©2015 by robin l. mrs. whalum)pehs.psd202.org/documents/swhalum/1545047070.pdfthe new puppy...
TRANSCRIPT
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This presentation is brought to you by
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©2015 by Robin L.
Simmons
(modified by
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handouts and exercises on pronoun
agreement. Go to
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This presentation covers maintaining
agreement between a
pronoun and its
antecedent.
Pronoun Refresher
▪ Remember; a pronoun replaces a noun (person, place,
thing, or idea) or another pronoun to avoid repetition.
Instead of proclaiming, “Riley is my German short-haired pointer. Riley is my best friend. I love Riley!”,
one would proclaim, “Riley is my German short-haired pointer. He is my best friend. I love him!”
Pronoun Agreement
Should everyoneknow their
pronouns…
…or
his or her
pronouns?
Pronoun Antecedent Agreement
▪ Antecedent is the fancy word for the word to which the pronoun refers (it appears BEFORE the pronoun in the sentence)
▪ When checking for agreement, it may be helpful to first identify (circle or underline) the antecedent. Ask yourself, “Is the antecedent singular or plural?” Then ask yourself, “Is the pronoun singular or plural?”
PRONOUNS AND ANTECEDENTS
MUST MATCH IN NUMBER (singular/plural)
{also consider gender and living vs. non-living}
Agreement in a Nutshell
The kangaroo carries
its joey in a pouch.
The kangaroos carry
their joeys in pouches.
kangaroo = singular antecedent
its = singular pronoun
kangaroos = plural antecedent
their = plural pronoun
Know your pronouns.
Plural
▪ they
▪ them
▪ their, theirs
▪ themselves
Singular!
Singular
▪ he, she, it
▪ him, her, it
▪ his, her, hers, its
▪ himself, herself, itself
Plural!
EXCEPTION #1: Compound subjects
Two [or more] singular
things joined by and make a
plural antecedent (m o s t o f t h e t im e … wa i t fo r t h e n ex t s l i d e )
The new puppy and kitten have destroyed
their owner’s sofa.
Use caution with compound
subjects joined using these
conjunctions: either … or , neither … nor , and not only … but also .
The pronoun should match the
nearest antecedent.
Not only the Smiths but also Louise fixed
their famous squid eyeball stew for the
picnic.
You’ll have two antecedents—the
Smiths and Louise—but
only the closer one
counts!
Not only the Smiths but also Louise fixed
her famous squid eyeball stew for the
picnic.
Not only Louise but also the Smithsfixed their famous squid eyeball stew
for the picnic.
If you want to use their,
you will need to flip the Smiths and Louise so
that the Smiths are
closer to the pronoun.
So…
▪ These conjunctions can indicate the need for
a singular or plural pronoun:
• And → usually plural
• Either … or → match the closest antecedent
• Neither … nor → match the closest antecedent
• Not only … but also → match the closest antecedent
Each new puppy and kitten destroys itsowner’s sofa.
EXCEPTION #2: Indefinite pronouns
When each or every precedes
two [or more] singular things
joined by and, you have a
singular antecedent. (ALWAYS!)
Every new puppy and kitten destroys itsowner’s sofa.
In this situation, no matter
how many singular nouns you
join with and, the antecedent
is stil l singular.
Each new puppy, kitten, rabbit, tarantula, python, parrot, turtle, and ferret destroys itsowner’s sofa.
These indefinite pronounsare ALWAYS singular.
[ e v e n w h e n t h e y s e e m p l u r a l ]
▪ Each, either, neither NOT used as conjunction with “or” or “nor”
▪ Anyone, anybody, anything, one
▪ Every, everyone, everybody, everything
▪ No one, nobody, nothing
▪ Someone, somebody, something
These indefinite pronounsare ALWAYS plural.
▪ Both
▪ Several
▪ Few
▪ Many Be careful! If it says “many a”, it’s singular
Neither of my two brothers show much sense when they date women.
EXCEPTION #3: a phrase or clause
between a subject and a verb
Beware inter rupting phrases.
Neither of my two brothers shows much sense when he dates women.
This sentence might soundright, but it is completely wrong!
Of my two brothers =
prepositional phrase; neither = singular
antecedent.
Prepositional Phrase Refresher
▪ Where is one thing in relation to another?
▪ What is the butterfly’s position compared to the house?• The butterfly is on top of the
house.
• The butterfly is by the house.
• The butterfly is above the house.
• The butterfly is to the right of the house.
Indefinite pronouns modified by a prepositional phrase can be either singular or plural.
▪ If the object of the preposition is
uncountable, then it’s singular.
• Some of the sugar fell out of its bag.
▪ If the object of the preposition is
countable, then it’s plural.
• Some of the marbles fell out of their bag.
These indefinite pronounscan be singular OR plural.
▪ Some
▪ Any
▪ None
▪ All
▪ Most
EXCEPTION #4: col lective nouns
Company, organization,
department, team, and
school names are singular.
One urban legend is that Tito’s Taco Palace makes their burritos with kangaroo meat.
Did you knowthat?
We didnot!
One urban legend is that Tito’s Taco Palace makes its burritos with kangaroo meat.
Are the following nouns singular or plural?
▪ bull
▪ bulls
▪ Chicago Bulls
▪ Chicago Bulls player
▪ Jury member
▪ Jury
▪ Juries
▪ English 2 Honors student
▪ English 2 Honors
▪ grapes
▪ Grapes of Wrath
▪ United States
▪ The number of volunteers
▪ A number of volunteers
▪ The news
▪ Family
▪ Family members
Are the following nouns singular or plural?
▪ bull - singular
▪ bulls - plural
▪ Chicago Bulls - singular
▪ Chicago Bulls player - singular
▪ Jury member - singular
▪ Jury - singular
▪ Juries - plural
▪ English 2 Honors student - singular
▪ English 2 Honors - singular
▪ grapes - plural
▪ Grapes of Wrath - singular
▪ United States - singular
▪ The number of volunteers - singular
▪ A number of volunteers - plural
▪ The news - singular
▪ Family - singular
▪ Family members - plural
A pronoun agreement item on
an objective test, such as the
ACT, might look like this ...
Sample Item
Spendthrifts are quickly parted from their
money. So a person who wants to start saving
should not spend all of their time at the mall.
A. his or her
B. someone
C. his
D. No change is necessary.
Spendthrifts are quickly parted from their
A
money. So a person who wants to start saving
B
should not spend all of their time at the mall.
C
A. his or her
B. someone
C. his
D. No change is necessary.
Spendthrifts are quickly parted from their
A
money. So a person who wants to start saving
B
should not spend all of his time at the mall.
C
A. his or her
B. someone
C. his
D. No change is necessary.
Is the first their,
a person, or the
second their a
problem?
The second their does not agree with
a person, an error
that choice C fixes.
LET’S PRACTICE
Directions: In the items that follow, choose
the option that corrects an error in the
underlined portion(s). If no error exists, choose
“No change is necessary.”
Show me what you know.
Item 1
Not only my brothers but also Mom loves to
drench their omelets in ketchup.
A. his
B. her
C. his and her
D. No change is necessary.
Not only my brothers but also Mom loves to
drench their omelets in ketchup.
A. his
B. her
C. his and her
D. No change is necessary.
Not only my brothers but also Mom loves to
drench their omelets in ketchup.
A. his
B. her
C. his and her
D. No change is necessary.
Item 2
The students and their professor sweated in the
hot classroom. Each one of them wondered why
they had decided to commit to summer school.
A. his or her
B. Every
C. she
D. No change is necessary.
The students and their professor sweated in the
A
hot classroom. Each one of them wondered why
B
they had decided to commit to summer school.
C
A. his or her
B. Every
C. she
D. No change is necessary.
The students and their professor sweated in the
A
hot classroom. Each one of them wondered why
B
she had decided to commit to summer school.
C
A. his or her
B. Every
C. she
D. No change is necessary.
Item 3
Robert and Sue Ellen concentrated on the dead
worm on the dissection tray. They used tweezers
to pick through innards looking for the heart.
A. He
B. She
C. He or she
D. No change is necessary.
Robert and Sue Ellen concentrated on the dead
worm on the dissection tray. They used tweezers
to pick through innards looking for the heart.
A. He
B. She
C. He or she
D. No change is necessary.
Robert and Sue Ellen concentrated on the dead
worm on the dissection tray. They used tweezers
to pick through innards looking for the heart.
A. He
B. She
C. He or she
D. No change is necessary.
Item 4
The students have decided to eat at Tito’s Taco
Palace, where they can order the special. Their
discount burrito and soda will satisfy hunger, and its
cheap prices will help wallets!
A. he or she
B. Its
C. their
D. No change is necessary.
The students have decided to eat at Tito’s Taco
Palace, where they can order the special. Their
A B
discount burrito and soda will satisfy hunger, and its
C
cheap prices will help wallets!
A. he or she
B. Its
C. their
D. No change is necessary.
The students have decided to eat at Tito’s Taco
Palace, where they can order the special. Its
A B
discount burrito and soda will satisfy hunger, and its
C
cheap prices will help wallets!
A. he or she
B. Its
C. their
D. No change is necessary.
Item 5
Either of these thick books by respected authors
will have the answer to your research question in
their many pages.
A. his
B. his or her
C. its
D. No change is necessary.
Either of these thick books by respected authors
will have the answer to your research question in
their many pages.
A. his
B. his or her
C. its
D. No change is necessary.
Either of these thick books by respected authors
will have the answer to your research question in
their many pages.
A. his
B. his or her
C. its
D. No change is necessary.
Item 6
If everyone stopped to smell the roses, they might
get stung by bees and have their allergies kick in to
overdrive!
A. people
B. he or she
C. his or her
D. No change is necessary.
If everyone stopped to smell the roses, they might
A B
get stung by bees and have their allergies kick in to
C
overdrive!
A. people
B. he or she
C. his or her
D. No change is necessary.
If people stopped to smell the roses, they might
A B
get stung by bees and have their allergies kick in to
C
overdrive!
A. people
B. he or she
C. his or her
D. No change is necessary.
Item 7
Weaver Hill High has strange school colors. Their
hot pink and bright yellow combination really
stands out on the field.
A. Its
B. His
C. His and her
D. No change is necessary.
Weaver Hill High has strange school colors. Their
hot pink and bright yellow combination really
stands out on the field.
A. Its
B. His
C. His and her
D. No change is necessary.
Weaver Hill High has strange school colors. Their
hot pink and bright yellow combination really
stands out on the field.
A. Its
B. His
C. His and her
D. No change is necessary.
Item 8
Sam is starving, and his buddies have just ordered
their “upsized” meals. Despite Sam’s drooling,
neither of them will part with their French fries.
A. his
B. him
C. his
D. No change is necessary.
Sam is starving, and his buddies have just ordered
their “upsized” meals. Despite Sam’s drooling,
A
neither of them will part with their French fries.
B C
A. his
B. him
C. his
D. No change is necessary.
Sam is starving, and his buddies have just ordered
their “upsized” meals. Despite Sam’s drooling,
A
neither of them will part with his French fries.
B C
A. his
B. him
C. his
D. No change is necessary.
Item 9
Clyde refuses to return to the weight room
because its staff always pokes fun of his skinny
arms and legs.
A. their
B. his
C. her
D. No change is necessary.
Clyde refuses to return to the weight room
because its staff always pokes fun of his skinny
arms and legs.
A. their
B. his
C. her
D. No change is necessary.
Clyde refuses to return to the weight room
because its staff always pokes fun of his skinny
arms and legs.
A. their
B. his
C. her
D. No change is necessary.
Item 10
Everyone should memorize a Shakespeare
monologue for Mrs. Smith because the extra credit
points will help them improve their averages at
the end of the semester.
A. The students
B. him or her
C. his or her
D. No change is necessary.
Everyone should memorize a Shakespeare
A
monologue for Mrs. Smith because the extra credit
points will help them improve their averages at
B C
the end of the semester.
A. The students
B. him or her
C. his or her
D. No change is necessary.
The students should memorize a Shakespeare
A
monologue for Mrs. Smith because the extra credit
points will help them improve their averages at
B C
the end of the semester.
A. The students
B. him or her
C. his or her
D. No change is necessary.
The End.