Which sentence demonstrates correct pronoun reference for a plural noun?

Which sentence demonstrates correct pronoun reference for a plural noun?

• A. The fans enjoyed its basketball team.
• B. The fans enjoyed their basketball team.
• C. The fans enjoyed our basketball team.
• D. The fans enjoyed your basketball team.

Answer: (B)

Pronoun reference must match the antecedent in number. “The fans” is plural, so the possessive pronoun referring back to them should be plural as well. Using “their” keeps ownership with the fans and avoids implying a single owner or shifting who is being addressed. “Its” would treat the fans as singular, which doesn’t fit here, and “our” or “your” would change who is included or spoken to, altering the meaning. So the sentence with “their” uses the correct pronoun reference for a plural noun.

Pronoun reference must match the antecedent in number. “The fans” is plural, so the possessive pronoun referring back to them should be plural as well. Using “their” keeps ownership with the fans and avoids implying a single owner or shifting who is being addressed. “Its” would treat the fans as singular, which doesn’t fit here, and “our” or “your” would change who is included or spoken to, altering the meaning. So the sentence with “their” uses the correct pronoun reference for a plural noun.