Which statement best completes a pronoun agreement principle?

Which statement best completes a pronoun agreement principle?

• A. A pronoun must refer back to a noun and agree in number with its antecedent.
• B. A pronoun can replace any noun regardless of number.
• C. A pronoun should always be plural.
• D. A pronoun should be placed at the end of a sentence.

Answer: (A)

Pronoun agreement is about making sure a pronoun clearly points to a specific noun mentioned earlier and matches that noun in number. When the antecedent is singular, use a singular pronoun (he, she, it, or their possessive form); when the antecedent is plural, use a plural pronoun (they, them, their). This keeps meaning clear and prevents confusion, as in “The dog wagged its tail” versus “The dogs wagged their tails.” If a pronoun ignored number or referred to a random noun, sentences would become confusing or incorrect. So the best statement captures the need for a pronoun to refer back to a noun and agree in number with that noun.

Pronoun agreement is about making sure a pronoun clearly points to a specific noun mentioned earlier and matches that noun in number. When the antecedent is singular, use a singular pronoun (he, she, it, or their possessive form); when the antecedent is plural, use a plural pronoun (they, them, their). This keeps meaning clear and prevents confusion, as in “The dog wagged its tail” versus “The dogs wagged their tails.” If a pronoun ignored number or referred to a random noun, sentences would become confusing or incorrect. So the best statement captures the need for a pronoun to refer back to a noun and agree in number with that noun.