The World for Freedom

Revision as of 02:25, 2 May 2020

Pronouns must agree with their antecedents (The word the pronoun is replacing is the antecedent.), both nouns and pronouns. This means that if the antecedent is singular, the pronoun must be singular. If the antecedent is plural, or 3rd person, the pronoun must be plural. They are as follows:

Singular Pronoun with 2 Antecedents If you have two antecedents,

The teacher asked the question to Jane and Joan and she answered correctly.
Who is the “she” referring to, Jane or Joan?


Exercises: Correct the sentences to make them proper.
1. I spoke with Bill and John and he agreed to help.
2. Even Though they worked on the project together, Ralph told Chris that he did more work.
3. After Bill waited for Jim for over an hour, he told him that he was angry.
4. Rex knew that if Chris and Mark didn’t learn the material, he would fail the class.
5.Mary called Melisa and Karen on the phone, but she didn’t answer.

Pronouns’ antecedents must be clear & pronouns must match the ideas or clauses. Exercises: Correct the sentences to make them proper.
1. Boys these days seem to have a hard time sitting patiently, focusing on their work, and listening to the teacher, and that’s why, more boys diagnosed with ADHD than girls are diagnosed with the disorder.
2. Rocket scientists must study math, physics and aerodynamics, so this is what earns them the big bucks.
3. Bill rides bikes, mopeds, and scooters, but that’s not all he can do.
4. Janey can speak Korean, German, and English, and that’s why she will become a linguist.
5. Jim talks a lot of nonsense about people, these won’t make him many friends.

Pronouns must refer to something specific
Sam smashed his scooter into a pole, but it was not damaged.
What was smashed, the pole or the scooter? It's unclear.

Exercises: Correct the sentences to make them proper.
1.They went to volunteer to help students.
2.We will help them to complete their project.
3.I was holding a watermelon then, lifted up my cart over the curb by the handle, and it smashed to the ground.
4.You should try ballet or gymnastics, it is a great work out.
5. Whenever we walk up the mountain to get spring water, it is great.

Pronoun Verb Agreement

Pronouns and verbs must agree with their subjects.

Exercises: Correct the sentences to make them proper.
1. Hank and Jonet always works hard on projects for her class.
2. The boy create a new way to play the game.
3. A soldier one going to march to the officer.
4. The doctor, an expert among his peers, are going to the hospital.
5.The audience, filled with musicians energetically for the famous band themselves are clapping.
6.Each of the students drew their own comics, in order for him to pass.
7.The flock of birds flew high in the sky until they needed to rest.
8.A manager in the company will meet with the employees when it has time.
9.Everybody learns their lines to be in the play.
10.My brother picked up the puppies and put it in the box.

Or- The noun closest to “or” is what is used to determine whether the verb changes or stays the same.

Exercises: Correct the sentences to make them proper.
1. Bill or James eat the most.
2. The boys or mom are going to come home first.
3. My uncle or cousin is coming here by three to drop off photos.
4. My mother or father cooks breakfast every morning.
5. John or Jane brings food the homeless for our church.

Either...or, neither...nor These correlative conjunctions confuse many students who don’t know that the verb agrees with the subject closer to the verb. Either... or

Exercises: Correct the sentences to make them proper.
1. Either Bill or William are working tonight.
2. Either the janitors or the plumber are mopping up the water.
3. Either you or I are going to pitch the ball in the game.
4. Either the chief or the sheriff order the citizens to disperse.
5. Either my mom or my dad wake me up for school.

Neither or Nor

Exercises: Correct the sentences to make them proper.


1. Neither Chris nor Steve are ready to go yet.
2. Neither the teachers nor the Principal discipline the students.
3. Neither he nor she are able to run fast.
4. Neither the horse nor the ox is strong enough to move the truck.
5. Neither the doctor nor the nurses touches a patient without signed consent.

And vs- Along with, as well as, besides, in addition, in addition to, including. When two or more subjects are connected with “and”, use a plural verb to connect them.
And

Exercises: Correct the sentences to make them proper.

1.My bike and scooter is both broken.
2.My uncle and aunt was continuously calling for their dog.
3.Jim and Masako is trying to be class president.
4.Hyo and Jin are the primary example of a good student.
5.My heart and lungs work perfectly.

Along with, as well as, besides, in addition, etc.
When the subject(s) are separated from the verb by these types of words or expressions, ignore them and focus on the subject.
1.The principal, along with the faculty, are competing against the students.
2.Chris, as well as Joe, play soccer very well.
3.The smell of the house, including every room are terrible.
4.The groups at the seminar, besides the adolescents, need to pay an entrance fee.
5.The very intelligent teacher, in addition to his students, enters the classroom at 7:45 AM.

Additional Points on Pronoun Usage for the SAT

A pronoun uses the subjective case when it is the subject of a sentence or when it remains the subject as a subject complement. A subject complement is a word or phrase that follows a linking verb (seem, be, am, is, are, been, will be, feel.
A subject complement can be either a noun, pronoun, or adjective. (Don’t use adverbs!)
A subject complement is not a direct object.

Examples:
Christopher is a student. (The linking verb “is” is the subject complement is “student” which identifies Christopher. The subject complement in this case is a noun, student.)
That bike looks smashed to bits.
I am he.
It will be good.
The principal seemed concerned. (concerned is an adjective describing the subject’s behavior.)
Exercise: Now write 5 of your own sentences.

Subject pronouns - I, he, she, it, you, we, they should be used for the subject position.

Object pronouns - me, him, her, it, you, us, them must be used in the object position.

The teacher and were both reprimanded for yelling at each other. (me should be I because both the teacher and me are in the subject position.)

**Pronouns must be clear.
Examples:
The coach and he were both on the track.
The owner and it walked up and down the street three times a day.
He and she finished the project before anyone else.
Although we handed our essays in late, Bill and I received good grades.
Remember to pay him.
Exercise: Now write 5 of your own sentences.