Virginia Communication and Literacy Assessment (VCLA) Practice Test

What must a pronoun correspond to its antecedent in?

1. location

2. number

3. definition

4. relation

The correct answer is: number

The correct answer is that a pronoun must correspond to its antecedent in number. This means that if the antecedent is singular, the pronoun should also be singular, whereas if the antecedent is plural, the pronoun should be plural as well. This agreement helps maintain clarity in writing, ensuring that readers can easily understand which noun the pronoun is replacing. For example, in the sentence "The dog wagged its tail," the pronoun "its" corresponds to the singular antecedent "dog." In contrast, if the sentence were "The dogs wagged their tails," the pronoun "their" corresponds to the plural antecedent "dogs." This principle of agreement is a key rule in English grammar, helping to avoid ambiguity in communication.