Pronoun-antecedent agreement can be a tricky concept for high school students to grasp, but it is an essential component of good writing. Improper pronoun use can lead to confusion and ambiguity in a sentence, making it difficult for readers to follow along. To help high school students master this concept, here are some exercises they can use to practice pronoun-antecedent agreement.
1. Identify the Antecedent: The first step in mastering pronoun-antecedent agreement is to identify the antecedent. The antecedent is the noun that the pronoun refers to. For example, in the sentence “John went to the store because he needed some milk,” the antecedent is John. To practice this skill, create a set of sentences with pronouns and ask students to identify the antecedent.
2. Match Pronouns with Antecedents: Once students have identified the antecedent, the next step is to ensure that the pronoun matches the antecedent in number and gender. For example, in the sentence “The girls went to the mall, and she bought a new dress,” the pronoun she is incorrect because it does not match the plural noun girls. To practice this skill, create a set of sentences with pronouns and ask students to match them with their antecedents.
3. Choose the Correct Pronoun: Sometimes, there may be multiple pronouns that could refer to the same antecedent. For example, in the sentence “The dog ran through the park, barking loudly as it went,” the pronoun it could refer to either the dog or the park. To practice this skill, create a set of sentences with multiple pronoun options and ask students to choose the correct one.
4. Rewrite Sentences for Clarity: Finally, students should practice rewriting sentences to eliminate any potential confusion caused by pronoun-antecedent disagreement. For example, in the sentence “The team scored a goal, and they celebrated with high fives,” the use of they could be confusing if it is unclear who is included in the celebration. To practice this skill, create a set of sentences with unclear pronoun use and ask students to rewrite them for clarity.
In conclusion, pronoun-antecedent agreement is an important skill for high school students to master. With these exercises, students can become more confident in their ability to use pronouns correctly and write clear, concise sentences. By practicing these skills regularly, they will be well-prepared for any writing task they encounter in the future.