MORE RULE APPLICATIONS
Rule 4: The antecedent cannot be a suggestion or assumption.
- The antecedent must be stated in the sentence. Be especially careful with this, that, these, those, it, and which. To correct a sentence with a pronoun referring to an unstated suggestion or assumption, add a noun to the sentence.
INCORRECT: In January, many people resolve to lose weight. These
usually do not work.
CORRECT: In January, many people resolve to lose weight. These resolutions usually do not work.
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Rule 5: The antecedent cannot be a possessive noun such as Mark's.
- A possessive noun (or pronoun) is really an adjective, not a noun. A pronoun must have a noun as its antecedent. To correct this kind of error, rewrite the sentence.
INCORRECT: Tony's car stopped dead in the middle of the street today. He will have to call a wrecker.
CORRECT: Tony will have to call a wrecker because his car stopped dead in the middle of the street today.
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Rule 6: The antecedent must be in the same person as the noun.
- First person (I) should not switch to second person (you) or third person (he, she, it, they) in the middle of the sentence. To correct this kind of error, change the pronoun to match the antecedent.
INCORRECT: Shelley went to Sun Valley where you can snow ski in a bathing suit.
CORRECT: Shelley went to Sun Valley where she could snow ski in a bathing suit.
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Rule 7: Be especially careful with relative pronouns.
- Use who to refer to people and which to refer to things. Place the relative pronoun next to the antecedent to avoid a misplaced modifier.
INCORRECT: I know the Lotto winner which won $7,000,000.00.
CORRECT: I know the Lotto winner who won $7,000,000.00.
INCORRECT: Jenny is working with the Olympics in Atlanta who wants to coordinate special events at Disney World.
CORRECT: Jenny, who wants to coordinate special events at Disney World, is working with the Olympics in Atlanta.
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PRACTICE
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