English Language Arts
Grade 4
15 min
Correct inappropriate shifts in pronoun number and person
Correct inappropriate shifts in pronoun number and person
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1
Introduction & Learning Objectives
Learning Objectives
Identify the number (singular or plural) of a pronoun.
Identify the person (first, second, or third) of a pronoun.
Define an inappropriate pronoun shift.
Locate the possessive noun or antecedent that a pronoun refers to.
Correct sentences that contain inappropriate shifts in pronoun number.
Correct sentences that contain inappropriate shifts in pronoun person.
Have you ever read a sentence that felt like a mixed-up puzzle? 🤔 Let's learn how to be sentence detectives and fix those confusing pronoun mix-ups!
In this lesson, we will learn how to make sure our pronouns match the nouns they talk about, especially when we see possessive nouns. This important skill makes our writing clear and easy for others to understand. When our pronouns match, our wri...
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Key Concepts & Vocabulary
TermDefinitionExample
PronounA word that takes the place of a noun, like 'he', 'she', 'it', 'they', or 'we'.Instead of 'Maria threw the ball,' you can say 'She threw the ball.' 'She' is the pronoun.
Possessive NounA noun that shows who or what owns something. It usually has an apostrophe 's' ('s) or just an apostrophe (s').In the phrase 'the dog's bone,' the word 'dog's' is a possessive noun because it shows the dog owns the bone.
AntecedentThe noun that a pronoun replaces or refers back to. It's the 'clue' that tells you which pronoun to use.In 'The student lost her pencil,' the word 'student' is the antecedent for the pronou...
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Key Rules & Conventions
The Number Agreement Rule
A pronoun must be the same number (singular or plural) as its antecedent.
If the noun you are replacing is singular (like 'the boy's'), you must use a singular pronoun (like 'he'). If the noun is plural (like 'the boys''), you must use a plural pronoun (like 'they'). They must match!
The Person Agreement Rule
A pronoun must be the same person (first, second, or third) as its antecedent.
If you are writing about someone (third person, like 'the player's'), you should keep using third-person pronouns ('he' or 'she'). Don't suddenly switch to talking to the reader (second person, 'you').
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Challenging
Read the paragraph: (1) The chef's new recipe was a secret. (2) He wrote it down carefully in his notebook. (3) If a cook wanted to make the dish, you had to follow the instructions exactly. (4) The restaurant's customers loved the final dish. Which sentence contains the first inappropriate pronoun shift?
A.Sentence 1
B.Sentence 2
C.Sentence 3
D.Sentence 4
Challenging
Read the sentence: The pilots' job is very important because if you make a mistake, they could be in danger. Which revision best corrects the inappropriate pronoun shifts?
A.The pilots' job is very important because if he makes a mistake, they could be in danger.
B.The pilot's job is very important because if you make a mistake, he could be in danger.
C.The pilots' job is very important because if they make a mistake, they could be in danger.
D.The pilots' job is very important because if one makes a mistake, you could be in danger.
Challenging
The rule is: 'A pronoun must agree in number (singular/plural) and person (1st/2nd/3rd) with its antecedent.' Which sentence breaks this rule?
A.The dog's owner knows that it needs a walk every day.
B.The students' teacher told them to finish their homework.
C.person's attitude is important; you should always try to be positive.
D.My sister's friends are coming over, so she is cleaning her room.
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