As a copy editor, it`s important to ensure that all parts of speech in a sentence are used correctly and in agreement with one another. This is especially true when it comes to nouns and pronouns, which must agree in both number and gender. In this article, we`ll review some common examples of noun and pronoun agreement to help you become a better writer and editor.
Singular Nouns and Pronouns
When using singular nouns and pronouns, it`s important to make sure they agree with one another in number and gender. Examples of singular nouns include “cat,” “dog,” “book,” and “chair.” Examples of singular pronouns include “he,” “she,” “it,” and “they.”
Correct Example 1: The cat slept on his bed all day.
Explanation: The noun “cat” is singular and masculine, so the pronoun “his” agrees in number and gender.
Correct Example 2: She ate the last cookie on the plate.
Explanation: The pronoun “she” is singular and feminine, so it agrees in number and gender with the unknown noun “someone” who ate the last cookie.
Incorrect Example: They left their backpacks at school, but he forgot his.
Explanation: The pronoun “they” is plural, but the singular pronoun “his” is used, which leads to an agreement error.
Plural Nouns and Pronouns
When using plural nouns and pronouns, it`s important to make sure they agree with one another in both number and gender. Examples of plural nouns include “cats,” “dogs,” “books,” and “chairs.” Examples of plural pronouns include “they,” “we,” “us,” and “them.”
Correct Example 1: The dogs barked at their owners when they came home.
Explanation: The plural noun “dogs” agrees with the plural pronoun “their” in number, gender and person.
Correct Example 2: The students finished their math homework before leaving school.
Explanation: The plural noun “students” agrees with the plural pronoun “their” in number, gender and person.
Incorrect Example: The books were returned to the library, but it still had overdue fees.
Explanation: The plural noun “books” is used with the singular pronoun “it”, which leads to an agreement error.
Singular Indeterminate Nouns and Pronouns
Indeterminate pronouns refer to things that are not easily determinable. Examples of these pronouns include “someone,” “anyone,” “everyone,” “something,” and “anything.” Indeterminate pronouns can be used as singular nouns or pronouns, but they should always agree in number and gender with the pronouns used to refer back to them.
Correct Example 1: Someone forgot their keys on the counter.
Explanation: The indeterminate pronoun “someone” is singular, but using the singular masculine pronoun “his” would be inappropriate or unknown. Thus, the pronoun “their” is used as a gender-neutral singular pronoun to show agreement in number.
Correct Example 2: Anyone can come to the meeting if they want to.
Explanation: The indeterminate pronoun “anyone” is singular, but using the singular masculine pronoun “he” would be inappropriate or unknown. Thus, the pronoun “they” is used as a gender-neutral singular pronoun to show agreement in number.
In conclusion, understanding noun and pronoun agreement is critical to effective writing and communication. It`s important to identify the correct number and gender agreement for nouns and pronouns based on their context. By following these examples and tips, you can ensure that your writing is grammatically correct and understandable.