Pronoun and Antecedent Homework Worksheet
A homework worksheet titled "Homework" from Learn Bright, featuring exercises on pronouns and antecedents with 15 sentences to complete and 5 pronoun usage questions.
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Step-by-step solution for: Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement
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Show Answer Key & Explanations
Step-by-step solution for: Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement
Let's solve this step-by-step. The task has two parts:
---
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.
---
#### 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.
---
#### 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
---
#### 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.
---
#### 4. Jessica was proud of _________ older sister and brother.
- Antecedent: *Jessica* (singular, female)
- She is proud of her siblings → possessive pronoun needed.
- Answer: her
---
#### 5. The young girl told _________ not to be afraid of the dark.
- Antecedent: *The young girl* (singular, female)
- She told someone — likely herself? But it’s ambiguous.
- However, "told herself" makes sense — she gave herself encouragement.
- Answer: herself
> This is a reflexive pronoun because the subject and object are the same.
---
#### 6. Everybody in the class wanted _________ own microscope.
- Antecedent: *Everybody* (singular indefinite pronoun)
- Even though "class" is plural, "everybody" is singular.
- So we use his or her or their (modern usage).
- Answer: their (preferred today)
> "Their" is acceptable here even with singular antecedents like "everyone."
---
#### 7. Few of the photographers developed _________ own film.
- Antecedent: *Few of the photographers* → plural
- So we need a plural possessive pronoun.
- Answer: their
---
#### 8. Brian or Michael will lend _________ microscope to the class.
- Antecedent: *Brian or Michael* → two people, but the sentence uses "will" (singular verb), so it’s treated as singular.
- When choosing between two people, use his or her or their.
- Since both are male, his could work, but their is more inclusive and acceptable.
- However, traditional grammar says: "Either Brian or Michael will lend his microscope..."
- But modern usage accepts their.
- Best answer: his or her or their
✔ For consistency and inclusivity, their is best.
---
#### 9. Brian and Michael will lend _________ microscope to the class.
- Antecedent: *Brian and Michael* → plural
- They are two people → plural possessive pronoun.
- Answer: their
---
#### 10. Jackson and Mia said that _________ will be here by 2:00 PM.
- Antecedent: *Jackson and Mia* → plural
- They are saying something about themselves → reflexive or personal pronoun.
- "They will be here..." → they
- But the blank is after "that" — so we need a subject pronoun.
- Answer: they
---
#### 11. Neither Sophia nor Lucy finished _________ sculpture.
- Antecedent: *Sophia nor Lucy* → two people, but "neither...nor" makes the subject singular.
- So we use singular possessive.
- Both are female → her
- Answer: her
> "Neither Sophia nor Lucy" = one person → her
---
#### 12. Both Paul and Tanesha finished _________ sculpture.
- Antecedent: *Both Paul and Tanesha* → plural
- So plural possessive.
- Answer: their
---
#### 13. The audience took _________ seats before the start of the play.
- Antecedent: *The audience* → collective noun, usually treated as singular.
- But "took seats" implies multiple people → plural meaning.
- Use their to reflect the plural nature of the group.
- Answer: their
---
#### 14. The pack hunted on _________ own occasionally.
- Antecedent: *The pack* → collective noun (animals), singular
- But "on their own" is idiomatic → means independently.
- Answer: their
> "On their own" is a common expression, even with singular antecedents.
---
#### 15. The committee of workers gave _________ raises for the coming new year.
- Antecedent: *The committee* → collective noun
- But "committee of workers" implies the group made decisions together → plural action.
- So they gave their raises → their
> Answer: their
---
1. their
2. its
3. their
4. her
5. herself
6. their
7. their
8. their (or his or her)
9. their
10. they
11. her
12. their
13. their
14. their
15. their
---
Now, for each pronoun, write a sentence using it and circle the antecedent.
---
#### 16. its
- Sentence: The cat licked its paws.
- Circle: cat
> ✔ Antecedent: *cat*
---
#### 17. her
- Sentence: Maria brought her book to school.
- Circle: Maria
> ✔ Antecedent: *Maria*
---
#### 18. their
- Sentence: The students left their backpacks in the hallway.
- Circle: students
> ✔ Antecedent: *students*
---
#### 19. himself
- Sentence: John hurt himself while climbing.
- Circle: John
> ✔ Antecedent: *John*
---
#### 20. they
- Sentence: They went to the park yesterday.
- Circle: They → but wait! "They" is the subject, so the antecedent is implied.
But the instruction says: *"correctly use each of the pronouns and circle the antecedent for the pronoun."*
So we need a sentence where "they" refers back to a noun.
Example:
- Sentence: The children were excited because they got ice cream.
- Circle: children
> ✔ Antecedent: *children*
---
#### Part 1:
1. their
2. its
3. their
4. her
5. herself
6. their
7. their
8. their
9. their
10. they
11. her
12. their
13. their
14. their
15. their
#### Part 2:
16. The dog wagged its tail. → dog (circled)
17. Sarah handed her lunch to the teacher. → Sarah (circled)
18. The boys forgot their homework. → boys (circled)
19. Tom tripped and bruised himself. → Tom (circled)
20. The team celebrated because they won the game. → team (circled)
---
Let me know if you'd like these formatted neatly for printing or submission!
---
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.
---
#### 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.
---
#### 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
---
#### 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.
---
#### 4. Jessica was proud of _________ older sister and brother.
- Antecedent: *Jessica* (singular, female)
- She is proud of her siblings → possessive pronoun needed.
- Answer: her
---
#### 5. The young girl told _________ not to be afraid of the dark.
- Antecedent: *The young girl* (singular, female)
- She told someone — likely herself? But it’s ambiguous.
- However, "told herself" makes sense — she gave herself encouragement.
- Answer: herself
> This is a reflexive pronoun because the subject and object are the same.
---
#### 6. Everybody in the class wanted _________ own microscope.
- Antecedent: *Everybody* (singular indefinite pronoun)
- Even though "class" is plural, "everybody" is singular.
- So we use his or her or their (modern usage).
- Answer: their (preferred today)
> "Their" is acceptable here even with singular antecedents like "everyone."
---
#### 7. Few of the photographers developed _________ own film.
- Antecedent: *Few of the photographers* → plural
- So we need a plural possessive pronoun.
- Answer: their
---
#### 8. Brian or Michael will lend _________ microscope to the class.
- Antecedent: *Brian or Michael* → two people, but the sentence uses "will" (singular verb), so it’s treated as singular.
- When choosing between two people, use his or her or their.
- Since both are male, his could work, but their is more inclusive and acceptable.
- However, traditional grammar says: "Either Brian or Michael will lend his microscope..."
- But modern usage accepts their.
- Best answer: his or her or their
✔ For consistency and inclusivity, their is best.
---
#### 9. Brian and Michael will lend _________ microscope to the class.
- Antecedent: *Brian and Michael* → plural
- They are two people → plural possessive pronoun.
- Answer: their
---
#### 10. Jackson and Mia said that _________ will be here by 2:00 PM.
- Antecedent: *Jackson and Mia* → plural
- They are saying something about themselves → reflexive or personal pronoun.
- "They will be here..." → they
- But the blank is after "that" — so we need a subject pronoun.
- Answer: they
---
#### 11. Neither Sophia nor Lucy finished _________ sculpture.
- Antecedent: *Sophia nor Lucy* → two people, but "neither...nor" makes the subject singular.
- So we use singular possessive.
- Both are female → her
- Answer: her
> "Neither Sophia nor Lucy" = one person → her
---
#### 12. Both Paul and Tanesha finished _________ sculpture.
- Antecedent: *Both Paul and Tanesha* → plural
- So plural possessive.
- Answer: their
---
#### 13. The audience took _________ seats before the start of the play.
- Antecedent: *The audience* → collective noun, usually treated as singular.
- But "took seats" implies multiple people → plural meaning.
- Use their to reflect the plural nature of the group.
- Answer: their
---
#### 14. The pack hunted on _________ own occasionally.
- Antecedent: *The pack* → collective noun (animals), singular
- But "on their own" is idiomatic → means independently.
- Answer: their
> "On their own" is a common expression, even with singular antecedents.
---
#### 15. The committee of workers gave _________ raises for the coming new year.
- Antecedent: *The committee* → collective noun
- But "committee of workers" implies the group made decisions together → plural action.
- So they gave their raises → their
> Answer: their
---
✔ Part 1 Answers:
1. their
2. its
3. their
4. her
5. herself
6. their
7. their
8. their (or his or her)
9. their
10. they
11. her
12. their
13. their
14. their
15. their
---
Part 2: Correctly use each pronoun and circle the antecedent
Now, for each pronoun, write a sentence using it and circle the antecedent.
---
#### 16. its
- Sentence: The cat licked its paws.
- Circle: cat
> ✔ Antecedent: *cat*
---
#### 17. her
- Sentence: Maria brought her book to school.
- Circle: Maria
> ✔ Antecedent: *Maria*
---
#### 18. their
- Sentence: The students left their backpacks in the hallway.
- Circle: students
> ✔ Antecedent: *students*
---
#### 19. himself
- Sentence: John hurt himself while climbing.
- Circle: John
> ✔ Antecedent: *John*
---
#### 20. they
- Sentence: They went to the park yesterday.
- Circle: They → but wait! "They" is the subject, so the antecedent is implied.
But the instruction says: *"correctly use each of the pronouns and circle the antecedent for the pronoun."*
So we need a sentence where "they" refers back to a noun.
Example:
- Sentence: The children were excited because they got ice cream.
- Circle: children
> ✔ Antecedent: *children*
---
✔ Final Answers:
#### Part 1:
1. their
2. its
3. their
4. her
5. herself
6. their
7. their
8. their
9. their
10. they
11. her
12. their
13. their
14. their
15. their
#### Part 2:
16. The dog wagged its tail. → dog (circled)
17. Sarah handed her lunch to the teacher. → Sarah (circled)
18. The boys forgot their homework. → boys (circled)
19. Tom tripped and bruised himself. → Tom (circled)
20. The team celebrated because they won the game. → team (circled)
---
Let me know if you'd like these formatted neatly for printing or submission!
Parent Tip: Review the logic above to help your child master the concept of pronoun references worksheet.
