1. ENGLISH II
AGREEMENT OF PRONOUNS AND
ANTECEDENTS
ESTERLITA J. SANCHEZ

2. A CALL FOR A
KIND HEART
Many want to believe that our problems are
rooted in ignorance, diet and government. But Jesus
pointed to sin in the heart. In times of crises it is always
helpful to manifest equanimity or calmness. This helps
you to stay calm so that you can manage whatever
problems may come your way. But God, who is rich in
mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us,
even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive
together with Christ (by grace you have been saved)
This topic offers a lot of ideas about responding to
day-to- day challenges. I hope that you will get the most
of it.
God looks down from heaven upon the children of men, to see
if there are any who understand, who seek God .
Every one of them has turned aside, they have together
become corrupt; there is none who does good, no not one
(Psalm 53:2-3)

3. After working on the activities/exercises in this
topic, you will be able to:
1. make inferences and predictions
2. point out how one’s attitudes contribute to the
person’s values
3. use a pronoun that agrees with its antecedents
4. make pronouns agree with their antecedents when
used in the sentence
READING ADVENTURE
Pre-reading
Show the difference in these movements:
a. Strolling
b. Climbing
c. Squirming
d. Creeping
e. Slipping down
While Reading
Read the following story and pause to make predictions.

4. RyunosukeAkutagawa
2008-2009
THESPIDER’STHREAD
Have you heard of Buddha? If you have,
share your information with your classmates.
If not, read up on him.
ESTERLITA J. SANCHEZl
JIMENEZ NATIONAL CHS
Corrales, Jimenez, Mis.Occ
0

5. THE SPIDER’S THREAD
Ryunosuke Akutagawa
One day the Buddha was
strolling alone on the brink of the
lotus pond of Paradise. His eyes
fell on a man named Kandata who
was squirming with the other
sinners in the bottom of the hell.
This Kandata has done many evil
things in his lifetime but he had to
his credit one good action. Once,
while on his way through a deep
forest, he had noticed a little
spider creeping along beside the
road. He was about to trample it
to death when he suddenly
changed his mind and spared the
spider’ life.
Now, as he looked down
into hell, the Buddha remembered
this good deed and thought he
would like to deliver Kandata out
of hell. Looking around he saw a
spider of Paradise spinning a
beautiful silver thread on the lotus
leaves.
Stop and answer this question:
What do you suppose Buddha will
do with the spider’s thread?

6. The Buddha took up the spider’s thread in his hand
and let it straight down to the bottom of hell which held
Kandata securely with the other sinners in the Pool of Blood
on the floor of hell. On this day, Kandata lifted his head by
chance and saw a silver spider‘s thread slipping down
toward him from the high heavens.
Kandata grasped the thread tightly in his two hands
and began to climb up and up with all his might.
After climbing for a while, he was finally exhausted and could
not ascend an inch higher. He stopped to rest and looked
below him. What he saw filled him with fear. For, below, on
the thread, countless sinners were climbing eagerly after
him, up and up, like a procession of ants.
Kandata blinked his eyes at them with his big mouth
hanging foolishly open in surprise and terror. How could that
slender spider’s thread which seemed as if it must break with
him alone, ever support the weight of all those people? If it
would break in mid air, even himself would have to fall
headlong back to Hell.
Stop once more and answer this question:
How do you think Kandata will react upon seeing the thread?
Stop again and answer this question:
Why should Kandata be terrified to see others climbing up the
thread offered him?

7. So Kandata cried out in a loud voice. “Hey,
you sinners! This thread is mine. Who gave you
permission to come up it? Get down! Get
down!”
At that moment, the spider’s thread broke
with a snap at the point where Kandata was
hanging. Without even time to utter a cry,
Kandata shot down and fell headlong into the
darkness, spinning swiftly around and around
like a top.
Post Reading
1. Cite incidents that reveal the kind of heart of Buddha.
2. Which incident shows a redeeming trait of Kandata?
What proved to be his undoing? What is ironic about
Kandata’s attitude towards the spider in comparison
to his attitude towards people?
3. Where lies the conflict in this story? How is it
resolved?
Stop again to process the new information you got and
answer these questions:
1. What do you think Kandata will say to those climbing
after him?
2. What can you say about his reaction?

8. WRITE THING
Skills Enhancer
I. Making Inferences
Very often you hear the sentence “Read between the
lines.” This is making inferences. Literary writers stimulate
your mind by leaving much to your imagination to make
reading more exciting and pleasurable.
Making inferences you may have to determine a) who
is speaking or referred to; b) places or situations described;
c) time, season or age talked about. d) objects described or
incidents taking place, e) type of person, feeling, reaction or
character traits.
Here is an exercise to hone your skills in making
inferences. Read each passage and write the letter of the
correct answer to each question.
1. The sun had long set in the west before we reached the
settlement. What time is referred to?
A. Sunrise B. Noon C. Sunset D. Night
2. A slow soft rumble beyond the roots of the woods of the
forest answered her… Slowly, like the coming of a great
storm, stones from the peak began to roll down, and the
summit moved like a living creature, like a mighty tentacle
racing downward… What is going on?
A. A landslide C. A volcanic eruption
B. A typhoon D. An earthquake
In your reflective journal, write a paragraph
telling what lesson about life you learned from The
Spider’s Thread.

9. B. Everywhere you looked, the tall, golden-brown stalks
swaying with the wind, filled your eyes. Suddenly, a man
with a long stick came by. The stooping, gray-haired man
used his stick to probe the ground. Nearby was a green
eyed “baby” coiled on the ground. The man continued
tapping on the ground with his stick.
3. What place is described?
A. Zoo B. Forest C. Rice field D. Park
4. Which word best describes the man?
A. Old B. Poor C. Shabby D. Cruel
5. What is the disability of the man?
A. Deaf B. Blind C. Lame D. Retarded
6. What does the man used to find his way?
A. Crutch B. Stick C. Binoculars D. Eyeglasses
7. Which of the following is correct?
A. The old man ignored the green-eyed “baby.”
B. The old man was unaware of the green-eyed “baby.”
C. The old man struck the green-eyed “baby.”
D. The old man stepped on the green-eyed “baby.”
C. The band paraded along the crowded streets and the sky
rockets filled the evening with golden showers. The air was
filled with excitement and the church bells proclaimed to the
rest of the world that the dreamy little town is alive with
laughter and music and friendly chatter.
8. What occasion is described?
A. Wedding B. Town Fiesta C. Birthday D. Election Day
9. What made the streets crowded?
A. Cars B. Rockets C. People D. Bands
10. What mood is described?
A. Gaiety B. Grief C. Fear D. Peace

10. Language Focus
Read the following sentences and study the italicized words
1. His eyes fell on a man named Kandata who was
squirming with the other sinners in the bottom of the hell.
2. This Kandata has done many evil things in his lifetime but
he had to his credit one good action.
3. He was about to trample it to death when he suddenly
changed his mind and spared the spider’ life.
The italicized words are called antecedents. The
word that the pronoun refers to is called antecedents.
The following are the rules regarding pronoun-
antecedent agreement. The pronoun is underlined once and
its antecedents, twice.
1. Pronouns agree with their antecedents in gender, number
and person.
The most striking feature of the people of India is their
diversity in culture, race and religion.
2. When two or more antecedents are connected by and, a
pronoun referring to them is plural.
Marie and I have contributed our share for the
success of the affair.
3. When the antecedent is each, either, or neither followed
by a plural modifier, a singular pronoun is preferred.
Each of the boys in the team is confident he is going
to bring home the bacon.
Neither of the men would admit his mistake.

11. 4. When the antecedent is everybody, each, either,
neither, everyone, a person, a singular pronoun is
preferred.
Everybody has her alibi ready.
A person often finds himself or herself in a crunch
during elections.
5. The relative pronoun who is used when the antecedent is
a person, which is used when the antecedent is a thing;
that is used to refer to persons, animals or things.
How could that slender spider’s thread which seemed
as if it must break with him alone, ever support the weight of
all those people?
Now do the following exercises.
Exercise 1: Choose the correct pronoun. Cite the
particular rule that supports your choice.
1. He (who, which) perseveres will succeed.
2. Is this the picture (who, which) you need?
3. Leo is taking logic, a subject (you, he) should have in
preparation for a law course.
4. Each of the boys is willing to do (his, their) share.
5. Delia and I are sure of (my, our) answers.
6. Everybody wanted to have (his or her, their) vacation
in Baguio.
7. Neither Cris nor Marco has written (his, their) essay.

12. 8. The man (who, which) I thought was my friend,
deceived me.
9. In the end, the coach and the manager kept (his,
their) word.
10.Everyone should learn to take care of (himself or
herself, themselves).
Exercise 2: Write C if the pronoun agrees with its
antecedent. If it does not, revise the underlined pronoun
to make it correct.
1. Everyone wanted their money back.
2. As each entered the room they became silent.
3. Neither of the girls expected to have their request
granted.
4. Everybody wanted their views to be heard.
5. If anybody wishes to leave they may do so.
6. Every person should be careful of their manner.
7. Either of the two will come to give their side of the
issue.
8. Everybody wanted their views to be heard.
9. The widow gave her word that she would treat the
mother-less boy as his own.
10.Everyone is expected to bring their own bedding.
Exercise 3: Write a paragraph recognizing our Philippine
leaders. Use the pronoun- antecedent agreement.

13. Rubrics:
Criteria Grammar & Spelling Neatness
(Pronoun-Antecedent
Agreement
5 Correct grammar Word processed
& spelling clean & neatly presented
4
Only one or two
errors Word processed
in grammar & spelling clean & neatly presented
3 More than 2 errors in Legible writing,
spelling & grammar well-formed characters
2 Frequent grammar Legible writing,
& spelling errors
some well-formed
characters
1 very frequent errors Illegible writing,
in grammar & spelling print too small or too large
Before you put aside this lesson, spend some time
reflecting on what you have learned from it. Use this format

14. in your reflective journal. Check the column that best
describes your feeling about the activities you did. For the
last column give your reasons.
What I think of the activities in this lesson
How I liked them
Things I Did
What I liked best
References:

15. 1. Tayao, Ma. Lourdes G. Meeting my Needs II. 1st
ed.
Rex Book Store, Inc. c2002.
2. Reyes, Linda D. English Arts II. SEMP., c.2000.