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Pronoun-antecedent agreement ensures that pronouns agree in number, gender, and person with the nouns (antecedents) they refer to. It’s crucial for clarity and coherence in writing.

### Basic Rules

1. **Singular antecedents take singular pronouns.**

   – **Example:**

     – The **student** lost **her** laptop.

2. **Plural antecedents take plural pronouns.**

   – **Example:**

     – The **students** lost **their** laptops.

### Advanced Rules and Considerations

#### 1. Indefinite Pronouns

Indefinite pronouns can be tricky. Here’s how to handle them:

– **Always singular**: anybody, anyone, each, either, everybody, everyone, neither, nobody, someone, etc.

  – **Example:**

    – **Everybody** should bring **his or her** own lunch.

– **Always plural**: both, few, many, several.

  – **Example:**

    – **Many** forgot **their** keys.

– **Singular or plural depending on context**: all, any, more, most, none, some.

  – **Example:**

    – **All** of the cake is missing its frosting.

    – **All** of the students forgot **their** assignments.

#### 2. Collective Nouns

Collective nouns can be singular or plural depending on whether the group acts as a unit or as individuals.

– **Example as singular:**

  – The **team** won **its** game.

– **Example as plural:**

  – The **team** are arguing among **themselves**.

#### 3. Compound Antecedents

When joined by **and**, the pronoun will be plural. When joined by **or** or **nor**, the pronoun agrees with the nearest antecedent.

– **Example with “and”:**

  – **John and Mary** said they lost **their** tickets.

– **Example with “or/nor”:**

  – Neither **John nor Mary** has finished **his or her** homework.

  – Either **the manager or the employees** will present **their** report.

#### 4. Gender-Neutral Pronouns

In informal contexts, “they” is increasingly used as a singular, gender-neutral pronoun.

– **Example:**

  – Every **student** should bring **their** laptop.

Though traditional grammarians may prefer “his or her,” “they” is widely accepted in modern usage to avoid gender bias.

#### 5. Titles and Singular Nouns with Plural Meanings

A title or singular noun that appears plural in structure but refers to a single entity takes a singular pronoun.

– **Example:**

  – The **United Nations** held **its** annual meeting.

#### Examples

**Correct Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement:**

1. Each of the **committee members** gave **his or her** opinion.

2. The **jury** reached **its** verdict.

3. Some of the **pie** has lost **its** flavor.

4. Everyone in the hockey **team** must bring **their** own gear.

5. Neither the **teacher nor the students** brought **their** textbooks.

**Incorrect Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement:**

1. Each of the **committee members** gave **their** opinion. (Should be “his or her” or “their” if gender-neutral usage is observed.)

2. The **jury** reached **their** verdict. (Should be “its.”)

3. Some of the **pie** have lost **their** flavor. (Should be “has” and “its.”)

4. Everyone in the hockey **team** must bring **his** own gear. (Avoid gender bias, prefer “their.”)

By following these rules and guidelines, you can ensure that your pronoun-antecedent relationships are clear and grammatically correct.