Grammar & Punctuation

Pronoun Agreement

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

Agreement in Number

If the subject of the sentence is a pronoun, that pronoun needs to agree in number with the verb.

  • INCORRECT: Neither of my coworkers are taking a vacation this month.
  • CORRECT: Neither of my coworkers is taking a vacation this month.

 

Indefinite Pronouns

Some indefinite pronouns are always singular:

anybody everybody anyone everyone
anything everything another each
either neither one no one
nobody someone somebody  
  • CORRECT: Someone has to take responsibility for this mistake.
  • CORRECT: Everyone is welcome to come to the party.

Some are always plural:

both few several many
  • CORRECT: Several students have formed a study group.
  • CORRECT: Both of the doctor shared their personal opinion about the case.

And some can be both singular or plural depending on the kind of noun they refer to.

  • CORRECT: Several students have formed a study group.
  • CORRECT: Both of the doctor shared their personal opinion about the case.

 

And some can be both singular or plural depending on the kind of noun they refer to.

all any most none some
  • CORRECT: All of the tests have been graded.
  • CORRECT: All of the food has been taken. 

 

Relative Pronouns

A relative pronoun is a pronoun that refers to a noun preceding it in the sentence. This noun is called its antecedent. Relative pronouns need to agree with their antecedents in number. 

  • CORRECT: Tim is one of the students who were chosen to represent the school.
  • CORRECT: Tim is the student who has the highest test scores.