4.3 Workbook #2 p 272, 279
Pronouns & Antecedents
Pronoun: a word that takes the place of a noun. It maintains the genre and number of that noun.
Antecedent: the noun or nouns a pronoun replaces.
Pronouns take the place of a noun or nouns in a sentence. They can do all the things that nouns can do. They can be subjects, direct objects, indirect objects, and more. If we didn't have pronouns, we'd have to keep repeating our nouns and that would make our sentences very cumbersome and repetitive. Pronouns are usually short words.
Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement
Before you use a pronoun, ask yourself whether the antecedent is singular or plural. If the antecedent is singular, decide whether it is masculine, feminine, or neuter. Then choose a pronoun that agrees. This means that the pronoun and the antecedent need to match on:
In the following sentences, the antecedents are underlined; the pronouns are italicized.
The man had an idea, so he told the Marines about it.
The Navajos knew an unusual language, and they made a code with it.
Antecedent: the noun or nouns a pronoun replaces.
Pronouns take the place of a noun or nouns in a sentence. They can do all the things that nouns can do. They can be subjects, direct objects, indirect objects, and more. If we didn't have pronouns, we'd have to keep repeating our nouns and that would make our sentences very cumbersome and repetitive. Pronouns are usually short words.
Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement
Before you use a pronoun, ask yourself whether the antecedent is singular or plural. If the antecedent is singular, decide whether it is masculine, feminine, or neuter. Then choose a pronoun that agrees. This means that the pronoun and the antecedent need to match on:
- gender
- number
- person
In the following sentences, the antecedents are underlined; the pronouns are italicized.
The man had an idea, so he told the Marines about it.
The Navajos knew an unusual language, and they made a code with it.
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