Pronouns and

Antecedents

A pronoun must agree with its

antecedent in three ways:

• Person (1st, 2nd or 3rd).

• Number is the quality that distinguishes between singular (one entity) and plural (numerous entities).

• Gender is the quality that distinguishes the entities as masculine or feminine.

Indefinite PronounsSingular Pronouns: another, anybody,

anyone, anything, each, either, everybody, everyone, everything, neither, nobody, no one, one, somebody, someone, something

Plural Pronouns: both, few, many, several

Singular or Plural: all, any, most, none, some

If a person wants to succeed, you have to know the rules of the

game.•Antecedent - a person (third

person)•Pronoun - you (second person)•Conclusion - no person agreement

How can we correct this sentence?

If anybody wants to succeed, they have to know the rules of the

game. •Antecedent - anybody (third

person singular)•Pronoun - they (third person

plural)•Conclusion - no number

agreementHow can we correct this sentence?

If a person wants to succeed , he has to

know the rules of the game.

• Antecedent - a person (third person neutral singular)

• Pronoun - he (third person masculine singular)

• Conclusion - no gender agreementHow can we correct this sentence?