PRONOUN-
ANTECEDENT RULES
PRONOUN-ANTECEDENT
AGREEMENT
A PRONOUN is a word used to stand for (or take the
place of) a noun.
Example:
Mother Earth delivered Mother Earth’s speech to
mankind. (antecedent)
Mother Earth delivered her speech to mankind.
(pronoun)
An ANTECEDENT is a word for which a pronoun stands.
(ante= “before”)
RULE: A singular pronoun must replace a singular noun;
a plural pronoun must replace a plural noun.
Mother Earth delivered her speech to mankind.
Singular Singular
feminine feminine
Here are nine pronoun-antecedent agreement rules.
1. A phrase or clause between the subject and verb
does not change the number of the antecedent.
Example:
An array of trees stands on its ground.
Singular Prepositional phrase singular
2. Indefinite pronouns as antecedents.
* Singular indefinite pronoun antecedents take singular
pronoun referents.
SINGULAR: each, either, neither, one, no one, nobody, nothing, anyone,
anybody, anything, someone, somebody something, everyone, everybody,
everything
Example: Each of the birds flies toward its nest.
Singular
2. Indefinite pronouns as antecedents.
* Plural indefinite pronoun antecedents require plural
referents.
PLURAL: several, few, both, many
Example:
Both flowers bend their stems towards the sun.
Plural Plural
2. Indefinite pronouns as antecedents.
* Some indefinite pronouns that are modified by a
prepositional phrase may be either singular or plural.
EITHER SINGULAR OR PLURAL: some, any, none, all,
most
When the object of the preposition is uncountable use a singular
referent pronoun
Example:
Some of the waves reached its top!
(Waves is uncountable, therefore the sentence has a singular referent pronoun.)
2. Indefinite pronouns as antecedents.
When the object of the preposition is countable use a plural referent
pronoun
Example:
Some of the animals were saved by their owners.
(Animals are countable, therefore the sentence has a plural referent pronoun.)
3. Compound subjects joined by and always take a
plural referent.
Example:
The lion and the tiger run for their lives as the hunters
chase them.
Plural Plural Plural
4. With compound subjects joined by or/nor, the
referent pronoun agrees with the antecedent closer to
the pronoun.
Example: (plural antecedent closer to pronoun)
Neither the dog nor the cats escaped their stalkers.
Singular Plural Plural
4. With compound subjects joined by or/nor, the
referent pronoun agrees with the antecedent closer to
the pronoun.
Example: (singular antecedent closer to pronoun)
Neither the cats nor the dog escaped its stalkers.
Plural Singular Singular
5. Collective Nouns (group, jury, crowd, team, etc.) may
be singular or plural, depending on meaning.
Example:
A flock of birds made its nest on the tallest tree.
Singular Singular
The troop members run toward their prey.
Plural Plural
6. Titles of single entities (books, organizations,
countries, etc.) take a singular referent.
Example:
The Gifts of Nature made its characters seem realistic.
Singular Singular
The Philippines is proud of its natural resources.
Singular Singular
7. Plural form subjects with a singular meaning take a
singular referent.
News, measles, mumps, physics
Example:
The news about the forest fires has lost its rage a few
days after.
Singular Singular
8. Every or Many a before a noun or a series of nouns
requires a singular referent.
Examples:
Every cow, pig, and horse has lost its life in the fire.
Singular Singular
Many a fish dreams to swim its trail along clear waters.
Singular Singular
9. The number of vs A number of before a subject.
The number of is singular.
Examples:
The number of conserved wildlife habitats increases its
number each year.
Singular Singular
9. The number of vs A number of before a subject.
A number of is plural.
Example:
A number of wild animals were saved from their
huntsmen.
Plural Plural
Write the most suitable pronoun on each blank and circle its antecedent.
Observe correct pronoun-antecedent rules.
Emily sits by her desk. 1. __________ studies for an
exam. Actually, 2. ________ forces 3._________ to
study for that exam, since 4.________ really wants to
do is go outside and play soccer! Her friend Kelly is by
her window 5._________ throws a little stone at it and
then calls, “Is there 6. _________ home?”
Write the most suitable pronoun on each blank and circle its antecedent.
Observe correct pronoun-antecedent rules.
Yes, 7._______ am here! Emily answers. 8._______ is so
9. ________ want to be outside with 10.______ and not
here with those boring booklets! 11.________ are you
doing with these boring booklets, 12.________ should
come out and play with 13._______! Kelly calls back.
Write the most suitable pronoun on each blank and circle its antecedent.
Observe correct pronoun-antecedent rules.
I can’t do 14._______, Emily says sadly. This exam of
15._______ is tomorrow, so now 16. ________ need to
study for 17. _________. She takes the stone that Kelly
threw in, and sends 18. _________ flying outside. Then
19._______ closes the window. 20._______ knows that
21. _______ else studied already, and now 22.
________ of them are playing outside.
Write the most suitable pronoun on each blank and circle its antecedent.
Observe correct pronoun-antecedent rules.
“Well”, she thinks to 23.______” 24.______ is my test,
and I 25.________ have to study for it. 26._______
know that Kelly wants to help 27._______, but not this
time. 28.______ can’t help 29. ________ takes another
look at her two booklets. 30. _______ tries to read a
page of the first booklet, and then a page of the book
31.______. 32.______ are boring.
Write the most suitable pronoun on each blank and circle its antecedent.
Observe correct pronoun-antecedent rules.
“33._______ of you are interesting!” she tells them
seriously. “What can 34._________ do? she thinks to
35.______. I really had enough!
