Correcting Pronoun Errors: Incorrect Usage - PSAT Writing

When the "–ing" form of a verb is used as a noun (called a "gerund"), the pronoun immediately preceding it should be in the possessive form.

The sentence as written is incorrect because it does not specify what or whose "identities are protected" by "anonymous gifts." The correct answer needs to at least refer back to the "wealthy patrons" in order to explain their behavior. "So their identities are protected" is the best choice among the answers.

The sentence presented uses a reflexive pronoun, "myself," that does not refer back to anything previously mentioned. The proper form would be the standard pronoun "me," which is the correct answer.

The sentence is correct as it is written. The use of "you" in this sentence is proper instead of "yourself," because "yourself" is a reflexive pronoun, meaning it needs to refer back to an earlier use of "you."

The verb in the underlined portion is used with the "many issues," a plural. Therefore, the verb needs to be plural. Also, the word beginning the sentence needs to appropriately reference the "many issues." "There are" is the only answer choice that fits both criteria.

"Their selves" means essentially their independent identities, and is not a reflexive pronoun that refers back to the "powerful people" Therefore, the correct answer is "themselves," which is just such a reflexive pronoun.

The problem with the underlined portion is the conflation of "someone" and "themself." This confusingly places a plural, "them," into a singular form to match it with "someone." To clean up this awkward phrasing, the best choice among the answers is "people who have hated themselves."

The use of "them" is imprecise, as it is unclear who exactly "them" is referring to in the sentence. To clear up this confusion, the use of "themselves" is the best way to indicate this usage refers to the subject of the sentence. "Themselves to watch their own weight" is the correct answer choice.

The use of "ourselves" is incorrect, as it is a referential pronoun, meaning that the word must refer to an earlier use of the first person plural pronoun. The use at the end of the sentence is the first one, and should not be a referential pronoun. "To us" is the correct answer choice.

The use of "itself" in the sentence is incorrect. "Itself" is a referential pronoun, and as the word is used as the subject in a complete though, there is nothing to refer to therefore, the correct answer is "bit it is a skill."

The use of "for me" is a confusing and odd use of the pronoun. Normally, we might consider changing "for me" to "for myself," since "I" has already been used in the sentence and "myself" would have a clear antecedent. However, the phrase "for myself" isn't necessary in this sentence; the sentence still makes complete sense without the inclusion of the phrase. Omitting the underlined portion simplifies the sentence and is grammatically correct, and it is the only answer choice that both corrects the error contained in "for me" and doesn't introduce other grammatical errors.

The underlined portion of the sentence needs one change to one word. "There," indicating a location, should be changed to "their," the third person plural possessive. Thus, "on the trail up ahead of their path" is the correct answer choice.

The use of "myself" in the sentence is incorrect, as "myself" is a referential pronoun, but has nothing in the sentence to refer to earlier in the sentence; therefore, "to me" is the correct answer choice.

The first underlined part can be broken apart into "you are," and calls for the use of the contraction "you're;." The second two cases are possessives, and call for the use of "your."

"Themselves" is a referential pronoun, and the structure of the sentence would make it refer to "humans." For the sentence to make sense, the pronoun needs to indicate "domesticated animals" are the ones being provided for. "Providing for them" is the correct answer choice.

The key grammatical issue in the sentence is that two homonyms are confused, creating a mispelling in "they're." "They're" is actually the contraction for "they are," while the sentence needs the third person plural possesive form. "On their side" is the correct answer choice.

The use of the word "it's" is incorrect in the sentence, as "it's" is only the contraction of "it is." The possessive form is always "its," making the correct answer "due to its massive length."

Never use "myself" as a simple subject (for "I") or object (for "me")—it should only be used in very particular circumstances. Use "myself" (and other pronouns ending in "self") only reflexively (where the subject and object are the same person, as in "I see myself") or to add emphasis ("I myself was there!").

The use of the pronoun "myself" is incorrect in this sentence, as "myself" is a reflexive pronoun and needs a referent earlier in the sentence. As no earlier use of a first person pronoun exists in the sentence, a reflexive pronoun is inappropriate. "To me" is the correct answer choice. "To I" might look like a potentially correct answer, but because "I" is the object of the preposition "to," it needs to be in its objective form, "me," not its subjective form, "I."

The use of the pronoun "her" in the underlined phrase is confusing, as it is not clear whether this is a new person in the sentence or refers back to the subject. To be more clear, a reflexive pronoun must be used. The correct answer is "hard on herself."