Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement Practice worksheet with exercises for students to identify correct pronoun usage.
A worksheet titled "Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement Practice" with 15 exercises requiring students to underline pronouns that agree with their antecedents.
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Show Answer Key & Explanations
Step-by-step solution for: Subject-Verb and Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement Quiz - ESL worksheet
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Show Answer Key & Explanations
Step-by-step solution for: Subject-Verb and Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement Quiz - ESL worksheet
Let's solve Exercise 1: Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement Practice. The goal is to underline the pronoun that agrees with its antecedent in each sentence.
We need to identify the antecedent (the noun the pronoun refers to) and choose the correct pronoun form (their/his or her, his/her, etc.) based on number (singular/plural) and gender (if relevant). Remember:
- Singular indefinite pronouns like *nobody*, *somebody*, *anybody*, *each*, *either*, *neither*, *everyone*, *everybody* take singular pronouns.
- Plural indefinite pronouns like *many*, *some*, *both*, *few* take plural pronouns.
- "Either...or" and "Neither...nor" follow the closer antecedent rule.
- "Each of" takes a singular pronoun.
- "Both" takes a plural pronoun.
---
1. Nobody brought (their/his or her) jacket.
✔ Underline: his or her
→ "Nobody" is singular and indefinite, so it requires a singular pronoun. "Their" is plural; "his or her" is singular.
⚠️ Note: While "their" is increasingly accepted as singular, in formal grammar, "his or her" is still preferred for strict agreement.
2. Some of the students raised (their/his or her) hands.
✔ Underline: their
→ "Some of the students" = plural antecedent → use plural pronoun "their".
3. Each of the girls took (their/her) turn.
✔ Underline: her
→ "Each of the girls" means one girl at a time → singular antecedent → use "her".
(Even though "girls" is plural, "each" makes the subject singular.)
4. Either the boys or Cindy will volunteer (their/her) time.
✔ Underline: her
→ "Either...or" follows the closer antecedent rule: "Cindy" is closer and singular → use "her".
5. Someone left (their/his or her) gloves.
✔ Underline: his or her
→ "Someone" is singular → use singular pronoun. "Their" is plural; "his or her" is correct here.
6. Neither Bob or Jack brought (their/his) shoes.
✔ Underline: his
→ "Neither Bob nor Jack" — both are singular males. But since it's "neither," we treat it as singular. Use "his" (assuming male).
⚠️ Note: "Their" would be incorrect because it's singular. "His" is acceptable if both are male. If gender is unknown, "his or her" might be better, but "his" is used here assuming male.
7. Most of the kids like (their/his or her) teacher.
✔ Underline: their
→ "Most of the kids" = plural → use "their".
8. Everybody must ask (their/his or her) parents for permission.
✔ Underline: his or her
→ "Everybody" is singular → use singular pronoun. "Their" is plural; "his or her" is correct.
9. Many of the teachers drove (their/his or her) car.
✔ Underline: their
→ "Many of the teachers" = plural → use "their".
10. One of the boys lost (their/his) book.
✔ Underline: his
→ "One of the boys" → singular antecedent ("one") → use "his".
11. Somebody should raise (their/his or her) hand.
✔ Underline: his or her
→ "Somebody" is singular → use singular pronoun → "his or her".
12. Nobody dropped (their/his or her) cards.
✔ Underline: his or her
→ "Nobody" is singular → use singular pronoun → "his or her".
13. Bob and Jose lost (their/his) pencil.
✔ Underline: their
→ "Bob and Jose" = two people → plural → use "their".
14. Maria or Cindy brought (their/her) car.
✔ Underline: her
→ "Maria or Cindy" — both are female, singular individuals. "Or" follows the closer antecedent → "Cindy" is closer → use "her".
15. Anybody who likes grammar should raise (their/his or her) hand.
✔ Underline: his or her
→ "Anybody" is singular → use singular pronoun → "his or her".
---
1. his or her
2. their
3. her
4. her
5. his or her
6. his
7. their
8. his or her
9. their
10. his
11. his or her
12. his or her
13. their
14. her
15. his or her
---
- Singular indefinite pronouns (nobody, somebody, anybody, everybody, either, neither, each, one) → singular pronouns.
- Plural indefinite pronouns (some, many, both, few) → plural pronouns.
- "Either...or" / "Neither...nor" → use the pronoun that agrees with the closer antecedent.
- "Each of" → always singular.
- "Both" → plural.
- "Their" is plural; avoid using it with singular antecedents unless you're using it as a gender-neutral singular (which is becoming common but not always accepted in formal writing).
Let me know if you'd like a version with the underlines shown!
We need to identify the antecedent (the noun the pronoun refers to) and choose the correct pronoun form (their/his or her, his/her, etc.) based on number (singular/plural) and gender (if relevant). Remember:
- Singular indefinite pronouns like *nobody*, *somebody*, *anybody*, *each*, *either*, *neither*, *everyone*, *everybody* take singular pronouns.
- Plural indefinite pronouns like *many*, *some*, *both*, *few* take plural pronouns.
- "Either...or" and "Neither...nor" follow the closer antecedent rule.
- "Each of" takes a singular pronoun.
- "Both" takes a plural pronoun.
---
Solutions with Explanations
1. Nobody brought (their/his or her) jacket.
✔ Underline: his or her
→ "Nobody" is singular and indefinite, so it requires a singular pronoun. "Their" is plural; "his or her" is singular.
⚠️ Note: While "their" is increasingly accepted as singular, in formal grammar, "his or her" is still preferred for strict agreement.
2. Some of the students raised (their/his or her) hands.
✔ Underline: their
→ "Some of the students" = plural antecedent → use plural pronoun "their".
3. Each of the girls took (their/her) turn.
✔ Underline: her
→ "Each of the girls" means one girl at a time → singular antecedent → use "her".
(Even though "girls" is plural, "each" makes the subject singular.)
4. Either the boys or Cindy will volunteer (their/her) time.
✔ Underline: her
→ "Either...or" follows the closer antecedent rule: "Cindy" is closer and singular → use "her".
5. Someone left (their/his or her) gloves.
✔ Underline: his or her
→ "Someone" is singular → use singular pronoun. "Their" is plural; "his or her" is correct here.
6. Neither Bob or Jack brought (their/his) shoes.
✔ Underline: his
→ "Neither Bob nor Jack" — both are singular males. But since it's "neither," we treat it as singular. Use "his" (assuming male).
⚠️ Note: "Their" would be incorrect because it's singular. "His" is acceptable if both are male. If gender is unknown, "his or her" might be better, but "his" is used here assuming male.
7. Most of the kids like (their/his or her) teacher.
✔ Underline: their
→ "Most of the kids" = plural → use "their".
8. Everybody must ask (their/his or her) parents for permission.
✔ Underline: his or her
→ "Everybody" is singular → use singular pronoun. "Their" is plural; "his or her" is correct.
9. Many of the teachers drove (their/his or her) car.
✔ Underline: their
→ "Many of the teachers" = plural → use "their".
10. One of the boys lost (their/his) book.
✔ Underline: his
→ "One of the boys" → singular antecedent ("one") → use "his".
11. Somebody should raise (their/his or her) hand.
✔ Underline: his or her
→ "Somebody" is singular → use singular pronoun → "his or her".
12. Nobody dropped (their/his or her) cards.
✔ Underline: his or her
→ "Nobody" is singular → use singular pronoun → "his or her".
13. Bob and Jose lost (their/his) pencil.
✔ Underline: their
→ "Bob and Jose" = two people → plural → use "their".
14. Maria or Cindy brought (their/her) car.
✔ Underline: her
→ "Maria or Cindy" — both are female, singular individuals. "Or" follows the closer antecedent → "Cindy" is closer → use "her".
15. Anybody who likes grammar should raise (their/his or her) hand.
✔ Underline: his or her
→ "Anybody" is singular → use singular pronoun → "his or her".
---
✔ Final Answer Summary (Underlined Words):
1. his or her
2. their
3. her
4. her
5. his or her
6. his
7. their
8. his or her
9. their
10. his
11. his or her
12. his or her
13. their
14. her
15. his or her
---
📝 Key Takeaways:
- Singular indefinite pronouns (nobody, somebody, anybody, everybody, either, neither, each, one) → singular pronouns.
- Plural indefinite pronouns (some, many, both, few) → plural pronouns.
- "Either...or" / "Neither...nor" → use the pronoun that agrees with the closer antecedent.
- "Each of" → always singular.
- "Both" → plural.
- "Their" is plural; avoid using it with singular antecedents unless you're using it as a gender-neutral singular (which is becoming common but not always accepted in formal writing).
Let me know if you'd like a version with the underlines shown!
Parent Tip: Review the logic above to help your child master the concept of worksheets on pronoun antecedent agreement with answers.
