Grammar Agreement Questions Long
When using relative pronouns, there are several rules for agreement that need to be followed. These rules ensure that the relative pronoun agrees in number and gender with its antecedent, the noun or pronoun it refers to. Here are the main rules for agreement when using relative pronouns:
1. Number agreement: The relative pronoun should agree in number with its antecedent. If the antecedent is singular, the relative pronoun should be singular. If the antecedent is plural, the relative pronoun should be plural. For example:
- The girl who lives next door is my friend. (singular antecedent)
- The boys who are playing soccer are my classmates. (plural antecedent)
2. Gender agreement: The relative pronoun should agree in gender with its antecedent. If the antecedent is masculine, the relative pronoun should be masculine. If the antecedent is feminine, the relative pronoun should be feminine. For example:
- The man who is speaking is my father. (masculine antecedent)
- The woman who is singing is my sister. (feminine antecedent)
3. Case agreement: The relative pronoun should agree in case with its function in the relative clause. There are three cases: subjective (nominative), objective (accusative), and possessive (genitive). The case of the relative pronoun depends on its role in the relative clause. For example:
- The girl who I saw yesterday is my neighbor. (subjective case)
- The book which he borrowed from me is very interesting. (objective case)
- The man whose car was stolen reported it to the police. (possessive case)
4. Agreement with indefinite pronouns: When the antecedent is an indefinite pronoun, such as "everyone," "someone," or "anything," the relative pronoun should be singular. For example:
- Everyone who wants to participate should sign up. (singular antecedent)
5. Agreement with collective nouns: When the antecedent is a collective noun, such as "team," "family," or "group," the relative pronoun can be singular or plural, depending on whether the emphasis is on the group as a whole or the individuals within the group. For example:
- The team that won the championship is celebrating. (singular antecedent, emphasizing the team as a whole)
- The team that are wearing red jerseys are my favorite players. (plural antecedent, emphasizing the individuals within the team)
In summary, when using relative pronouns, it is important to ensure agreement in number, gender, and case with the antecedent. By following these rules, we can maintain grammatical accuracy and clarity in our writing.