What is a pronoun?
A pronoun is a substitute for a noun. The pronouns or nouns that they refer to are called antecedents. A pronoun and its antecedent are in agreement if they are both singular or both plural.
Example:
- Morganstern (noun) finished his (pronoun) rounds.
Frequent misuse of plural pronouns occurs with two types of singular antecedents: Indefinite pronouns and collective nouns.
Indefinite Pronouns
Indefinite pronouns refer to nonspecific persons or things. They include: any, either, everything, no one, each, anybody, everybody, neither, someone, everyone, anyone, none, and something
Example:
- In class everyone performs at his or her level of ability.
Collective Nouns
- Treat collective nouns as singular unless the meaning is clearly plural. Collective nouns include such words as jury, committee, crowd, family, audience, couple, troop, and class.
- Ordinarily the group functions as a unit, so the noun should be considered singular; however, if the members of the group function as individuals, the noun should be treated as plural.
- Example: The jury has reached its decision.
- Compare: The Illini crowd clapped their hands.
- Compound antecedents connected by “and” should be treated as plural.
- Example: Jack and Jill climbed up a hill and fetched their pail of water.
- When compound antecedents are connected by “or” or “nor” (or by “either… or” or “neither… nor”)
- Examples:
- Either Desi or Lucy should be fired from her job.
- Neither the engineering student nor the biology majors could remember their schedules.
- Examples: