First-Year English FAQs
There are two types of subject pronoun agreement errors:
You can click on either of the above problems in subject pronoun agreement, or you can read through the entire section by scrolling down.
Shifts in Person
The term "person" in grammar refers to the difference between
the person writing (first person--I, we), the person being written to (second
person--you), and the person or idea being written of (third person--he,
she, they, it). Only personal pronouns have forms for three persons.
When a writer fails to maintain consistent "person" with the personal pronouns
in the sentence, he creates a writing or "logic" error.
Example of a Sentence That Does Not Maintain Consistent Person:
If a person (third person) drives carelessly, you (second person) can expect to cause accidents.
Corrected Example:
If a person (third person) drives carelessly, he or she (third person) can expect to cause accidents.
In the first example sentence, the sentence has a logic error because the subject of the sentence--"a person"--is in the third person. Later this same subject is referred to as "you," which is in the second person. This shift in person creates a logic problem in the sentence.
To correct shifts in person, make sure starting with the subject that all personal pronouns referring to the same individual, thing, or idea within a sentence are all in consistent "person."
Shifts in Number
Another subject pronoun error occurs when instead of a shift
in person, there is a shift in number. "Number" refers to the distinction
between singular (one) nouns and pronouns and plural nouns and pronouns.
Errors in number occur when the noun or pronoun that is the subject of the
sentence is referred to with an incorrect pronoun in number.
Example of a Sentence That Does Not Maintain Consistent Number:
If a student (singular subject) does not understand subject pronoun agreement, they (plural pronoun) should read this section of the website.
Corrected Example:
If a student (singular subject) does not understand subject pronoun agreement, he or she (singular pronoun) should read this section of the website.
Errors in subject/pronoun agreement occur when the subject of the sentence (noun or pronoun) does not agree with the pronoun that follows the subject. Often students read to "hear" the error. This is an error that can't be "heard." This error must be detected by examining your sentences like you would a math problem, looking for errors in number--singular subject agreeing with singular pronoun and plural subject agreeing with plural pronoun.