Pronoun

Reference
Rule 1: Each pronoun must refer
clearly to a single antecedent.

hisskirt
Samuel told Shane that his skirtwas
wastoo
too
short and too tight.
Rule 2: A pronoun should not
refer to a possessive noun [one
that ends in ’s or s’ ].

The cockroach’s antennae searched the air

as ititattempted
attemptedto
tofind
findleftover
leftovercrumbs
crumbsor
or
spilled soda.
Rule 3: Use they with precision.
They should have a single, clear
antecedent.

The company announce to not worry if the

Don’t worry if the stock market is down.
stock market is down. They say that
They say that fluctuations are natural and
fluctuations are natural and won’t hurt your
won’t hurt your long-term investments.
long-term investments.
Rule 4: Use it with precision. It
should have a single, clear
antecedent.

We have watched news and it says in this

week’s National Inquisitor that the Loch
Ness Monster ate Elvis Presley.
Rule 5: Make certain that this,
that, and which have one clear
antecedent.

While juggling the kittens on the dining

room table, Lawrence lost his balance,
grabbed the chandelier, and pulled it out of
whichreally
the ceiling, which reallyupset
upsetJulia.
Julia.
Rule 6: Use you [or any other
second-person pronoun] only for
direct address.

Andre refuses to eat at the campus cafeteria

You pay too much for a soda, Sarah.
because you pay too much for a soda.
Rule 7: Make sure that who,
which, and that refer to the right
types of nouns.

My German shepherd King, whichwho barks

barks incessantly,
incessantly, works works
better better
at deterring
at
deterring
thieves than
thieves
an alarm
than system.
an alarm system.
 Use which for inanimate objects
and unnamed animals.

Our fridge, My lucky pen, The stray cat

which makes which I use to which my
strange write … neighbor
noises … juggles …
Use that for anything unnamed,
though who is best for people.

The iguana The coffee

that Jason maker that
we got as a gift
has as a pet …
…
 Quick Test
Directions: Find and fix the pronoun
reference errors.

1. Valerie prefers eating at Tito’s

Taco Palace because its food is
cheap and she gets a chance to
flirt with the waiter that
that brings
who brings
bringsher
her
her
extra jalapeno peppers without
complaint. Use who for
a person like
waiter.
2. Many students rudely interrupt the
learning of their classmates by
walking in late or having their cell
phones ring. In Student Success,
they warn
they
Professor
warn students
students
Carter warns
that
that such
such
students
behavior
that such adversely
behavior adversely
affects grades.
affects grades.
They had no
logical
antecedent.
3. Ranger, our six-month-old
Dalmatian puppy, sleeps on the
sofa, which is brand new, chews
on chair legs, and chases the cat.
When Mom discovers this,this,chair
the she
she
might she
legs, takemight
Rangertake
to Ranger
animal to
control.control.
animal
This did not have a
single, clear
antecedent.
4. Sam told Albert, “Sheila
Albert that Sheila
willwould
go out
without
go mewith
onlyhim
him
if I only
only
shaveifif he
he
myshaved
shaved
his moustache.
his
moustache.”
moustache.
Him, he, and his
could refer to both
Sam and Albert.
 Dorothy’speeked
Dorothy’s
5. Dorothy eyes
eyespeeked
at Caleb’s
peekedatat
Caleb’s quiz,that
quiz, hoping hoping
shethat she
could see
could
the correct
see the
answer
correct
to answer
questionto
question 27.
27.
She should not
refer to a
possessive noun.
6. Worried about unexpected guests,
Kyle always keeps his bathroom
spotless. You
Youdoesn’t
He don’t
don’twant
want
want
to make a bad impression with
toothpaste in the sink or a dirty
ring in the toilet bowl.

Avoid you unless you

are directly addressing
the reader.
7. Even on a limited budget, Carson
is always fashionable. In Thisthis
magazine ititclaims
magazine claims
claimsthat
that
thatthrift
thrift
thriftstore
store
store
purchases can save a lot of
money for the shopper who has
the patience to comb through all
the items.
Remove an
unnecessary it with
no clear antecedent.
8. Ted told his friend John that
John
he would
would
havehave
made
made
a better
a better
impression on the dinner guests if
he had bought cheap glassware
instead of serving drinks out of
plastic cups.
He can refer to
both Ted and John.
Repeat the name
for clarity.
9. Thomas propped his feet on the
expensive coffee table and
explained that he had met another
woman, which
woman. which
Scuff marks
infuriated
infuriated
onTonya.
Tonya.
the new
furniture infuriated Tonya.

Which did not have

a single, clear
antecedent.
 Jai’sstroked
Jai’s
10. As Jai fingers
fingers
the
stroked
stroked
long, the
soft
thelong,
hair
long,
of his
soft hair
Persian
of his cat,
Persian
he tried
cat, to
herelax
tried to
after a hard
relaxday
after
ataschool
hard day
andat
school and work.
work.
He should not
refer to a
possessive noun.
The End.