7th Grade Reading Comprehension Passages Focusing on Pronoun Agreement

📚 What is Pronoun Agreement?

Pronoun agreement simply means that a pronoun must agree in number (singular or plural) and gender (masculine, feminine, or neutral) with the noun or pronoun it refers to, called its antecedent. Think of it as the pronoun echoing its antecedent in a grammatically correct way. If they don't match, it can lead to confusion.

• 🔍 Number Agreement: If the antecedent is singular, the pronoun must be singular. If the antecedent is plural, the pronoun must be plural.
• 💡 Gender Agreement: The pronoun should match the gender of the antecedent. If the gender is unknown or the antecedent refers to both genders, using gender-neutral pronouns like 'they' is often appropriate.
• 📝 Person Agreement: Pronouns should also agree in person (first, second, or third) with their antecedents.

📜 A Little History

The rules of pronoun agreement have evolved over time. In earlier forms of English, variations in pronoun usage were more accepted. However, as standardization increased, grammatical correctness became more emphasized, leading to the pronoun agreement rules we follow today. Proper pronoun usage enhances clarity and avoids ambiguity in written and spoken language.

🔑 Key Principles of Pronoun Agreement

• 🎯 Identify the Antecedent: The first step is to find the noun or pronoun that the pronoun is replacing or referring to.
• 📏 Check for Number: Determine whether the antecedent is singular or plural.
• 🚻 Verify Gender: Make sure the pronoun matches the gender of the antecedent, if applicable.
• 🗣️ Ensure Person Agreement: The pronoun must agree in person (first, second, or third) with its antecedent.
• 🤝 Watch out for Collective Nouns: Collective nouns (e.g., team, family) can be singular or plural depending on whether they are acting as a unit or as individual members.
• 🚫 Avoid Ambiguity: Ensure it's clear what the pronoun is referring to. If there's any confusion, revise the sentence.
• ✍️ Use 'They' with Singular Antecedents: When referring to a singular person whose gender is unknown or irrelevant, 'they' is now widely accepted.

🌍 Real-World Examples

Let's look at some examples to see pronoun agreement in action:

1. ✅ Correct: The student completed his homework. (Singular antecedent, singular pronoun)
2. ✅ Correct: The students completed their homework. (Plural antecedent, plural pronoun)
3. ✅ Correct: Every player must bring their own water bottle. (Singular antecedent, singular pronoun - using the singular 'they' because of 'every player')
4. ❌ Incorrect: The team played good, but it lost its energy in the final quarter. ('team' is acting as a single unit so 'it' is correct. Changing to 'they' would imply each member lost energy)
5. ✅ Correct: The team members celebrated their victory. (Here, 'team' is acting as individual members so 'their' is used)

✅ Practice Quiz

Complete the sentences with the correct pronoun:

1. Each of the girls brought _____ own lunch.
2. The dog wagged _____ tail happily.
3. The students are working hard on _____ project.
4. Every citizen has _____ right to vote.
5. The committee will announce _____ decision tomorrow.
6. Someone left _____ umbrella in the classroom.
7. Neither John nor Tom finished _____ assignment.

Answers:

1. her
2. its
3. their
4. his/her (or their)
5. its
6. his/her (or their)
7. his

💡 Conclusion

Mastering pronoun agreement is a cornerstone of clear and effective communication. By understanding the principles and practicing regularly, you can confidently avoid errors and improve your writing skills. Keep practicing, and you'll become a pronoun pro in no time!