pronoun agreement: number

Personal pronouns have to agree with the words they are referring to (called their antecedents). A pronoun must match its antecedent in three ways: number, person and gender. In this article, we will look at agreement in number.

A pronoun and its antecedent must agree in number—that is, they must both be either singular or plural.

Singular

In the following sentences, the pronouns and their antecedents agree in number because they are both singular:

• The actor performed his part remarkably well. [actor and his are both singular]
• One of the girls brought her hiking boots. [One and her are both singular]
• I have my mind made up. [I and my are both singular]

Plural

In the following sentences, the pronouns and their antecedents agree in number because they are both plural:

• The students studied for their exam together. [students and their are both plural]
• We have brought our friends to the party. [We and our are both plural]

Shift in number

A shift in number is created when a pronoun does not agree in number with its antecedent. Shifts in number often occur when the antecedent is a singular noun or indefinite pronoun that includes both genders: Canadian, person, everyone, no one, etc.

The following examples contain a shift in number:

• Every Canadian values the freedoms they enjoy under the law. [singular Canadian + plural they]
• Everyone is wearing their hiking boots. [singular everyone + plural their]
• No one brought their compass with them. [singular no one + plural their, them]

Shifts in number like those above are common in informal situations. However, they are not yet accepted in formal speaking and writing. To avoid them, try making the antecedent plural or rewording the sentence to omit the pronoun:

• All Canadians value the freedoms they enjoy under the law. [plural Canadians + plural they]
• Everyone is wearing hiking boots. [omission of pronoun their]
• No one brought a compass. [replacement of their with a; omission of with them]