Pronoun agreement refers to the way in which pronouns match the nouns they are replacing. This means that you must choose the right pronoun to match the noun or nouns in your sentence in terms of number (singular or plural), gender (masculine, feminine or neuter) and person (first, second or third). Pronoun errors are common in writing and can make your work appear unprofessional and unpolished. Let’s explore this concept further with some examples.
Singular and Plural Pronouns
When you use a singular noun, you need a singular pronoun to replace it. On the other hand, if you use a plural noun, you need a plural pronoun. For example, in the sentence “Lisa dropped her phone”, the pronoun “her” refers to the singular noun “Lisa”. If you were talking about two people, you would use a plural pronoun like “their” instead. For instance, “Lisa and John dropped their phones”.
Gendered Pronouns
In English, some pronouns are gendered. This means that they refer specifically to people of one gender or another. For instance, “he” or “him” refers to males, while “she” or “her” refers to females. However, there is a gender-neutral pronoun called “they” which can be used to refer to individuals of any gender or groups. For example, “Pat dropped their phone”. This sentence refers to an unspecified person who could be male, female or non-binary.
Person Pronouns
Finally, person pronouns must match the person in your sentence. This means that if you are writing in first person (referring to yourself) you must use first person pronouns like “I” or “me”. Second person pronouns like “you” are used when referring to the person you are addressing. Third person pronouns like “she”, “he” or “they” are used to refer to people outside of the conversation. For example, “I dropped my phone” or “You dropped your phone” are both correct, while “She dropped my phone” is not.
In summary, pronoun agreement is important in writing to ensure clarity and precision. When selecting pronouns, consider the number, gender and person of the nouns they are replacing. By following these guidelines, you can avoid common pronoun errors and create writing that is clear and effective.