SAT Grammar: Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement
Master pronoun clarity and agreement for the SAT Reading & Writing section
Pronoun-antecedent agreement questions appear frequently on the SAT Reading and Writing section. Understanding this convention ensures your pronouns clearly and correctly reference their antecedents, a critical skill for both test success and effective communication.
What is Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement?
Definition: Pronoun-antecedent agreement is a Standard English convention requiring that pronouns agree with their antecedents in number, person, and gender.
Key Terms:
Pronoun: A word that takes the place of a noun (it, they, he, she, who, which)
Antecedent: The noun that the pronoun refers to or replaces
The Three Agreement Rules
1. Agreement in Number
Singular antecedents require singular pronouns; plural antecedents require plural pronouns.
❌ Incorrect:
The scientist presented their findings at the conference.
✓ Correct:
The scientist presented her findings at the conference.
Explanation: "Scientist" is singular, so it requires a singular pronoun ("her" or "his").
2. Agreement in Person
Pronouns must match the grammatical person of their antecedent (1st, 2nd, or 3rd person).
Common Pronouns by Person:
1st person: I, me, my, we, us, our (the speaker)
2nd person: you, your (the person spoken to)
3rd person: he, she, it, they, one (the person/thing spoken about)
❌ Incorrect:
If one wants to succeed, you must practice daily.
✓ Correct:
If one wants to succeed, one must practice daily.
Explanation: "One" (3rd person) cannot shift to "you" (2nd person) in the same sentence.
3. Logical Reference (Person vs. Thing)
Pronouns must logically reference the type of antecedent—person pronouns for people, thing pronouns for objects.
❌ Incorrect:
The book was so engaging that he won several awards.
✓ Correct:
The book was so engaging that it won several awards.
Explanation: "Book" is a thing (inanimate), so it requires "it," not "he."
📝 The Golden Rule:
Always identify the antecedent first, then check if the pronoun matches in number, person, and logical reference. You must be able to circle the antecedent in the text—it must be a clear, specific noun.
Common SAT Traps & Pitfalls
The SAT makes pronoun-antecedent agreement challenging through strategic placement and misleading constructions. Understanding these traps is essential for test success.
Trap #1: Distance Between Pronoun and Antecedent
The SAT frequently separates pronouns from their antecedents with long phrases or clauses, making it harder to spot agreement errors.
🎯 Strategy:
When you spot a pronoun, immediately scan backward to find its antecedent. Circle the antecedent and verify agreement before moving forward.
Example:
❌ The record player largely fell out of style in the 1980s and 90s, but there has since been a revival in their popularity.
✓ The record player largely fell out of style in the 1980s and 90s, but there has since been a revival in its popularity.
The antecedent "record player" is singular, requiring "its" despite the distance.
Trap #2: Multiple Nouns Before the Pronoun
When several nouns appear before a pronoun, the SAT hopes you'll match the pronoun to the closest noun rather than the logical antecedent.
🎯 Strategy:
Identify the logical antecedent by asking "What does this pronoun refer to?" Don't automatically choose the nearest noun.
Example:
❌ The cougar, the largest of all North American cats, has lost most of their range.
✓ The cougar, the largest of all North American cats, has lost most of its range.
"Cats" is plural and close to the pronoun, but "cougar" (singular) is the logical antecedent.
Trap #3: Pronoun Appears Before Antecedent
Normally, antecedents come before pronouns. When this order is reversed, agreement errors become harder to spot because we read the pronoun before we know what it refers to.
🎯 Strategy:
When a pronoun appears early in the sentence, read ahead to identify the antecedent, then check agreement.
Example:
❌ While it may not be widely associated with long life, ocean clams have been known to live for over 500 years.
✓ While they may not be widely associated with long life, ocean clams have been known to live for over 500 years.
The pronoun comes first, but it must agree with "clams" (plural).
Trap #4: Collective Nouns
Collective nouns (team, committee, company, family, band) refer to groups but are treated as singular on the SAT.
Common Collective Nouns:
team, committee, company, band, family, jury, audience, staff, faculty, class, government
Example:
❌ For their final assignment, the class had to build a robot.
✓ For its final assignment, the class had to build a robot.
"Class" refers to one group (singular collective noun), requiring "its."
Trap #5: Indefinite Pronouns as Antecedents
Certain indefinite pronouns are always singular, even though they may seem to refer to multiple people or things.
Always Singular Indefinite Pronouns:
each, either, neither, one, everyone, everybody, someone, somebody, anyone, anybody, no one, nobody
Example:
❌ Everyone in the orchestra must bring their instrument to rehearsal.
✓ Everyone in the orchestra must bring his or her instrument to rehearsal.
"Everyone" is always singular, requiring a singular pronoun.
Trap #6: Unclear or Missing Antecedents
Every pronoun must have a clear, identifiable noun antecedent. The antecedent cannot be implied, nor can it be a verb or adjective.
🎯 Critical Rule:
You must be able to circle a specific noun in the text as the antecedent. If you can't, there's an error.
Example (No Noun Antecedent):
❌ People who explore underwater caves do it because they love adventure.
✓ People who love exploring underwater caves do it because it's adventurous.
"Explore" is a verb and cannot serve as an antecedent; "exploring" (gerund/noun) can.
Example (Ambiguous "This/That/Which"):
❌ Maria studied for 12 hours straight, which impressed her friends.
✓ Maria studied for 12 hours straight, a commitment that impressed her friends.
"Which" lacks a specific noun antecedent; "commitment" provides one.
Trap #7: Relative Pronouns (Who vs. Which vs. Where)
Relative pronouns must match the type of antecedent they refer to.
Relative Pronoun Rules:
Who/Whom: people only
Which/That: things, animals, or ideas
Where: physical places only (use "in which" for media/books)
When: specific times or time periods
Example:
❌ I found the gummi bears who I'd lost under my bed.
✓ I found the gummi bears that I'd lost under my bed.
"Gummi bears" are things, not people, so use "that," not "who."
Fully Worked SAT-Style Examples
Practice with these realistic SAT questions that target pronoun-antecedent agreement. Each example includes detailed step-by-step solutions.
Example 1: Number Agreement
When the platypus was first discovered in Australia in 1798, this duck-billed, beaver-tailed creature so defied categorization that scientists initially thought ______ was a hoax.
A) they
B) them
C) it
D) these
Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Identify the pronoun location.
The blank requires a pronoun that serves as the subject of "was."
Step 2: Find the antecedent.
What was thought to be a hoax? "The platypus" and "this duck-billed, beaver-tailed creature" both refer to the same animal.
The antecedent is "platypus" or "creature" – both singular.
Step 3: Check agreement in number.
The antecedent is singular, so the pronoun must be singular.
Step 4: Evaluate choices.
• A) they – plural ❌
• B) them – plural ❌
• C) it – singular ✓
• D) these – plural ❌
Answer: C – "it" is the only singular pronoun that correctly refers to the platypus.
Example 2: Collective Noun
The research team, after months of meticulous data collection and analysis across multiple continents, finally published ______ groundbreaking findings in a prestigious journal.
A) its
B) their
C) it's
D) they're
Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Locate the antecedent.
The pronoun should show possession of "findings." The antecedent is "team."
Step 2: Identify the trap.
The long interrupting phrase "after months of meticulous data collection and analysis across multiple continents" separates the pronoun from the antecedent.
Step 3: Apply collective noun rule.
"Team" is a collective noun and is treated as singular on the SAT.
Step 4: Check for possessive.
We need a possessive pronoun (shows ownership of findings).
• A) its – singular possessive ✓
• B) their – plural possessive ❌
• C) it's – contraction (it is) ❌
• D) they're – contraction (they are) ❌
Answer: A – "its" agrees with the singular collective noun "team."
Example 3: Indefinite Pronoun as Antecedent
Each of the musicians in the renowned symphony orchestra must maintain ______ instrument in perfect condition to ensure optimal performance quality.
A) their
B) his or her
C) its
D) our
Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Identify the antecedent.
The subject of the sentence is "Each" (an indefinite pronoun).
Step 2: Recognize the trap.
"Musicians" (plural) appears right before the blank, but it's inside a prepositional phrase ("of the musicians").
Step 3: Apply indefinite pronoun rule.
"Each" is always singular, even when followed by "of + plural noun."
Step 4: Check person and reference.
"Each" refers to individual musicians (people), so we need a singular pronoun for people.
• A) their – plural ❌
• B) his or her – singular, for people ✓
• C) its – singular, for things ❌
• D) our – first person (wrong person) ❌
Answer: B – "his or her" is singular and refers appropriately to people.
Example 4: Agreement in Person
If one wishes to excel in competitive athletics, ______ must dedicate countless hours to training and skill development.
A) you
B) one
C) they
D) we
Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Find the antecedent.
The subject is "one" – a third-person singular indefinite pronoun.
Step 2: Check agreement in person.
The sentence begins with "one" (3rd person), so all subsequent pronouns must remain in 3rd person.
Step 3: Apply consistency rule.
You cannot shift from "one" to "you" or any other person within a sentence.
Step 4: Evaluate choices.
• A) you – 2nd person (shift in person) ❌
• B) one – 3rd person singular ✓
• C) they – 3rd person plural (wrong number) ❌
• D) we – 1st person plural (shift in person) ❌
Answer: B – "one" maintains consistency in person (3rd) and number (singular).
Example 5: Multiple Nouns Trap
The ancient library, which once housed thousands of irreplaceable manuscripts from civilizations across the Mediterranean, lost most of ______ collection in a devastating fire.
A) their
B) its
C) it's
D) there
Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Identify all nouns.
The sentence contains: library (singular), manuscripts (plural), civilizations (plural), Mediterranean, collection (singular), fire (singular).
Step 2: Find the logical antecedent.
What lost its collection? The "library" – not the manuscripts or civilizations.
Step 3: Recognize the trap.
"Manuscripts" and "civilizations" (plural) appear close to the pronoun, but "library" (singular) is the logical antecedent.
Step 4: Check possessive form.
We need possessive (shows ownership of collection).
• A) their – plural possessive ❌
• B) its – singular possessive ✓
• C) it's – contraction (it is) ❌
• D) there – location word ❌
Answer: B – "its" agrees with the singular antecedent "library."
Example 6: Relative Pronoun Usage
Marie Curie was a pioneering physicist and chemist ______ became the first woman to win a Nobel Prize and remains the only person to win Nobel Prizes in two different sciences.
A) which
B) who
C) that
D) whom
Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Identify the antecedent.
The relative pronoun refers to "Marie Curie" – a person.
Step 2: Apply relative pronoun rules.
• "Who/whom" – used for people
• "Which/that" – used for things, animals, ideas
Step 3: Determine subject vs. object.
The relative pronoun is the subject of "became" (who became the first woman), so we need the subject form.
Step 4: Evaluate choices.
• A) which – for things ❌
• B) who – for people, subject form ✓
• C) that – technically acceptable but "who" is preferred for people ❌
• D) whom – object form (incorrect function) ❌
Answer: B – "who" is the correct relative pronoun for a person serving as subject.
Example 7: Pronoun Precedes Antecedent
Although ______ can survive extreme temperatures ranging from -40°F to 120°F, tardigrades are most commonly found in moderate climates where moisture is abundant.
A) it
B) one
C) they
D) them
Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recognize the inversion.
The pronoun appears at the beginning, before its antecedent appears later in the sentence.
Step 2: Read ahead to find the antecedent.
What can survive extreme temperatures? "Tardigrades" (plural noun).
Step 3: Check agreement in number.
"Tardigrades" is plural, so the pronoun must be plural.
Step 4: Determine correct function.
The pronoun serves as the subject of "can survive."
• A) it – singular ❌
• B) one – singular ❌
• C) they – plural subject form ✓
• D) them – plural object form ❌
Answer: C – "they" is plural and serves as the subject, agreeing with "tardigrades."
Example 8: Avoiding Ambiguous References
Astronauts must undergo rigorous physical and psychological training before space missions ______ ensures their readiness for the extreme conditions of spaceflight.
A) which
B) ; this training
C) , and this
D) that
Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Identify the problem.
"Which," "this," and "that" require clear, specific noun antecedents that you can circle.
Step 2: Test "which."
What ensures readiness? The entire concept of undergoing training, not a single circled noun. "Which" cannot refer to an entire clause.
Step 3: Evaluate the options.
• A) which – no clear noun antecedent ❌
• B) ; this training – provides a specific noun ✓
• C) , and this – "this" still lacks a clear antecedent ❌
• D) that – no clear noun antecedent ❌
Step 4: Verify clarity.
Option B creates a new independent clause with a clear subject ("this training") that specifies what ensures readiness.
Answer: B – "; this training" provides a clear, specific noun instead of an ambiguous pronoun.
Example 9: Compound Antecedent
The novelist and the screenwriter collaborated for three years to bring ______ shared vision to life through both written and visual storytelling.
A) his
B) her
C) their
D) its
Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Identify the compound antecedent.
The subject is "The novelist and the screenwriter" – two people joined by "and."
Step 2: Apply compound subject rule.
Two subjects joined by "and" create a plural antecedent.
Step 3: Check for shared vs. separate.
The vision is "shared," confirming both people possess it together (plural pronoun needed).
Step 4: Select the plural possessive.
• A) his – singular ❌
• B) her – singular ❌
• C) their – plural possessive ✓
• D) its – for things ❌
Answer: C – "their" is plural and agrees with the compound antecedent.
Example 10: "Where" vs. "In Which"
The dystopian novel explores a future society ______ technology has eliminated all forms of personal privacy and individual freedom.
A) where
B) in which
C) when
D) that
Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Identify the antecedent.
The relative pronoun refers to "society" – an abstract concept/setting, not a physical place.
Step 2: Apply the "where" rule.
"Where" should only be used for actual physical locations (cities, buildings, countries).
For abstract places, media, books, or conceptual settings, use "in which."
Step 3: Evaluate all options.
• A) where – for physical locations only ❌
• B) in which – for abstract/conceptual settings ✓
• C) when – for time references ❌
• D) that – lacks the prepositional meaning needed ❌
Step 4: Confirm logical meaning.
"A society in which technology has eliminated privacy" correctly describes the setting within the novel.
Answer: B – "in which" is correct for abstract/conceptual settings like "society."
Top Test-Day Strategies
1. Circle the Antecedent
Physically identify and circle the noun that the pronoun refers to. If you can't circle a specific noun, there's an error.
2. Plug and Play
Replace the pronoun with its antecedent to check if the sentence makes logical sense and maintains agreement.
3. Watch for Traps
Be alert for plural nouns placed near singular antecedents, long interrupting phrases, and pronouns appearing before their antecedents.
4. Check All Three
Verify agreement in number (singular/plural), person (1st/2nd/3rd), and logical reference (people vs. things).
5. Memorize Special Cases
Collective nouns and indefinite pronouns (each, everyone, etc.) are always singular. Don't be fooled by their apparent plurality.
6. Avoid Ambiguity
This, that, and which must have clear noun antecedents. When in doubt, choose options that provide specific nouns instead.
Quick Reference Chart
| Antecedent Type | Number | Correct Pronoun |
|---|---|---|
| Singular noun (person) | Singular | he, she, his, her, him |
| Singular noun (thing) | Singular | it, its |
| Plural noun | Plural | they, them, their |
| Collective noun | Singular | it, its |
| Indefinite (each, everyone) | Singular | he/she, his/her, one |
| Compound (A and B) | Plural | they, them, their |
| Person antecedent | Varies | who, whom |
| Thing antecedent | Varies | which, that |
Key Takeaways
- Every pronoun must have a clear, identifiable noun antecedent that you can circle in the text
- Pronouns must agree with antecedents in three ways: number, person, and logical reference
- Collective nouns (team, committee, band) are treated as singular on the SAT
- Indefinite pronouns (each, everyone, someone) are always singular
- Don't match pronouns to the nearest noun—find the logical antecedent
- Use "who/whom" for people and "which/that" for things
- Use "in which" (not "where") for abstract settings, media, or books
- Maintain consistency: don't shift from "one" to "you" within a sentence
- This, that, and which require specific noun antecedents—not entire clauses
- Long interrupting phrases separate pronouns from antecedents to obscure errors
Master these pronoun-antecedent agreement rules and you'll confidently tackle every pronoun question on the SAT. Remember: always identify the antecedent first!