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    Sentence Correction
  I: Introduction
  II: Grammar Basics
  III: Sentence Correction Tips
  IV: Three-Step Method
V: Seven Error Types  
 1. Subject-Verb Agreement
 2. Modifiers
 3. Parallelism
 4. Pronoun Agreement
      A. Introduction
      B. Subject vs. Object
      C. Who vs. Whom
      D. Singular/Plural Pronouns
      E. Possessive Pronouns
      F. Objects of to be verbs
      G. Relative Pronouns
      H. Sample Questions
 5. Verb Time Sequences
 6. Comparisons
 7. Idioms
  VI: Sample Questions
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4. Pronoun Agreement: Relative Pronouns
 
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Pronoun Agreement

A. Introduction
B. Subject vs. Object
C. Who vs. Whom
D. Singular and Plural Pronouns
E. Possessive Pronouns
F. Objects of to be verbs
G. Relative Pronouns
H. Sample Questions

 

Which, that and who are relative pronouns. A relative pronoun must refer to the noun or pronoun immediately preceding it (the antecedent).

Which introduces non-essential clauses; that introduces essential clauses.
Who refers to individuals; that and which refer to a group of persons, class, type, species, or one or more things.
Whose
is used to refer to both people and things.

Relative pronouns introduce modifying phrases, so you must be on the lookout for misplaced modifiers. If the meaning of the sentence is unclear, the pronoun may be next to the wrong noun/pronoun antecedent. Consider the following sentence:

Incorrect: John was met at the door by a strange man, which he, being afraid, opened slowly.

This sentence is definitely confusing, but its meaning can be clarified by adjusting the placement of the nouns in the sentence.  The relative pronoun must be right next to its antecedent:

Correct: John was met by a strange man at the door, which he opened slowly out of fear.

It's now clear what John is opening – the door, not the man. Note that the non-essential clause beginning with which is set off from the rest of the sentence with a comma.
 

When working with relative pronouns, check to see that:

  • The relative pronoun is right next to the word it is intended to modify 
  • Non-essential clauses are set off from the sentence with a comma (or pair of commas)
  • Who refers to a person, not a thing; that is used for essential clauses, and which is used for non-essential clauses

A Summary of How to Recognize Pronoun Errors

Look for:


Subject, object, or possessive pronouns
Who or whom (interrogative pronouns)
Relative pronouns
Impersonal pronouns
Pronouns that are always singular or always plural
Pronouns following to be verbs

Check for:

Subject–verb agreement
Pronoun agreement
Agreement with antecedent
Pronoun placement


F. Objects of to be verbs

H. Sample Questions


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