Recognize and Correct Incorrect Shifts in Pronoun Number and Person: CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.6.1.C

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MAP 6th Grade Reading › Recognize and Correct Incorrect Shifts in Pronoun Number and Person: CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.6.1.C

Questions 1 - 10
1

Select the incorrectly used pronoun in the sentence below:

Indoor stadiums have become more popular recently because it protects people from weather conditions.

it

stadiums

Indoor

weather

Explanation

Pronouns must agree with their antecedents in number and person. Do not use a plural pronoun for a singular antecedent or a singular pronoun for a plural antecedent. Do not shift person within a sentence. In particular, do not use the second-person pronouns you or your to refer to a first-person or third-person antecedent.

In this sentence "stadiums" was shifted incorrectly to "it". "It" should be "they" .

2

Select the incorrectly used pronoun in the sentence below:

People with a strong work ethic tend to be more successful at work because you are more likely to get complete all tasks in a timely manner.

People

you

work

tasks

Explanation

Pronouns must agree with their antecedents in number and person. Do not use a plural pronoun for a singular antecedent or a singular pronoun for a plural antecedent. Do not shift person within a sentence. In particular, do not use the second-person pronouns you or your to refer to a first-person or third-person antecedent.

In this sentence "People" was shifted incorrectly to "you". "you" should be "they" .

3

Select the wording that best completes the underlined portion of the following sentence.

When people play team sports, you get exercise and learn teamwork.

NO CHANGE

we

they

he or she

Explanation

Pronouns must agree with their antecedents in number and person. This sentence begins in the third-person with “when people play team sports,” then shifts to the second-person “you”. “you” should be replaced with the third person “they”.

4

Select the wording that best completes the underlined portion of the following sentence.

When you think about children, we should always consider the importance of education.

NO CHANGE

you should always consider

we should never consider

they should always

Explanation

Pronouns must agree with their antecedents in number and person. This sentence starts off in the second-person (“when you think about children,”), then shifts to first-person “we”. “we” should be replaced by “you” so the sentence maintains the second-person.

5

Select the incorrectly used pronoun in the sentence below:

Sometimes, a man will be criticized even when they are doing what is right.

man

even

they

what

Explanation

Pronouns must agree with their antecedents in number and person. In this example, “a man” (singular) is shifted incorrectly to “they” (plural). “they” should be “he”.

6

Select the incorrectly used pronoun in the sentence below.

Vivian and her friends know that when they are focused, you cannot beat them.

her

they

you

them

Explanation

Pronouns must agree with their antecedents in number and person. Do not use a plural pronoun for a singular antecedent or a singular pronoun for a plural antecedent. Do not shift person within a sentence. In particular, do not use the second-person pronouns you or your to refer to a first-person or third-person antecedent.

There are four pronouns in this sentence. Three of them are written in the third-person (“her”, “they”, and “them”), while “you” represents a shift to second-person. The end of this sentence can be revised from “you cannot beat them.” to something like “they cannot be beat.”

7

Select the incorrectly used pronoun in the sentence below.

Rachel told her mom that you really should drink more water.

Rachel

her

mom

you

Explanation

Pronouns must agree with their antecedents in number and person. Do not shift person within a sentence. In particular, do not use the second-person pronouns you or your to refer to a first-person or third-person antecedent.

In this example, there are two pronouns to consider: “her” and “you”. “her” refers to Rachel, but “you” represents a shift in person. Rachel and her mom are both third person, so “you” (second-person) should be “she” (third-person).

8

Select the incorrectly used pronoun in the sentence below.

Chris told his friend that classes were canceled for today and it would resume tomorrow.

Chris

his

it

tomorrow

Explanation

Pronouns must agree with their antecedents in number and person. In this example, there are two pronouns to consider: “his” and “it”. “his” (singular) clearly refers to Chris (also singular), while “it” (singular) seems to refer to “classes” (plural). “it” should be “they”.

9

Select the incorrectly used pronoun in the sentence below.

When Joshua was on the team, he called Marty for their tickets.

Joshua

he

Marty

their

Explanation

Pronouns must agree with their antecedents in number and person. Do not use a plural pronoun for a singular antecedent or a singular pronoun for a plural antecedent. Do not shift person within a sentence. In particular, do not use the second-person pronouns you or your to refer to a first-person or third-person antecedent.

In this example, there are two pronouns to seal with: “he” and “their”. “he” clearly refers to Joshua, but it is unclear who “their” (plural) refers to. Josh and Marty are both singular, so “their” should be “his”.

10

Select the incorrectly used pronoun in the sentence below:

It is excusable for students to leave school early for a doctor's appointment, as long as you return with a doctor's note.

students

you

doctor's

school

Explanation

Pronouns must agree with their antecedents in number and person. Do not use a plural pronoun for a singular antecedent or a singular pronoun for a plural antecedent. Do not shift person within a sentence. In particular, do not use the second-person pronouns you or your to refer to a first-person or third-person antecedent.

In this sentence "students" was shifted incorrectly to "you". "you" should be "they" .

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