Peaceable pronouns revisited

Pronouns are peaceable creatures—they like to agree with the words they refer to (called their antecedents). English pronouns should agree with their antecedents in gender, number and person. To test your knowledge of pronoun agreement, pick the answer that is best in formal writing for each question below.

1. Gabriel and Sophie spent only a few days planning month-long trip to Peru.

his and her

their

his or hers

2. My sister and best friend sold all possessions and bought a one‑way plane ticket to Greece to take a job in tourism.

their

her

his

3. If anyone would like to try out for the debate team, should sign up for try-outs by the end of the week.

we

you

they

4. Choose the best sentence for formal writing.

If every student does his homework, no homework will be assigned for the weekend.

If every student does his or her homework, no homework will be assigned for the weekend.

If all the students do their homework, no homework will be assigned for the weekend.

5. Every knick-knack and memento had place on the shelf.

his or her

their

its

6. None of the band members brought sheet music to band practice.

her

his or her

their

7. Neither the tenants nor the landlady had made intentions clear.

their

her

one's

8. The Johnston family has decided to take vacation without the Tremblay family this year.

its

their

the

9. The audience asked questions one by one.

its

their

his or her

10. Since the university launched a new recruitment campaign, our enrolment rate has increased.

This sentence contains a shift in person.

This sentence contains a shift in number.

This sentence contains a shift in person and in number.