The antecedent of a pronoun is the word the pronoun refers to. The antecedent usually appears before the pronoun—earlier in the sentence or in the prior sentence. Pronouns and antecedents are said to agree when they match up in person, number, and gender.

Compound antecedents

Compound antecedents joined by and require plural pronouns.

My parents and I tried to resolve our disagreement.

When each or every precedes a compound antecedent, however, it takes a singular pronoun.

With a compound antecedent joined by or or nor, the pronoun agrees with the nearer or nearest antecedent. If the parts of the antecedent are of different genders, however, this kind of sentence can be awkward or ambiguous and may need to be revised.

When a compound antecedent contains both singular and plural parts, the sentence may sound awkward unless the plural part comes last.

Collective-noun antecedents

A collective noun that refers to a single unit (herd, team, audience) requires a singular pronoun.

When such an antecedent refers to the multiple parts of a unit, however, it requires a plural pronoun.

Indefinite-pronoun antecedents

Indefinite pronouns are those that do not refer to specific persons or things. Most indefinite pronouns are always singular; a few are always plural. Some can be singular or plural depending on the context.

Sexist pronouns

Indefinite pronouns often serve as antecedents that may be either male or female. Writers used to use a masculine pronoun, known as the generic he, to refer to such indefinite pronouns. However, such wording ignores or even excludes females.

When the antecedent is anybody, each, or everyone, some people avoid the generic he by using a plural pronoun.

Everyone should know their legal rights.

You will hear such sentences in conversation and even see them in writing, but many people in academic contexts still consider anybody, each, and everyone singular, and they think using their with singular antecedents is too informal. They prefer one of the solutions in the box.