Pronoun-antecedent agreement is an important aspect of English grammar that can be tricky to master. Fortunately, Purdue OWL offers a variety of exercises to help writers understand this concept better.

What is Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement?

Pronoun-antecedent agreement refers to the agreement between a pronoun and the noun it refers to, known as the antecedent. This agreement ensures that the pronoun matches the number and gender of the antecedent. For example:

– Incorrect: The dog wagged they`re tail.

– Correct: The dogs wagged their tails.

In the incorrect sentence, the pronoun „they`re” does not agree with the antecedent „dog,” which is singular. The correct sentence uses the plural pronoun „their” to match the plural antecedent „dogs.”

Purdue OWL Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement Exercises

Purdue OWL is a go-to resource for writers looking to improve their grammar skills. Their website offers an array of exercises that writers can use to practice pronoun-antecedent agreement. These exercises are helpful because they provide examples of sentences with incorrect pronoun-antecedent agreement, and the writer must correct the errors by choosing the correct pronoun to match the antecedent.

Some of the exercises on Purdue OWL include:

– Identifying Pronouns: This exercise asks the writer to identify the pronouns in a given sentence and determine whether they agree with their antecedents.

– Fill in the Blank: This exercise gives the writer a sentence with a missing pronoun, and the writer must choose the correct pronoun to match the antecedent.

– Multiple Choice: This exercise provides multiple choice options for the writer to choose the correct pronoun to match the antecedent.

These exercises are a great way to improve your understanding and mastery of pronoun-antecedent agreement. By practicing with these exercises, you can identify common errors and learn how to correctly match pronouns with their antecedents.

Conclusion

Pronoun-antecedent agreement is an essential aspect of English grammar that writers must understand to communicate effectively. Purdue OWL offers a variety of exercises that can help writers practice and master this concept. By using these exercises, writers can improve their grammar skills, avoid common errors, and communicate more clearly in their writing.