The number of nouns and pronouns and the person of pronouns must remain consistent within a sentence. Standardized examinations will present questions that contain agreement shifts, making instant recognition of these errors essential.
All of my friends want to be a rock star.
“All of my friends” is a noun phrase that is plural. “Rock star” is a singular noun. All of my friends cannot be one rock star. The sentence has an agreement shift in number. To correct the sentence, make both nouns either singular or plural.
Each of my friends wants to be a rock star.
or
All of my friends want to be rock stars.
“Each” is a singular indefinite pronoun and agrees with the singular “rock star.” “All” is an indefinite pronoun that can be singular or plural depending on the object of the preposition. Since “friends” is a countable noun, “all” is plural and it agrees with the plural “rock stars.”
- Review the indefinite pronouns and their rules for agreement.
Anyone can play the guitar; all you have to do is practice.
“Anyone” is a singular indefinite pronoun and is in the third person. “You” is a personal pronoun in the second person. This sentence has an agreement shift in person. Correct the error by using two pronouns in the same person.
Anyone can play the guitar; all one has to do is practice.
or
You can play the guitar; all you have to do is practice.
Read Celebrity Quotes and Grammar Examples that contain examples of agreement shifts.
