Reading and Writing · 20 · Sentence Rules
Pronoun Agreement
Notes
Key points
- Match the antecedent in number: singular → it/its; plural → they/their.
- The antecedent may sit several words, or a whole sentence, back.
- Companies, universities, governments, committees: singular → it / its.
- each, every, either, neither + noun → singular pronoun.
- Don't shift person mid-passage: “one” stays “one”, “we” stays “we”.
- Two nouns could fit? The SAT wants the noun named, not a pronoun.
Rules
Singular antecedent, singular pronoun.
The agency updated its guidelines.
The agency updated their guidelines.
Plural antecedent, plural pronoun.
The researchers shared their data.
The researchers shared its data.
Two possible antecedents? Name the noun.
When Maya called Lena, Lena was out.
When Maya called Lena, she was out.
Common traps
- Grabbing the nearest noun as the antecedent instead of the logical one.
- Writing “their” for a single company or institution because it sounds natural.
SAT tip
Ask “its what?” or “their what?” — trace the pronoun back to the noun it replaces, then match singular or plural.
Test yourself
10 official SAT questions on Pronoun Agreement, easiest first.