Here's a breakdown:
1. Number Agreement:
* Singular Antecedent = Singular Pronoun: If the antecedent is singular (one person, thing, or idea), the pronoun must also be singular.
* Example: "The dog wagged its tail." (Dog is singular, its is singular)
* Plural Antecedent = Plural Pronoun: If the antecedent is plural (more than one person, thing, or idea), the pronoun must also be plural.
* Example: "The dogs wagged their tails." (Dogs is plural, their is plural)
2. Gender Agreement:
* Masculine Antecedent = Masculine Pronoun: Use masculine pronouns (he, him, his) for masculine antecedents.
* Example: "John brought his book."
* Feminine Antecedent = Feminine Pronoun: Use feminine pronouns (she, her, hers) for feminine antecedents.
* Example: "Mary brought her book."
* Neuter Antecedent = Neuter Pronoun: Use neuter pronouns (it, its) for neuter antecedents (things, animals whose gender is unknown or irrelevant).
* Example: "The cat licked its paw."
* Singular Indefinite Pronouns: Many singular indefinite pronouns (e.g., everyone, anybody, someone, no one, anyone, each, either, neither) are considered singular and take singular pronouns.
* Example: "Everyone brought his or her own lunch." (Note: Using "his or her" can be cumbersome. See below for alternatives.)
* Plural Indefinite Pronouns: Some indefinite pronouns (e.g., both, few, many, several) are always plural and take plural pronouns.
* Example: "Many brought their own lunches."
* Collective Nouns: Collective nouns (e.g., team, family, group, class) can be singular or plural depending on whether you're referring to the group as a unit or to the individual members.
* Example: "The team celebrated its victory." (Team as a unit)
* Example: "The team argued amongst themselves about the strategy." (Individual members of the team)
Dealing with Gendered Pronoun Challenges:
The use of "he or she," "his or her," or "him or her" can become awkward and repetitive. Here are some alternatives:
* Rephrasing the sentence: This is often the easiest solution. Instead of focusing on one individual, you can rephrase the sentence to make the subject plural. For example, instead of "Everyone should bring their own lunch," you can say, "Students should bring their own lunches."
* Using "they/them/their": While traditionally considered grammatically incorrect for singular antecedents, the singular "they" is increasingly accepted in both spoken and written English, especially when the gender of the antecedent is unknown or irrelevant. This is the most common modern solution.
In short: Consistent agreement between pronouns and their antecedents is crucial for clear and effective communication. Pay attention to both number and gender to avoid ambiguity and grammatical errors.