Ready to master the essential rules of antecedent in pronoun usage? Our Antecedent in Pronoun Quiz: Test Your Agreement Skills is designed to challenge writers, editors, and language lovers. Need a warm-up? Grab our free pronoun antecedent agreement worksheet to review core concepts before you dive in. In just minutes, you'll explore what is the antecedent of the pronoun, reinforce your pronoun antecedent agreement practice, and discover tips for clear, confident writing. If you've enjoyed exercises on using pronouns correctly or aced our personal pronoun quiz , you're in for a treat! Sign up now to test your skills and sharpen your grammar chops - take the quiz today!
Every student must submit ____ homework by Friday.
his or her
their
its
them
In this sentence, "every student" is an indefinite singular antecedent, so it requires a singular pronoun. The pronoun "his or her" correctly matches the singular antecedent. Using "their" would create a number mismatch. For more details, see Purdue OWL.
The jury reached ____ verdict after hours of deliberation.
its
their
it's
his
Here, "the jury" is a collective noun acting as a single unit, so it takes a singular pronoun. "Its" correctly agrees in number with the singular antecedent. "Their" would treat the group as separate individuals, which is not intended here. For more on collective nouns, see Purdue OWL.
Neither Sarah nor Jessica brought ____ laptop to the meeting.
her
his
their
its
With "neither... nor," the pronoun agrees with the nearest antecedent, which is "Jessica." This makes "her" the correct choice. Using "their" would be plural and mismatched. See Purdue OWL for details.
Both the cat and the dog lost ____ collars during the storm.
their
its
his
her
A compound subject joined by "both... and" is plural, so the pronoun must be plural. "Their" correctly matches this plural antecedent. Using "its" would imply a singular subject. More information is at Purdue OWL.
Each of the boys should clean ____ room before leaving.
his
their
its
her
"Each" is a singular indefinite pronoun, so it takes a singular pronoun in agreement. Because "boys" are male, "his" is the correct choice. "Their" would mismatch in number. See Purdue OWL for more.
Either the teachers or the principal must submit ____ report.
his or her
their
his
her
With "either... or," the pronoun agrees with the nearest antecedent, "principal," which is singular and of unspecified gender, so "his or her" is correct. "Their" would be plural. For more guidance, visit Purdue OWL.
The committee announced ____ decision today.
its
their
it's
its'
A collective noun like "committee" is singular when acting as one body, so the singular pronoun "its" is correct. "Their" would incorrectly pluralize the committee. More on this at Purdue OWL.
Neither the manager nor the employees were willing to give up ____ benefits.
their
its
his
her
In "neither... nor," the pronoun agrees with the nearest antecedent, "employees," which is plural. Therefore, "their" is correct. Using "its" would be singular. See Purdue OWL for reference.
The scientist, along with his assistants, presented ____ findings to the committee.
his
their
its
her
The phrase "along with his assistants" is parenthetical and does not change the number of the subject, which is "the scientist" (singular). Thus, the singular pronoun "his" is correct. Using "their" would incorrectly suggest a plural subject. For more, see Purdue OWL.
Someone forgot to close ____ laptop before leaving the office.
his or her
his
their
its
"Someone" is an indefinite singular antecedent, so it needs a singular pronoun. Because the gender is unspecified, "his or her" is the grammatically traditional choice. "Their" would be plural. More details are at Purdue OWL.
Both the attorney and his client expected ____ case to be heard promptly.
their
its
his
her
A subject joined by "both... and" is plural, so the pronoun must be plural as well. "Their" agrees with the plural antecedent. "Its" would imply a singular antecedent. See Purdue OWL for more examples.
Each of the participants must submit ____ papers by noon.
his or her
their
its
his
The word "each" is singular, so it requires a singular pronoun. Because participants may be of any gender, "his or her" is the correct formal choice. "Their" would be plural and incorrect. Learn more at Purdue OWL.
Either the manager or the interns must finish ____ project by Monday.
their
his
its
his or her
With "either... or," the pronoun agrees with the nearest antecedent, "interns," which is plural. Therefore, "their" is correct. "His or her" would be singular and mismatched. For expert guidance, see Purdue OWL.
In the sentence "The committee gave their recommendations to the board," which pronoun best corrects the agreement error?
its
their
it's
its'
A collective noun like "committee" is singular when acting as one body, so the singular pronoun "its" is correct. Using "their" treats the committee as separate individuals. For deeper insight on collective nouns, see Purdue OWL.
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Study Outcomes
Identify Antecedent in Pronoun Relationships -
Recognize how to find the antecedent in pronoun usage and confirm its agreement in number and gender.
Apply Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement Rules -
Use established guidelines to match pronouns to their antecedents in terms of number, gender, and person.
Analyze Common Antecedent Errors -
Detect and correct frequent mistakes in pronoun antecedent agreement, including issues with indefinite and collective nouns.
Practice with Pronoun Antecedent Agreement Worksheets -
Engage with interactive quiz-style exercises to reinforce proper pronoun antecedent agreement practice.
Evaluate Complex Sentence Structures -
Dissect sentences to determine what is the antecedent of the pronoun and ensure accurate alignment.
Cheat Sheet
Identifying the Antecedent in Pronouns -
To determine what is the antecedent of the pronoun, locate the noun it replaces within the sentence. For example, in "Maria forgot her notebook," Maria is the antecedent of her. This clear link, recommended by Purdue OWL, ensures precise pronoun usage.
Ensuring Number and Gender Agreement -
Pronouns must agree in number and gender with their antecedents: singular antecedents take singular pronouns, and plural antecedents take plural pronouns. For example, "The engineers submitted their design" vs. "The engineer submitted his or her design." A handy mnemonic is SPAM (Singular Pronoun, Antecedent Match).
Handling Collective and Indefinite Antecedents -
Collective nouns (team, committee) and indefinite pronouns (everyone, each) typically count as singular, requiring singular pronouns. For instance, "Each student must submit his or her assignment," although singular they is now widely accepted. Refer to the Cambridge Dictionary for current inclusivity guidelines.
Eliminating Ambiguous References -
Avoid ambiguity by placing pronouns close to their antecedents and specifying referents clearly. Instead of "Sarah told Anna that she would win," rewrite as "Sarah told Anna, 'You will win.'" This straightforward adjustment boosts clarity and reader engagement.
Practicing with Pronoun Antecedent Agreement Worksheets -
Engage in regular pronoun antecedent agreement practice to reinforce rules and build confidence. Download a free pronoun antecedent agreement worksheet or take interactive quizzes from university writing centers. Consistent practice is key to mastering antecedent-pronoun harmony.
