Explain the concept of noun-pronoun agreement and provide examples.

Noun-pronoun agreement refers to the grammatical rule that states that a pronoun must agree in number and gender with its antecedent noun. This means that the pronoun must match the noun it replaces in terms of singular or plural form, as well as masculine, feminine, or neuter gender.

For example, if the antecedent noun is singular and masculine, the pronoun that replaces it should also be singular and masculine. Similarly, if the antecedent noun is plural and feminine, the pronoun should be plural and feminine.

Here are some examples to illustrate noun-pronoun agreement:

1. Singular noun with singular pronoun:
- The boy finished his homework. (The pronoun "his" agrees with the singular noun "boy.")

2. Plural noun with plural pronoun:
- The girls finished their homework. (The pronoun "their" agrees with the plural noun "girls.")

3. Singular noun with singular gender-neutral pronoun:
- The doctor finished their shift. (The pronoun "their" is used as a gender-neutral pronoun to agree with the singular noun "doctor.")

4. Singular noun with singular pronoun of opposite gender:
- The actress won her award. (The pronoun "her" agrees with the singular noun "actress," even though the pronoun is of the opposite gender.)

5. Singular noun with singular pronoun of unknown gender:
- The author finished their book. (The pronoun "their" is used as a gender-neutral pronoun when the gender of the noun "author" is unknown.)

It is important to ensure proper noun-pronoun agreement to maintain clarity and avoid confusion in writing. Failing to adhere to this agreement can lead to grammatical errors and make the intended meaning unclear.