FlashKeepers

Grammar · K-12

Pronoun Usage and Agreement Rules

Pronoun-antecedent agreement, case (subject/object/possessive), and common pronoun usage errors. Front: the rule or example sentence. Back: the rule explanation or corrected version.

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Choose the correct sentence: 'Me and my friend went to the store' or 'My friend and I went to the store'?
'My friend and I went to the store.' Use subject pronouns (I, we, he, she, it, they) when the pronoun is the subject of a verb.
Fill in the correct pronoun: 'The teacher gave the assignment to Sarah and ___.' (he/me/I)
'me.' Use object pronouns (me, us, him, her, it, them) when the pronoun receives the action of a verb or follows a preposition.
Is this possessive pronoun correct: 'That book is hers' or 'That book is her's'?
'That book is hers.' Possessive pronouns (mine, yours, his, hers, its, ours, theirs) never use an apostrophe.
A student should bring ___ backpack to school. What pronoun agrees with the singular antecedent 'student'?
Their, his or her, or his. Modern usage accepts 'their' with singular antecedents. Older usage requires 'his or her.'
The players brought ___ uniforms to the game. What pronoun agrees with the plural antecedent 'players'?
'their.' Use a plural pronoun to agree with a plural antecedent.
In 'Who did you see?' should the pronoun be 'who' or 'whom'?
'whom.' 'Who' is a subject pronoun; 'whom' is an object pronoun. The pronoun here receives the action of 'see,' so technically 'whom' is correct.
Explain the difference between 'they're,' 'their,' and 'there.'
'they're' is a contraction of 'they are.' 'their' is a possessive pronoun. 'there' refers to a place.
After a linking verb like 'is,' should you use 'It is me' or 'It is I'?
Technically 'It is I,' since pronouns after linking verbs should be subject pronouns. However, 'It is me' is widely accepted in modern English.
Which is correct: 'Give it to me' or 'Give it to I'?
'Give it to me.' Pronouns after prepositions must be object pronouns.
Does 'Everyone brought their book' have correct pronoun agreement?
Yes, in modern English. 'Everyone' is technically singular but commonly takes the plural pronoun 'their.'
Is this correct: 'The team brought their equipment'?
Yes. Collective nouns like 'team' can take plural pronouns when the group is acting as individuals.
Choose the correct pronoun: 'My brother and I saw ___ in the mirror.' (ourselves/us)
'ourselves.' Reflexive pronouns are used when the subject and object refer to the same person or thing.
In this passage, what is the antecedent of 'she': 'I called my sister yesterday. She was very busy.'?
'my sister.' The pronoun clearly refers to the specific noun from the previous sentence.
When should you use 'this/these' versus 'that/those'?
Use 'this' and 'these' for things nearby. Use 'that' and 'those' for things farther away. This/that = singular; these/those = plural.
Which is correct: 'The book that I read' or 'The book who I read'?
'The book that I read.' Use 'who' for people and 'that' (or 'which') for things.

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