that occurs when a pronoun does not match
The term you are referring to is called "pronoun agreement error" or "pronoun-antecedent disagreement". It happens when the pronoun used in a sentence does not match the noun it is referring to (also known as the antecedent). This can result in unclear or grammatically incorrect sentences.
When a pronoun does not match, it is referred to as a pronoun antecedent agreement error. This error occurs when the pronoun (a word that takes the place of a noun) used in a sentence does not agree in number, gender, or person with its antecedent (the word the pronoun refers to).
Here are the steps to fix a pronoun antecedent agreement error:
1. Identify the pronoun and its antecedent: Look for the pronoun in the sentence and determine the word or phrase it is replacing.
2. Check for agreement in number: Ensure that the pronoun and antecedent agree in singular or plural form. For example, if the antecedent is singular, the pronoun should also be singular, and if the antecedent is plural, the pronoun should also be plural.
3. Verify agreement in gender: Make sure that the pronoun matches the gender of its antecedent. For instance, if the antecedent is a male, the pronoun should be masculine, and if the antecedent is a female, the pronoun should be feminine.
4. Ensure agreement in person: Confirm that the pronoun agrees in person with its antecedent. If the antecedent is in the first person (I, we), the pronoun should also be in the first person. If the antecedent is in the second person (you), the pronoun should be in the second person. And if the antecedent is in the third person (he, she, it, they), the pronoun should be in the third person.
5. Make necessary adjustments: Revise the sentence by replacing the incorrect pronoun with the correct one that matches in number, gender, and person with the antecedent.
By following these steps, you can correct pronoun antecedent agreement errors and ensure that your sentence is grammatically accurate.