Pronoun agreement is a crucial aspect of writing that often goes unnoticed. It refers to the agreement between the pronoun and its antecedent in terms of number, gender, and person. Failure to observe correct pronoun agreement can lead to confusion, grammatical errors, and even offensive language.
Spotting errors in pronoun agreement can be challenging, but with a little practice and knowledge of the rules, you can become an expert at it. Here are some pronoun agreement error examples with answers to help sharpen your skills:
Example 1: Neither of the boys finished (his or their) homework.
Answer: their
Explanation: `Neither` is a singular subject, but `boys` is plural. Therefore, you cannot use `his` as it refers to a singular noun. Instead, you should use `their,` which is the plural form of the pronoun.
Example 2: The patient asked (their or his or her) doctor for advice.
Answer: his or her
Explanation: `Patient` is a singular noun, so you cannot use `their.` Instead, you can use `his or her` to refer to the gender-neutral patient.
Example 3: The people in the room talked among (themselves or oneself).
Answer: themselves
Explanation: `People` is a plural noun, so you cannot use `oneself,` which refers to a singular noun. Instead, use `themselves` to match the plural subject.
Example 4: Everyone has (his or their) own style of learning.
Answer: his or her
Explanation: `Everyone` refers to every individual, so using `their` as a gender-neutral pronoun might not be appropriate in this case. Instead, use `his or her` to avoid any gender bias or confusion.
Example 5: The company announced (it or they) would be launching a new product line.
Answer: it
Explanation: `Company` is a singular noun, so you should use the singular form of the pronoun `it.`
In conclusion, mastering pronoun agreement is critical for creating clear and effective writing. Regardless of how difficult it may seem, taking the time to learn the rules of pronoun agreement and practicing with exercises like the ones listed above can significantly improve your writing skills.
