Pronoun antecedent agreement is a crucial element of good grammar. It refers to the correct matching of a pronoun with its antecedent (the noun or pronoun it replaces) in terms of number and gender. The use of “both” as an antecedent can be particularly tricky, and it`s important to understand how to use it correctly in order to ensure effective communication and avoid common mistakes.
Firstly, it`s important to understand what “both” refers to in a sentence. “Both” is used to refer to two things or people, and therefore always takes a plural verb. For example, “Both of my parents are doctors.”
When using “both” as an antecedent, it`s important to ensure that the pronoun that replaces it agrees in number and gender. For example, consider the sentence:
“Both of the students handed in their homework early.”
In this case, “both” refers to two students, so the pronoun “their” correctly matches both in terms of number and gender.
However, it`s important to note that “both” can also be used as an adjective, in which case it does not act as an antecedent. For example, consider the sentence:
“I bought both books.”
In this case, “both” functions as an adjective modifying “books” and does not require a matching pronoun.
One common mistake when using “both” as an antecedent is to use a singular pronoun, such as “he” or “she”. For example, consider the sentence:
“Both Mark and Sarah went to the party, and he had a great time.”
In this case, “both” refers to both Mark and Sarah, but the singular pronoun “he” does not agree in terms of number. Instead, the correct sentence would be:
“Both Mark and Sarah went to the party, and they both had a great time.”
Another mistake is to use the wrong gender pronoun. For example, consider the sentence:
“Both of the players hit his head on the ceiling.”
In this case, the use of “his” as a gender-neutral pronoun is incorrect, as it only refers to males. Instead, the sentence should be:
“Both of the players hit their heads on the ceiling.”
In conclusion, when using “both” as an antecedent, it`s important to ensure that the pronoun that replaces it agrees in number and gender. Taking the time to ensure correct pronoun antecedent agreement will help to improve the clarity and effectiveness of your writing.