English Grammar: Agreement of Pronouns

Agreement — Pronoun and Antecedent in Person

A pronoun must agree with its antecedent in person. If the antecedent of the pronoun is in the third person, the pronoun that refers to it must also be in the third person. If the antecedent is in the second person, the pronoun should be in the second person.

One of the most common mistakes in English is to start the sentence in the third person and then put the pronoun that refers to the antecedent in the second person. Study the following examples carefully:

If anybody wants an education, you can get it. (incorrect)

If anybody wants an education, he can get it. (correct)

When one pays attention, you learn better. (incorrect)

When one pays attention, he (or one) learns better. (correct)