Pronouns and Antecedents

Pronouns and Antecedents

Grammar Notes

Pronouns and Antecedents

• A pronoun takes the place of a noun or nouns. 

• An antecedent, or referent, is the noun or nouns to which the pronoun refers.  

• A pronoun and its antecedent must agree in number (singular/plural) and gender (male/female/neutral).

Questions to ask:

• Is the antecedent singular or plural?

• If it is singular, determine whether it is masculine (he, him), feminine(she, her), or neutral(you, it).

• Does my pronoun “agree” with the word or words that it replaces or refers?

Examples:

In the following examples, the pronouns are red, and their antecedents are green:

Jay and I walked to the zoo, and we saw the new exhibit.

Jay called Carla to pick him up from the zoo.

Multiple Choice

What is the pronoun that refers to the antecedent?

Infant chimps are cute and cuddly, but eventually (they, it) become more difficult.

• they

• it

Multiple Choice

What is the pronoun that refers to the antecedent?

Faustino's mother tried to comfort (him, them)

• him

• them

Multiple Choice

What is the pronoun that refers to the antecedent?

(We, They) humans must learn to respect the animal kingdom.

• We

• They

Multiple Choice

What is the pronoun that refers to the antecedent?

The African forest is perfect for chimps because (they, it) is full of life.

• they

• it

Multiple Choice

What is the pronoun that refers to the antecedent?

The chimp was caught in a snare, but (he, you) was able to break free.

• he

• you

Multiple Choice

What is the pronoun that refers to the antecedent?

I convinced Tim that (it, he) should come to the zoo with me.

• it

• he

Multiple Choice

What is the pronoun that refers to the antecedent?

Jane Goodall worked at the Gombe Stream Research Center, where (she, they) studied chimps.

• she

• they

Multiple Choice

What is the pronoun that refers to the antecedent?

Chimps sometimes make a tool and use (them, it)

• them

• it

Fill in the Blanks

Write the pronoun that completes the sentence:

Hunters kill animals so

can sell the meat in the big town.

Fill in the Blanks

What is the pronoun that refers to the antecedent?

The "bush meat trade" will be hard to stop because

is a big money-making operation.

Fill in the Blanks

Dr. John wanted JoJo to walk to

. (he, him)

Fill in the Blanks

What is the pronoun that refers to the antecedent?

Alexander and I sat next to Fax, and she played with

.