ANTECEDENT = a noun to which a pronoun refers
- The car that I want is on sale.
(car = antecedent that = relative pronoun)
- The man on the boat thinks he is safe without a life jacket.
(man = antecedent he= personal pronoun)
- Does anyone have his or her book.
(anyone = antecedent his/her= possessive pronoun)
WHO and WHOM: Refer to people and members of a group who take
on “human qualities”
- Please give the book to the student who has her hand raised.
- The police officers who stopped my car were polite.
WHOSE: Refers to persons, animals and sometimes to things.
- The student whose books were lost is mad.
WHICH: refers to things, animals and persons considered as a
- The UO basketball team, which played tonight, is undefeated.
THAT: May refer to inanimate objects, places, things, ideas and animals.
- The theory that the earth is round is accepted as fact.
TWO or more antecedent are joined by a conjunction take a plural
- Jody and Jerry coached their (her and his) basketball players.
Singular antecedents joined by OR / NOR take a singular pronoun.
- Neither Tom nor Jerry will present his case to Judge Ito.
With one singular and one plural antecedent joined by OR / NOR
the pronoun agrees with the nearest antecedent.
- Either you or your pals must leave their car keys.
- Either your pals or you must leave your car keys.
Singular indefinite pronouns take a singular pronoun.
- Could someone please give me her book?
(to a group of all women))
- Could someone please give me his book?
(to a group of all men))
- Could someone please give me his or her book?
(to a group of men and women)
- Anyone with a family history of heart disease should have his or her cholesterol checked.