Which Of The Following Sentences Has Correct Pronoun-antecedent Agreement

Which of the Following Sentences Has Correct Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement? A Deep Dive into Grammatical Precision

Pronoun-antecedent agreement is a cornerstone of grammatical correctness, ensuring clarity and precision in writing. A pronoun must agree in number (singular or plural) and gender (masculine, feminine, or neuter) with its antecedent, the word or phrase to which it refers. Mastering this concept elevates writing from simply understandable to polished and professional. This article will delve deep into pronoun-antecedent agreement, offering practical examples and addressing common pitfalls. We will explore various scenarios, including complex sentences and ambiguous antecedents, to solidify your understanding.

Understanding Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement: The Basics

Before examining specific sentences, let's establish the fundamental principles of pronoun-antecedent agreement. The core rule is straightforward: a singular antecedent requires a singular pronoun, and a plural antecedent requires a plural pronoun.

Examples:

• Correct: The dog wagged its tail. (Singular antecedent "dog," singular pronoun "its")
• Incorrect: The dogs wagged its tail. (Plural antecedent "dogs," singular pronoun "its")
• Correct: The dogs wagged their tails. (Plural antecedent "dogs," plural pronoun "their")

Navigating Gender Agreement

Gender agreement is another crucial aspect. Pronouns must match the gender of their antecedents. Traditionally, this involved using "he" or "him" for masculine nouns, "she" or "her" for feminine nouns, and "it" for inanimate objects. However, this approach has faced increasing criticism for its exclusionary nature. Modern style guides often recommend using plural pronouns to avoid gender-specific pronouns when the antecedent's gender is unknown or irrelevant. Alternatively, using both "he/she" or "his/her" can also achieve gender neutrality, though this can lead to slightly cumbersome sentence structures.

Examples:

• Traditional (now often discouraged): Each student should bring his textbook.
• Modern Alternatives:
  • Each student should bring their textbook. (Plural pronoun)
  • Each student should bring his or her textbook. (Inclusive but slightly clunky)
  • Students should bring their textbooks. (Rewriting to avoid the singular)

Dealing with Compound Antecedents

Compound antecedents—two or more nouns joined by conjunctions—present a slightly more complex scenario. The agreement depends on the conjunction used.

• And: With "and," the antecedent is considered plural, requiring a plural pronoun.
• Or/Nor: With "or" or "nor," the pronoun agrees with the antecedent closest to it.

Examples:

• Correct: John and Mary brought their books. ("John and Mary" is plural)
• Incorrect: John and Mary brought his book.
• Correct: Neither the cat nor the dogs ate their food. ("dogs" is plural and closer)
• Correct: Neither the dogs nor the cat ate its food. ("cat" is singular and closer)

Collective Nouns and Their Pronouns

Collective nouns (e.g., team, family, committee) refer to groups of individuals. The pronoun used depends on whether the collective noun is acting as a single unit or as a collection of individuals.

• Singular Pronoun: If the collective noun acts as a single unit, use a singular pronoun.
• Plural Pronoun: If the collective noun acts as a collection of individuals, use a plural pronoun.

Examples:

• Correct: The team celebrated its victory. (Team acts as a unit)
• Correct: The team argued among themselves about strategy. (Team members acting individually)

Indefinite Pronouns and Agreement

Indefinite pronouns (e.g., anyone, everyone, somebody, no one) are typically singular, requiring singular pronouns. However, some indefinite pronouns can be either singular or plural depending on context.

Examples:

• Correct: Everyone brought his or her lunch.
• Correct: Everyone brought their lunch. (Modern usage)
• Correct: Some of the apples are rotten; they need to be discarded. ("Some" refers to plural "apples")
• Incorrect: Some of the apple is rotten; it needs to be discarded.

Ambiguous Antecedents: A Major Source of Error

One of the most common mistakes in pronoun-antecedent agreement stems from ambiguous antecedents. This happens when it's unclear which noun the pronoun refers to. Clear writing demands that each pronoun has a single, unambiguous antecedent.

Example of Ambiguity:

• Incorrect: The boy told his father that he was angry. (Who was angry—the boy or the father?)
• Correct: The boy told his father that the boy was angry. (Clear antecedent)
• Correct: The boy told his father that he himself was angry. (Clear antecedent using emphasis)

Relative Pronouns and Agreement

Relative pronouns (who, whom, whose, which, that) introduce relative clauses and must agree with their antecedents in number and gender.

Examples:

• Correct: The woman, who was wearing a red dress, lost her purse.
• Correct: The students, who were studying hard, received their rewards.

Analyzing Sentences for Correct Agreement

Let's now analyze several sentences, determining whether they exhibit correct pronoun-antecedent agreement.

Sentence 1: The committee decided to publish their findings.

Analysis: "Committee" is a collective noun. In this case, it's acting as a group of individuals making a decision, justifying the use of the plural pronoun "their." Therefore, this sentence is correct.

Sentence 2: Each of the students received their grade.

Analysis: "Each" is a singular indefinite pronoun. Traditionally, this would require a singular pronoun ("his or her grade"). However, using "their" is increasingly accepted as grammatically correct in modern usage, providing a more inclusive and less cumbersome sentence. This sentence is considered acceptable in modern style guides, but some might still prefer the traditionally correct "his or her".

Sentence 3: The dog and the cat chased its tail.

Analysis: "Dog" and "cat" are joined by "and," making the antecedent plural. "Its" is singular. Therefore, this sentence is incorrect. It should read "The dog and the cat chased their tails."

Sentence 4: Nobody brought their lunch.

Analysis: "Nobody" is a singular indefinite pronoun. Traditionally, this sentence would be considered grammatically incorrect, requiring "his or her lunch." However, the use of "their" is becoming widely accepted in modern, inclusive writing. As with sentence 2, this sentence is considered acceptable in contemporary style.

Sentence 5: The team, despite its best efforts, lost the game.

Analysis: "Team" is acting as a single unit, hence the use of the singular pronoun "its" is correct. This sentence is correct.

Conclusion: Striving for Clarity and Precision

Mastering pronoun-antecedent agreement is essential for effective communication. While traditional grammar rules provide a foundation, modern usage acknowledges and adapts to inclusivity and stylistic preferences. By understanding the nuances of agreement and avoiding ambiguous antecedents, you can write with greater precision, clarity, and confidence. Always strive for unambiguous sentence structures where the relationship between pronoun and antecedent is crystal clear to the reader. Regular practice and careful proofreading will solidify your skills and make you a more proficient and grammatically astute writer. Remember to consider your target audience and the style guide you are following when making decisions about pronoun usage, especially concerning gender-neutral alternatives.