Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement - Free Printable

Let's solve this step-by-step. The task has two parts:

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Part 1: Fill in the blank with the correct pronoun or pair of pronouns

We need to choose the correct pronoun(s) that agree with the underlined antecedent (the noun or noun phrase before the blank). The pronoun must match in number (singular/plural), person, and gender if applicable.

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#### 1. The siblings planned a surprise getaway for _________ parents' anniversary.
- Antecedent: *The siblings* (plural)
- We need a possessive pronoun to show ownership of "parents' anniversary."
- Answer: their
✔ *Their* refers to the siblings’ parents.

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#### 2. The cow raised _________ voice in a surprised moo.
- Antecedent: *The cow* (singular, animal, but treated as singular)
- We need a reflexive or possessive pronoun.
- "Raised its voice" is correct — animals use its.
- Answer: its

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#### 3. The captains of each team accepted _________ award.
- Antecedent: *The captains* (plural)
- But note: “each team” implies individual teams → each captain received their own award.
- So we use their (plural possessive, used inclusively).
- Answer: their

> Note: While some grammar purists might prefer "his or her," their is now widely accepted as the plural possessive form in modern English.

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#### 4. Jessica was proud of _________ older sister and brother.
- Antecedent: *Jessica* (singular, female)
- She is proud of her siblings → possessive pronoun
- Answer: her

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#### 5. The young girl told _________ not to be afraid of the dark.
- Antecedent: *The young girl*
- She told someone — likely herself? But “told _______” needs an object pronoun.
- If she’s telling herself, then it's herself.
- But if it's someone else, it could be “him/her,” but the sentence structure suggests reflexive.
- Most logical: herself (she told herself not to be afraid)
- Answer: herself

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#### 6. Everybody in the class wanted _________ own microscope.
- Antecedent: *Everybody* (singular indefinite pronoun)
- "Everybody" is singular, so use his or her or their.
- Modern usage accepts their as singular.
- Answer: their (or *his or her*, but their is more natural)

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#### 7. Few of the photographers developed _________ own film.
- Antecedent: *Few of the photographers* → plural
- “Few” means several → plural
- So use their
- Answer: their

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#### 8. Brian or Michael will lend _________ microscope to the class.
- Antecedent: *Brian or Michael* → two people, but the subject is singular because “or” makes it either one
- So the pronoun should be singular and masculine (assuming both are male)
- Use his
- Answer: his

> Note: If gender were unknown, we might use “their,” but since names are given and typically male, his is acceptable.

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#### 9. Brian and Michael will lend _________ microscope to the class.
- Antecedent: *Brian and Michael* → compound subject, plural
- They will lend their microscope
- Answer: their

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#### 10. Jackson and Mia said that _________ will be here by 2:00 PM.
- Antecedent: *Jackson and Mia* → two people
- The pronoun must refer to them and be the subject of the clause
- So: they
- Answer: they

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#### 11. Neither Sophia nor Lucy finished _________ sculpture.
- Antecedent: *Neither Sophia nor Lucy* → two females, but “neither...nor” takes singular verb and pronoun
- So we use singular feminine pronoun
- Answer: her

> Because the subject is singular (neither), and both are female → her

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#### 12. Both Paul and Tanesha finished _________ sculpture.
- Antecedent: *Both Paul and Tanesha* → plural
- So use their
- Answer: their

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#### 13. The audience took _________ seats before the start of the play.
- Antecedent: *The audience* → collective noun, treated as singular
- But “audience” refers to people → use their (possessive)
- Answer: their

> Example: "The audience took their seats" — common and accepted

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#### 14. The pack hunted on _________ own occasionally.
- Antecedent: *The pack* → collective noun (like wolves), treated as singular
- “On its own” = independently
- So use its
- Answer: its

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#### 15. The committee of workers gave _________ raises for the coming new year.
- Antecedent: *The committee* → collective noun, often treated as singular
- But “committee of workers” implies the group acted together → they gave themselves raises?
- Wait: who gave the raises? The committee gave themselves raises?
- Or did they give their members raises?

But the sentence says: "The committee of workers gave _________ raises"

It's ambiguous, but logically:
- The committee (as a body) gave themselves raises → themselves
- Or: gave their raises → doesn't make sense ("gave their raises"? No)
- Better: themselves (reflexive)

But let's think: "gave themselves raises" = they gave raises to themselves.

Yes, that works.

Alternatively, if it were "gave the workers raises", but that would require a noun.

So: themselves

- Answer: themselves

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✔ Part 1 Answers:

| # | Answer |
|---|--------|
| 1 | their |
| 2 | its |
| 3 | their |
| 4 | her |
| 5 | herself |
| 6 | their |
| 7 | their |
| 8 | his |
| 9 | their |
|10 | they |
|11 | her |
|12 | their |
|13 | their |
|14 | its |
|15 | themselves |

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Part 2: Correctly use each pronoun and circle the antecedent

Now, for each pronoun, write a sentence using it and circle the antecedent.

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#### 16. its
- Sentence: The cat licked its paws.
- Antecedent: cat → circle "cat"

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#### 17. her
- Sentence: Sarah brought her book to school.
- Antecedent: Sarah → circle "Sarah"

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#### 18. their
- Sentence: The students left their backpacks in the locker room.
- Antecedent: students → circle "students"

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#### 19. himself
- Sentence: John hurt himself while climbing the tree.
- Antecedent: John → circle "John"

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#### 20. they
- Sentence: They went to the park after school.
- Antecedent: They → but “they” is the subject, so what is the antecedent?
- Actually, “they” is a pronoun, so we need to use it in a sentence where the antecedent is clear.

Better example:
- Sentence: The children said they were tired.
- Antecedent: The children → circle "The children"

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✔ Final Answers for Part 2:

16. its
→ The dog wagged its tail.
→ Circle: dog

17. her
→ Emma found her keys under the couch.
→ Circle: Emma

18. their
→ The teachers graded their papers last night.
→ Circle: teachers

19. himself
→ Tom cut himself while cooking.
→ Circle: Tom

20. they
→ The boys said they would help.
→ Circle: The boys

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✔ Complete Solution Summary:

#### Part 1 – Pronouns:

1. their
2. its
3. their
4. her
5. herself
6. their
7. their
8. his
9. their
10. they
11. her
12. their
13. their
14. its
15. themselves

#### Part 2 – Sentence & Antecedent:

16. The dog wagged its tail. → dog
17. Emma found her keys. → Emma
18. The teachers graded their papers. → teachers
19. Tom cut himself. → Tom
20. The boys said they would help. → The boys

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