JS Tip 534: The Grammar Series, Part V

This is the last in our series on grammar. 

We’ve talked about subjects and predicates. 

We’ve talked about agreement between subjects and verbs. 

Our last discussion: agreement between pronouns and antecedents. An antecedent is the word the pronoun represents. Refers to. Harkens back to. 

In “Amy had to renew her driver’s license,” the subject Amy is the antecedent of the pronoun her. (Antecedent comes from the Latin “go before.”) 

Pronouns and antecedents must agree in person, number, and gender. 

Person: Reference. Me? You? Them?  

Incorrect: “If you need a new license, they should go to the DMV.”

Why: “You” is second person—the other person in the conversation. “They” is third person—someone outside the conversation. “You” and “they” don’t agree. They don’t match.  

Correct: “If you need a new license, you should go to the DMV.” 

Number: Quantity. One or many. Singular or plural.  

Incorrect: “I need to renew our driver’s license.”

Why: “I” is singular—one. “Our” is plural—many. They don’t agree. They don’t match.  

Correct: “I  need to renew my driver’s license.”  

Gender: Feminine. Masculine. Neutral. Identity. Identification. 

A caution: The culture is changing. Be aware of people’s sensitivities. 

Incorrect: “Each applicant needs to bring his photo ID.”

Why: “Each applicant” is neutral—no gender identification. “His” is masculine—male. They don’t agree. (Either that or the sentence assumes all applicants are male, and that’s unrealistic and exclusionary.)

Correct: “Each applicant needs to bring a photo ID” or, more simply, “Bring a photo ID.”

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