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Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement E
17w. An expression of an amount may take a singular or plural pronoun, depending on how the
expression is used.
USAGE
SINGULAR I have two thirds of a pizza. Is it enough for your friends?
PLURAL Finding three dollars on the floor, I put them in my pocket.
17x. Even when plural in form, the title of a creative work (such as a book, song, film, or painting), the
name of an organization, or the name of a country or city usually takes a singular pronoun.
EXAMPLE Where is Hot Springs? I don’t see it on the map.
EXERCISE A In each of the following sentences, underline the correct pronoun in parentheses.
Example 1. If I lend you twenty dollars, will you pay (them, it) back next week?
1. Three fourths of the salad is left. I’m sure (it, they) will be eaten.
2. Have you seen Dancers on a Bench? Edgar Degas painted (them, it) in 1898.
3. Here is twenty dollars. Use (them, it) to get a taxi at the airport.
4. The final three miles are downhill, and (they, it) should pass quickly.
5. Have you read The Exiles? (They, It) tells the funny story of four adventurous sisters.
6. I’m from Grand Forks. You’ll find (them, it) in eastern North Dakota.
7. My mother puts two tablespoons of sugar in her coffee. (They, It) may see like a lot to
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some people.
8. Much of the economy of Honduras is based on (its, their) export of bananas and coffee.
9. Ms. Morris gave us only two days to study. She said we’ll need to use (it, them) wisely.
10. The shirt cost fifty dollars but is not worth (it, them).
EXERCISE B On each of the lines provided, write a pronoun that will correctly complete the sentence.
it
Example 1. You’ll need ten dollars, and you have two weeks to earn _______________.
11. How far is two feet? Measure _______________ with the tape measure.
12. Have you seen The Mysteries of the Horizon? René Magritte painted _______________.
13. Here is sixteen dollars in change. Please count _______________ carefully.
14. With how many countries does the United States share _______________ borders?
15. The drama club is performing The Merry Wives of Windsor. William Shakespeare
wrote _______________.
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Review A: Subject-Verb Agreement
EXERCISE A In each of the following sentences, write C for correct above the underlined verb if it agrees
1. Where is the Mason-Dixon line?
2. The highest peak in the United States are the South Peak of Mount McKinley.
3. The Senate are in its first session of the year.
4. Several of the legends are about Hercules.
5. None of the symphony players listens to rock-and-roll.
6. Fifteen ounces are the total weight of the package.
7. Are Adrienne or Suki going to the party?
8. There is the tickets to tonight’s game.
9. In the mailbox were both letters from Vicente.
10. The Pickwick Papers are a novel by Dickens.
EXERCISE B In each of the following sentences, underline the subject once and the verb twice. If the
subject and verb agree, write C for correct above the verb. If the subject and verb do not agree, write the
correct form of the verb above the incorrect verb.
is
Example 1. The Association of Aquatic Enthusiasts are upstairs.
11. Twenty gallons are a good size for an aquarium.
12. Tropical Fishes is a handy guidebook to own.
13. Neither Doyle nor Ana know how to set up an aquarium.
14. Plants in an aquarium doesn’t have to be real to look good.
15. The local fish club is holding a meeting next Wednesday.
16. Four or five dollars are enough to buy a Siamese fightingfish.
17. Either neon tetras or guppies is a good choice for a home aquarium.
18. Plastic plants in the aquarium look nice.
19. A school of small fish live in this large aquarium.
20. Twelve inches is the length of tubing required for this pump.
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USAGE
with its subject. If the underlined verb does not agree with its subject, write the correct form of the verb
above it.
claims
Example 1. Neither Ms. Jamison nor Mr. Thompson claim the stray dog.
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Review B: Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement
EXERCISE A In each of the following sentences, underline the pronoun or pronoun pair that refers to the
1. One of my sisters thinks they will be a firefighter.
2. Each of my sisters has had plenty of time to decide on their future.
3. A person can change their career several times over a lifetime.
4. If anybody asked me, I would tell them I hope to be a doctor one day.
5. Hector or Mateo will write his report on careers of the future.
6. On Saturday I helped my grandparents in their movie rental store.
7. Someone from the career testing service left their jacket in our classroom.
8. The student body enjoyed their career fair this year.
9. White Rapids, the neighboring town, holds their harvest festival in October.
10. One of my friends sells her produce at the festival.
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EXERCISE B In each of the following sentences, write C for correct above the underlined pronoun if it
agrees with its antecedent. If the underlined pronoun does not agree with its antecedent, write the
correct form of the pronoun above it.
it
Example 1. Please measure two cups of oatmeal and put them in this bowl.
11. Either of the two sisters will bring her notebook.
12. Either a hamster or a rabbit shows affection for their owner.
13. I hope everyone remembers their lunch.
14. Each of the children will need his own permission slip.
15. Some of the girls have opened their gifts already.
16. Neither Earl nor Fred has opened their mail yet.
17. A few of the teachers want their students to make presentations.
18. One of the coaches is going to put those boys on his team.
19. Many of the students lost their flashcards.
20. Each of the contestants will do their best.
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underlined antecedent. If the pronoun and antecedent agree, write C for correct above the pronoun. If
the pronoun and antecedent do not agree, write the correct pronoun above the incorrect pronoun.
their
Example 1. Most of the members remained in his or her seats.
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Review C: Agreement
EXERCISE A In each of the following sentences, underline the subject and the correct verb in
Example 1. The Society for the Care and Protection of Animals (accept, accepts) donations.
1. Civics (is, are) his favorite subject.
2. The class (is, are) working on their science projects.
3. You (doesn’t, don’t) have enough money for that new book.
4. The family (is, are) discussing their vacation plans.
5. (Has, Have) the jury reached a verdict?
6. Here (is, are) the canned goods for the food drive.
7. A machine (doesn’t, don’t) work properly unless it is oiled.
8. Ten pounds (is, are) a lot of weight to lose.
9. Kelly’s Heroes (is, are) a 1970 movie starring Clint Eastwood.
10. (Doesn’t, Don’t) Thelma look great in that color?
EXERCISE B The following paragraph contains ten errors in agreement between pronouns and their
antecedents. Draw a line through each error and write the correct pronoun or pronoun pair above it.
their
Example Both Tamara and Tomás brought his instruments to the band’s rehearsal.
Everyone has their opinion about what makes a good band. That’s what I learned from its experience with a musical group. My friends and I met recently to combine their musical talents by forming a band. Tamara brought his own guitar. Tomás brought his trumpet. Rupesh and Mary brought
his and her Australian didgeridoos. Unfortunately, we couldn’t decide what to play. Someone suggested their favorite song, but no one else knew them. My father suggested we play her favorite
song, “She’ll Be Coming Round the Mountain.” Each of the girls put down their instrument and
laughed heartily. Everybody had their own idea of what to play. It was chaos!
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USAGE
parentheses.
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Review D: Agreement
EXERCISE Underline the word or word group in parentheses that correctly completes each sentence.
In the twentieth century, one of the best-selling vocal artists (were, was) Ella Fitzgerald. Newport
News (were, was) her birthplace, and Beverly Hills (is, are) where she passed away at the age of 79.
(He, She) became famous throughout the world for (their, her) clear, sweet voice. The city of New York
(were, was) where she grew up. The Apollo Theatre in Harlem featured her in one of (their, its) amateur nights, and Fitzgerald (were, was) “discovered” at age sixteen. She performed in a band, and
then began working with Chick Webb in (its, his) Chick Webb Orchestra.
The 1950s (were, was) good years for Fitzgerald. (Their, Her) manager, Norman Granz, carefully
chose her singing material, and (he, they) provided excellent jazz instrumental support for (it, her). In
fact, Granz’s Jazz at the Philharmonic featured Fitzgerald as (their, its) star attraction. Fitzgerald’s
singing style (were, was) so popular that many singers imitated Fitzgerald’s style in (his or her, their)
own performances. Fitzgerald also became famous for (her, their) “scat” singing. Singers of this style
(imitate, imitates) a trumpet or saxophone with (his or her, their) voices. Mack the Knife: Ella in Berlin (is,
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are) one of her famed scat recordings.
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Example Fans of the jazz artist Ella Fitzgerald mourned (her, their) death in 1996.