Pronoun agreement: Test your knowledge!

Pronouns are peaceable creatures—they like to agree with the words they refer to, which are called antecedents. English pronouns should always agree with their antecedents in person, number and gender.

To test your knowledge of pronoun agreement, pick the correct answer to each question below. If you need a hand, you can check out the following writing tips:

• Pronoun agreement: Indefinite pronouns
• Pronoun agreement: Compound antecedents with “or”
• Pronoun agreement: Collective nouns
• Gender-inclusive writing: Use the singular “they”

1. Gabriel and Sophie spent only a few days planning month-long trip to Peru.

his and her

their

his or hers

2. Please welcome my sister and best friend, Elena Venshire, who will be reading a passage from new book.

their

her

his

3. If anyone would like to try out for the debate team, should sign up by the end of the week.

we

you

they

4. If every student does homework tonight, no homework will be assigned for the weekend.

his

his or her

their

5. Every knick-knack and memento had place on the shelf.

his or her

their

its

6. None of the members of the mixed-gender badminton team brought a shuttlecock to practice.

her

his

their

7. Neither the tenants nor the landlady had made intentions clear.

their

her

one’s

8. The Johnston family has decided to take vacation without the Tremblay family this year.

its

their

the

9. The audience asked questions one by one.

its

their

his or her

10. All employees must complete training by March 31.

one’s

its

their