Pronoun issues

A pronoun replaces a noun or another pronoun; it can also take the place of a subject word, an object word, or a possessive word.
There's a constant rule for that and there are some exceptions.
The rule will be stated through the following diagram: 

The first exception is when you have a sentence with verb to be, you always use a subject pronoun.

Example:

• No one is better at football than I am.

This sentence is correct, because it contains verb to be so we used a subject pronoun which is "I".

The second exception is when the sentence contains the word "between", you have to use an object pronoun.

Example:

• The relationship between them and their brother was often strained.

This sentence is correct, because after the word "between" an object pronoun was used.

All pronouns and their antecedents need to agree in person and in number.

There are 3 cases for pronoun issues.

1. Pronoun mismatch:

• I hate having to proofread my paper, because proofreading is such a boring thing for you to do.

This sentence is incorrect. The antecedent here is "I" and the pronoun is "you", the pronoun obviously doesn't match the antecedent.

So, the correct form of the sentence is "I hate having to proofread my paper, because proofreading is such a boring thing for me to do."

2. Ambiguous pronouns:  

• Mom wasn't sure if Jane got her makeup.

This sentence is incorrect, because the pronoun "her" is ambiguous; you don't know whether the antecedent is "Mom" or "Jane".

So, the correct form of the sentence is "Mom wasn't sure if Jane got Jane's makeup".

3. Pronoun in the wrong number: 

• Everyone must be careful with their homework.

This sentence is incorrect, because "Everyone" is a singular antecedent and "their" is a plural pronoun.

So, the correct form of the sentence is "Everyone must be careful with his/her homework."

If you need to exercise on this lesson you can do that through the following link: 

 http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/cgi-shl/quiz.pl/pronouns_add2.htm