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Pronoun agreement with compound...
Introduction
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Sometimes the antecedents of a pronoun are words joined by and, or, or nor. Follow these steps to make sure the pronoun agrees with a compound antecedent.
Identify the conjunctionthe word that joins the antecedents together. The conjunctions in the following sentences are italicized.
Both Dave and Joel had their bikes stolen last week.
Neither Dave nor the other apartment residents had been locking their bikes.
Neither the police officers who investigated the thefts nor the apartment manager offered his help.
Choose the pronoun form based on the conjunction.
If the conjunction is and, use the plural pronoun (in this case, their).
If the conjunction is or or nor, use the pronoun that agrees in number with the closer antecedent. In sentence (b), the other apartment residents is the antecedent closer to the pronoun, so the plural pronoun their is correct. In sentence (c), the apartment manager is the antecedent closer to the pronoun, so the singular pronoun his is correct.
In cases where a singular and a plural antecedent are joined by or or nor, it will usually sound more natural to place the plural antecedent second and use a plural pronoun.
Awkward: Neither the police officers nor the apartment manager offered his help.
(apartment manager is singular, so his is used)
Revised: Neither the apartment manager nor the police officers offered their help. (police officers is plural, so their is used)
- If two singular pronouns of different genders are being conjoined by or or nor, it may be less awkward to revise the sentence.
Awkward: Either Raoul or Brittany had her bike stolen last week.
(Brittany is singular feminine; therefore, her is used)
Revised: Either Raoul or Brittany had a bike stolen last week.
(the article a is used instead of a pronoun)
Remember: If a compound antecedent is joined by and, use a plural pronoun. If it is joined by or or nor, use a pronoun that agrees with the last noun being conjoined. Revise the sentence if this rule results in an awkward construction.
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