Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement Rules and UPCAT Practice
Pronoun–Antecedent Agreement
Make every pronoun agree clearly with the noun it represents.
Pronoun Agreement
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A pronoun must point clearly to its antecedent
The antecedent is the noun or noun phrase replaced by a pronoun. Check number, person, and clarity—not merely which noun is closest.
A formally singular antecedent requires a singular pronoun.
Every applicant must bring his or her permit.
A plural antecedent takes a plural pronoun.
The researchers presented their findings.
Two antecedents joined by and are plural.
Ana and Liza submitted their forms.
With nor, the pronoun agrees with the nearer antecedent.
Neither Carlo nor the girls brought their notes.
Each is grammatically singular in formal test usage.
Each must explain his or her answer.
Do not shift from one to you.
If one wants to improve, one must practice.
The group acts as one unit.
The jury reached its verdict.
Repeating the noun removes an ambiguous pronoun.
When Bea called Mara, Mara was already home.
Who refers to the plural noun students.
She is one of the students who arrive early.
Agreement
Singular antecedents take singular pronouns; plural antecedents take plural pronouns.
Clarity
If a pronoun could refer to two nouns, repeat the intended noun.
Draw an arrow back to the antecedent
Why it works
Agreement cannot be checked until the intended antecedent is identified.
Five forms you should recognize
Every applicant must bring his or her permit.
The researchers presented their findings.
Ana and Liza submitted their forms.
Neither Carlo nor the girls brought their notes.
Each must explain his or her answer.
Check before you commit
- Using the nearest noun automatically
- Treating each as plural
- Shifting from one to you
- Leaving she or it ambiguous
- Ignoring proximity after nor
- Confusing subject and object forms
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Pronoun–Antecedent Agreement FAQ
What is an antecedent?
The word or phrase to which a pronoun refers.
Is singular they always wrong?
It is standard in much modern usage, but formal test items may explicitly test traditional number agreement; follow the construction and choices carefully.
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