ERRORS IN PRONOUN-ANTECEDENT AGREEMENT

Unclear Pronoun Reference (The antecedent is ambiguous.)
 
INCORRECT: The singer told the conductor that he was off beat. (Does he refer to the singer or to the conductor?)
 
CORRECTED:  The singer told the conductor that the singer was off  beat.
 
CORRECTED:  The singer said, "I am off  beat."
 
Missing Antecedent (No antecedent for the pronoun)
 
INCORRECT: Before the children could get to the hot dog stand, they were sold out.
 
CORRECTED: Before the children could get to the hot dog stand, the hotdogs were sold out.
 
INCORRECT: Some of them escaped before the hands could repair the bulls' pens.
 
INCORRECT: Some of the bulls escaped before the hands could repair the pens.
 
INCORRECT:  In Texas, they like football.
 
CORRECTED:  In Texas, the fans like football.
 
Unnecessary Pronoun (Do not use a pronoun which is not needed.)
 
INCORRECT:  In the book, it implies that income is rising.
 
CORRECTED: The book implies that income is rising.
 
INCORRECT: In my proposal, it reports the cost.
 
CORRECTED: My proposal reports the cost.
 
INCORRECT: It said in the newspaper that the incidents were unrelated.
 
CORRECTED: The newspaper proposed that the incidents were unrelated.

Implied Antecedent

Carl said that his car was being repaired. This means that he needs transportation.

**In your handbook, read the section on Indefinite Pronouns. Write the indefinite pronouns in your notebook.


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