Pronouns stand in for nouns in a sentence. When replacing any noun (Matt, the cheerleader, the chair) with a pronoun (he, she, it), the pronoun must match the noun it is replacing, or the antecedent.

The first step in tackling a pronoun question is to locate and identify the pronouns in the sentence. Study the chart below, which includes some common English pronouns.

Subject/Object Pronouns
Possessives

Subject

I

you

he

she

it

we

they

everyone

Object

me

you

him

her

it

us

them

everyone

Adjective

my

your

his

her

its

our

their

everyone’s

Pronoun

mine

yours

his

hers

its

ours

their’s

everyone’s

This chapter will help you to become more familiar with the different pronoun types and will show you how to use them. Review the following examples.

1. She bought the rights to the film last week, hoping to make lots of money off it.

First pronoun: She (antecedent: unspecified female)
Second pronoun: it (antecedent: “the film”)

2. On the way to her meeting, the executive bought a cup of coffee and proceeded to spill it all over her coat.

First pronoun: her (antecedent: “the executive”)
Second pronoun: it (antecedent: “a cup of coffee”)

3. Everyone gathered at the meeting spot, anxiously awaiting their assignments.

Note: their (antecedent: the same unspecified group of people) functions as an adjective.

4. Running towards the building, he hoped to catch a glimpse of them somewhere inside it.

First pronoun: he (antecedent: unspecified male)
Second pronoun: them (antecedent: unspecified group of people)
Third pronoun: it (antecedent: “the building”)

Video Quiz

Pronoun Agreement: Introduction

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