Question

for example, a third - person plural pronoun must refer to a third - person plural antecedent. in the paragraph above, the pronoun them is third - person plural. it agrees with shoehorns, which is also third - person plural.
exercise a: understanding pronoun antecedent agreement. in the following sentences, circle the pronouns and draw arrows to their antecedents.

1. a guard came to the prison shoe - shop, where jimmy valentine was assiduously stitching uppers, and escorted him to the front office.
2. jimmy took it in a tired kind of way. he had served nearly ten months of a four - year sentence.
3. “now, valentine,” said the warden, “you’ll go out in the morning.”
4. ben price knew jimmy’s habits. he had learned them while working up the springfield case.
5. jimmy collared a boy that was loafing on the steps of the bank as if he were one of the stockholders.
6. “isn’t that young lady miss polly simpson?” “naw,” said the boy. “she’s annabel adams.”
7. at the end of a year the situation of mr. ralph spencer was this: he had won the respect of the community.
8. dear old pal: i want you to be at sullivan’s place, in little rock, next wednesday night, at nine o’clock.

Explanation:

1. "him" - refers to "Jimmy Valentine".
2. "it" - unclear antecedent from this sentence alone; "He" - refers to "Jimmy".
3. "you" - refers to "Valentine" (Jimmy Valentine).
4. "He" - refers to "Ben Price"; "them" - refers to "Jimmy's habits".
5. "he" - refers to "a boy".
6. "She" - refers to "Annabel Adams".
7. "he" - refers to "Mr. Ralph Spencer".
8. "you" - the person the letter is addressed to (Old Pal).

Answer:

1. Circle "him", arrow to "Jimmy Valentine".
2. Circle "it", no clear - cut arrow (unclear antecedent); circle "He", arrow to "Jimmy".
3. Circle "you", arrow to "Valentine" (Jimmy Valentine).
4. Circle "He", arrow to "Ben Price"; circle "them", arrow to "Jimmy's habits".
5. Circle "he", arrow to "a boy".
6. Circle "She", arrow to "Annabel Adams".
7. Circle "he", arrow to "Mr. Ralph Spencer".
8. Circle "you", arrow to the person addressed (Old Pal).