Pronoun Antecedent Agreement
Question
Each of the candidates submitted their application before the deadline last Friday.
Answer choices
- NO CHANGE
- his or her
- them
- they're
B Correct answer: B) his or her
"Each" and "every" are always singular on the ACT. The pronoun referring to them must be singular too. The grammatically singular options are "his" or "her" or the combined "his or her."
The other options either introduce a grammatical error or change the intended meaning. The ACT consistently rewards the most concise, grammatically correct option.
Read the sentence with each option substituted in. The version that preserves meaning while obeying the underlying rule is the correct answer; on the ACT, that is almost always the shortest option that still works.
The underlying rule
On the ACT, the pronoun "each" is grammatically singular. A pronoun referring back to it must also be singular. "Their" is plural; "his or her" is the standard singular form preferred by the test.
Why each wrong answer is wrong
- A) NO CHANGE: This pronoun does not agree in number with the singular antecedent "each."
- C) them: This pronoun does not agree in number with the singular antecedent "each."
- D) they're: This pronoun does not agree in number with the singular antecedent "each."
Study tip
Memorize the singular indefinite pronouns: each, every, either, neither, anyone, everyone, someone, no one. They all take singular verbs and singular pronouns on the ACT.
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