoun:
both
few
many
several
Examples:
Many are still waiting for their lucky break.
Several promised me that they would be there.
2. Phrases that come after the antecedent. Don’t let them confuse you! Identify the antecedent and make
sure the pronoun agrees with it. For example:
A collection of paintings is on display at the museum. It will be there until June.
It refers to collection, and collection is singular.
The soccer team, made up of players from all over the state, won its final match.
Its refers to team, and team is singular.
An activity to test your pronoun power begins on the next page.
©2015 BY SCHOLASTIC INC. TEACHERS MAY PROJECT OR MAKE COPIES OF THIS PAGE TO DISTRIBUTE TO STUDENTS.
PAGE 1 OF 2
Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement
THE LAZY EDITOR: “Helping Hand”
February 2015
Directions: In each sentence or pair of sentences below, circle the antecedent to which the underlined
pronoun refers. We did the first one for you.
1. The tourists were silent when the tour guide asked if they wanted to walk through the old cemetery.
2. Marissa tried to keep up with the other runners, but she just didn’t have the energy.
3. Either my mom or my aunt will give me her car for the weekend.
4. I told my little sister that she had to put her toys away when she was done using them.
5. Phil and Jay went to see the movie Selma on Friday. They saw it at the theater on Green Road.
Directions: Put check marks next to the sentences that are grammatically correct.
6. ____ A. Nobody should leave without taking his or her art project home.
2. ____ B. Nobody should leave without taking their art project home.
7. ____ A. A noisy crowd has formed in front of the store. I hope it breaks up soon.
2. ____ B. A noisy crowd has formed in front of the store. I hope they break up soon.
8. ____ A. Both look delicious! I’m sure the Wilsons will enjoy them.
2. ____ B. Both look delicious! I’m sure the Wilsons will enjoy it.
Directions: Fill in the blanks with the correct pronouns.
Last month, Sophie and Shayna started an after-school business. ________ entertain at children’s
parties. Each girl gets to put ________ own special talent to use. Sophie does magic tricks, such as pulling a
coin out of ________ ear and making a rabbit disappear. ________ can also take an ordered deck of cards,
shuffle ________, and “magically” make every card go back to ________ place. Shayna paints faces and makes
balloon animals.
Both girls are having the time of ________ lives—despite some mishaps. At their first party, Sophie had to
entertain twenty 6-year-old boys, each dressed as ________ favorite superhero. Shayna had brought a carton
of face paints and left ________ on the table to use after the magic show. While Shayna was assisting Sophie
with a trick, a pint-size Batman got into the paints. The birthday boy’s cocker spaniel ended up as a shaggy
Robin! Shayna stayed after the party to scrub orange paint out of ________ fur.
Still, the girls are thrilled with ________ new enterprise—and with the extra cash in ________ pockets.
©2015 BY SCHOLASTIC INC. TEACHERS MAY PROJECT OR MAKE COPIES OF THIS PAGE TO DISTRIBUTE TO STUDENTS.
PAGE 2 OF 2