Grammar Bytes!, Grammar Bytes! agreement. Go to chompchomp.com! This presentation is brought to you by

Transcription

1 chomp! chomp! This presentation is brought to you by Grammar Bytes!, 2015 by Robin L. Simmons (modified by Mrs. Whalum) Grammar Bytes! provides additional handouts and exercises on pronoun agreement. Go to chompchomp.com!

2 This presentation covers maintaining agreement between a pronoun and its antecedent.

3 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!

4 Pronoun Agreement Should everyone know their pronouns or his or her pronouns?

5 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}

6 Agreement in a Nutshell The kangaroo carries its joey in a pouch. kangaroo = singular antecedent its = singular pronoun The kangaroos carry their joeys in pouches. kangaroos = plural antecedent their = plural pronoun

7 Know your pronouns. Singular he, she, it him, her, it his, her, hers, its himself, herself, itself Plural they them their, theirs themselves Singular! Plural!

8 EXC EPTION #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 i m e w a i t f o r t h e n e x t s l i d e ) The new puppy and kitten have destroyed their owner s sofa.

9 Use caution with compound subjects joined using these conjunctions : either or, neither nor, and not onl y but also. T he pr onoun should match the near est antecedent. Not only the Louise Smiths but also but also the Louise Smiths fixed their fixed her famous their famous squid eyeball squid eyeball stew for stew the picnic. for the picnic. If you You ll want have to use two their, you antecedents the will need to flip the Smiths andlouise but so that only the Smiths closer one are closer counts! to the pronoun.

10 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

11 EXC EPTION #2: Indefinite pr onouns W hen each or ever y precedes two [or more] singular things joined by and, you have a singular antecedent. (ALWAYS!) Each Every new puppy and kitten destroys its owner s sofa.

12 In this situation, no matter how many singular nouns you join with and, the antecedent is still singular. Each new puppy, kitten, rabbit, tarantula, python, parrot, turtle, and ferret destroys its owner s sofa.

13 T hese indefinite pr onouns ar e 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

14 T hese indefinite pr onouns ar e ALWAYS plur al. Both Several Few Many Be careful! If it says many a, it s singular

15 EXCEPTION #3: a phr ase or cl ause between a subject and a verb Beware inter r upting phrases. Neither of of my my two two brothers shows much much sense when they dates women. This Of sentence my two might brothers sound = prepositional right, but is phrase; neither completely = singular wrong! antecedent.

16 Prepositional Phrase 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. Refresher

17 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.

18 T hese indefinite pr onouns can be singular OR plur al. Some Any None All Most

19 EXC EPTION #4: collective nouns Company, organization, depar tment, team, and school names ar e singular. One urban legend is that Tito s Taco Palace makes their its burritos with kangaroo meat. We did not! Did you know that?

20 Are the following nouns 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 singular or plural?

21 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

22 A pronoun agreement item on an objective test, such as the ACT, might look like this...

23 Sample Item Spendthrifts are quickly parted from their A money. So a person who wants to start saving B should not spend all of their his time at at the the mall. C A. his or her B. someone C. his D. No change is necessary. The Is the second first their, does a person, not agree or with the a person, second an their error a that choice problem? C fixes.

24 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.

25 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.

26 Item 2 The students and their professor sweated in the A hot classroom. Each one of them wondered why B they she had decided to to commit to to summer school. C A. his or her B. Every C. she D. No change is necessary.

27 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.

28 Item 4 The students have decided to eat at Tito s Taco Palace, where they can order the special. Their Its A BB 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.

29 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.

30 Item 6 If everyone people stopped to smell to smell the the roses, roses, they they might might A B 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.

31 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.

32 Item 8 Sam is starving, and his buddies have just ordered their upsized meals. Despite Sam s drooling, A neither of them will part with their his French fries. B C A. his B. him C. his D. No change is necessary.

33 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.

34 Item 10 Everyone The students should should memorize a a Shakespeare AA monologue for Mrs. Smith because the extra credit points will help them improve their averages at at B C the end of the semester. A. The students B. him or her C. his or her D. No change is necessary.

35 The End.