Description: This lesson provides students with a grammar review exercise about pronoun-antecedent agreement in writing (and speaking)
Objectives: For grade level 8,
(competency goal 6) The learner will apply conventions
of grammar and language usage. Specifically, the learner will use pronouns
correctly, including clear antecedents and correct case (6.01) and will be able
to identify errors in spoken and written English (6.02). This lesson would be
used during instruction for writing assignments, or following demonstration of
errors in student writing and speaking.
Goals: Students will understand what pronoun-antecedent agreement is, and will learn how to correct problems with pronoun-antecedent agreement.
Materials/Resources: Materials needed: Overhead
projector; pencils; handouts of pronoun agreement rules; handouts of exercise
for classwork; transparencies of handouts.
Time needed: 20 minutes.
Procedure/Script:
Give students the �Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement�
guidelines handouts and explain the �rules� for pronoun-antecedent agreement. First ask students, as a review, to
define pronouns.
[Wait for
response.]
�Write these on your sheet and we�ll file these in
our notebooks to keep.�
�A pronoun
is a substitute for a noun. It refers to a person, place, thing, feeling, or quality
but does not refer to it by its name. What is an antecedent?�
[Wait for
responses, then explain the definition of the antecedent.]
�An antecedent
is the word, phrase, or clause to which a pronoun refers, understood by the
context. For example, in the sentence, �Anybody can have his picture made at
the studio,� the pronoun is �his� and the antecedent is �anybody�.� [Write the sentence on the overhead.]
Explain, �The problem comes when we say or write
sentences in which the pronoun and antecedent don�t agree. Although we tend to
say these incorrectly at times (but we shouldn�t), the error is even more
noticeable when written.�����������
�The basic principle is, �A pronoun usually refers to
something earlier in the text (its antecedent) and must agree in number
� singular/plural � with the thing to which it refers�.�
�So, some of the rules to remember are (fill these
in on your sheet):
1. The indefinite pronouns anyone, anybody, everyone, everybody, someone, somebody, no one,
and nobody are always singular.
This is sometimes perplexing to writers who feel that everyone and everybody
(especially) are referring to more than one person. The same is true of either and neither, which are always singular even though they seem to be
referring to two things.�
On board or overhead projector, write and discuss an
example of an incorrect sentence, such as, �Everyone needs to stay in their
seat.�� Explain that �everyone� is
singular, and �their� is plural, so the two don�t agree. Ask students to help
revise the sentence.
[Wait for
response, and write revised sentences on� transparency.]
�The revised sentence should read, �Everyone needs
to stay in his seat.� or�
�They need to stay in their seats�.�
�Besides number, our pronouns must agree in other ways with the antecedents to which
they refer. So, another rule to remember is:
2. The need for pronoun-antecedent agreement can
create gender problems. If one were
to write, for instance, �A student must see his counselor before the end of the
semester,� when there are female students around, nothing but grief will
follow. One can pluralize, in this situation, to avoid the problem.�
[Say� the revised sentences:]
�
Students must see their counselor before the end of the semester.
Or, one could say
�
A student must see his or her counselor. . . .
�But, too many his's and her's eventually become annoying,
however, and the reader becomes more aware of the writer trying to be conscious
of good form than he or she is of the writer�s thoughts.
3. Trying to conform to the above rule (#2) can lead
to a great deal of nonsense. Although it is incorrect, it�s widely regarded as
being correct (or correct enough),� to say
�
Somebody has left their bag on the floor. [Display sentence on board.]
but many people would object to
its being written that way because somebody is singular and their is plural. But, we want to learn
to say it and write it correctly. I don�t think people take us seriously as
writers when we use incorrect grammar.�
[Ask for
students to revise the sentence correctly, and write responses on board or
transparency.]
�We also have to remember that,
4. When we compound a pronoun with something else,
we don't want to change its form. Following this rule carefully often creates
something that doesn't sound good.�
�You would write, �This
money is for me,� so when someone else becomes involved, don't write, �This
money is for Fred and
����������� [Write
the following sentences on the board and wait for response.]
�
This money is for him and me.
�
This arrangement is between Fred and him.
�Those are both good sentences.�