Grammar Agreement Questions Long
Common errors in agreement in person and number with indefinite pronouns can occur when there is a mismatch between the pronoun and its corresponding verb or noun. Here are some examples of such errors and how they can be fixed:
1. Error: "Everyone have their own opinions."
Correction: "Everyone has their own opinions."
Explanation: The indefinite pronoun "everyone" is singular and requires a singular verb form "has" instead of the plural form "have."
2. Error: "Somebody left their bag in the classroom."
Correction: "Somebody left his or her bag in the classroom."
Explanation: The indefinite pronoun "somebody" is singular, so the possessive pronoun "their" should be replaced with the singular pronoun "his or her" to maintain agreement.
3. Error: "Neither of the students are attending the lecture."
Correction: "Neither of the students is attending the lecture."
Explanation: The indefinite pronoun "neither" is singular, so the verb "is" should be used instead of the plural form "are."
4. Error: "Each of the boys have their own bicycles."
Correction: "Each of the boys has his own bicycle."
Explanation: The indefinite pronoun "each" is singular, so the verb "has" should be used instead of the plural form "have." Additionally, the possessive pronoun "their" should be replaced with the singular pronoun "his" to maintain agreement.
5. Error: "Many people believes in superstitions."
Correction: "Many people believe in superstitions."
Explanation: The indefinite pronoun "many people" is plural and requires the plural verb form "believe" instead of the singular form "believes."
To fix these errors, it is important to identify the number (singular or plural) of the indefinite pronoun and ensure that the verb and other related words agree with it. Additionally, using gender-neutral language or specifying both genders can help avoid agreement errors when referring to indefinite pronouns.