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Example Questions
Example Question #1 : Correcting Pronoun Antecedent Agreement Errors
Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English.
An individual's optimal pulse rate, the study shows, depends on their weight, height, and age.
have depended on their weight, height, and age
depends on their weight, height, and age
depends on his or her weight, height, and age
depends on his or her weight, height, and how old they are
has depended on their weight, height, and age
depends on his or her weight, height, and age
The original text contains a pronoun agreement error. The possessive pronoun "their" is plural, but it is intended to refer to the singular noun "individual." We must use singular possessive pronouns instead, such as "his or her."
Only answer choices "depends on his or her weight, height, and how old they are" and "depends on his or her weight, height, and age" correctly use "his or her" instead of "their," but answer choice "depends on his or her weight, height, and how old they are" does not use correct parallel structure. Therefore, the answer choice "depends on his or her weight, height, and age" is correct.
Example Question #2 : Correcting Pronoun Antecedent Agreement Errors
Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English.
The reason that so many ancient empires no longer exist is that they became too large for its government to collect tax revenues from citizens.
is that they became too large for their governments to collect tax revenues from citizens
are that they became too large for its government to collect tax revenues from citizens
is that they became too large for its government to collect tax revenues from citizens
is that it became too large for its government to collect tax revenues from citizens
are that it became too large for its government to collect tax revenues from citizens
is that they became too large for their governments to collect tax revenues from citizens
The original text contains a pronoun reference error. The antecedent of "its" is "empires," which is plural. We should therefore use the plural possessive pronoun "their" instead of the singular possessive pronoun "its." Only the answer choice "is that they became too large for their governments to collect tax revenues from citizens" correctly uses the plural posessive pronoun.
Example Question #1 : Correcting Pronoun Antecedent Agreement Errors
Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English.
Nearly half of the states in the U.S. have declared English as their official language.
as their official language
as their official languages
as its official languages
as it’s official language
as its official language
as their official languages
The original sentence lacks agreement. “Half of the states” is plural and in the third person, so it should say “as their official languages.”
Example Question #4 : Correcting Pronoun Antecedent Agreement Errors
Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English.
In many countries, the amount of money the government collects from their taxpayers is relative to individual income.
their taxpayers is relative to individual income
it’s taxpayers is relative to an individual’s income
there taxpayers is relative to individuals’ incomes
its taxpayers is relative to individual income
their taxpayers is relative to the individual’s income
its taxpayers is relative to individual income
Since the government is a thing or institution, the sentence should say “its taxpayers.” The contraction “it’s” stands for “it is,” and therefore, is not possessive.
Example Question #1 : Correcting Pronoun Antecedent Agreement Errors
Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English. One of the answer choices reproduces the underlined portion as it is written in the sentence.
In addition to helping the environment, renewable resources—such as solar power and hydroelectricity—may also provide an economic benefit, as it may reduce our dependence on foreign oil.
as it may reduce our dependence on foreign oil.
this being the reduction in our dependence on foreign oil.
as it reduces our dependence on foreign oil.
as they depend on the reduction of foreign oil.
as they may reduce our dependence on foreign oil.
as they may reduce our dependence on foreign oil.
The pronoun "it" should be plural because its antecedent is the plural subject "resources." Only two choices correcty change "it" to "they," but one of them, "as they depend on the reduction of foreign oil," confuses cause and effect. The resources are not dependent on the reduction of foreign oil. The correct answer is "as they may reduce our dependence on foreign oil."
Example Question #1 : Correcting Pronoun Antecedent Agreement Errors
Most men who go to sporting events find it an enjoyable diversion.
Most of the men who go to sporting events find it an enjoyable diversion.
Most men who go to sporting events find it an enjoyable diversion.
Many men who go to sporting events find it an enjoyable diversion.
Most men who go to sporting events find them an enjoyable diversion.
Most men who go to sporting events find it to be an enjoyable diversion.
Most men who go to sporting events find them an enjoyable diversion.
The sentence as written contains one small error. "It," a singular pronoun, is used to refer to the plural "sporting events." In order to fix this issue, the pronoun needs to be made plural, which is done in "Most men who go to sporting events find them an enjoyable diversion."
Example Question #1 : Correcting Pronoun Antecedent Agreement Errors
While it can seem like a daunting task to train for a marathon, anyone who has completed the challenge knows that preparing a plan that they stick to is the key to success.
Identify the answer choice that best improves the underlined portion of the sentence.
preparing a plan and sticking to it
preparing a plan that they stick to
preparing a plan that he sticks to
preparing, and having that be a plan that they stick to
sticking to a plan
preparing a plan and sticking to it
In this sentence, the subject is "anyone," a singular pronoun. Therefore, all pronouns relating back to "anyone" should be singular. In the underlined portion of the sentence, "preparing a plan that they stick to," "they" is plural, not singular. Now that we have identified the problem, we have to figure out how to correct it.
Given that "anyone" is gender neutral, the best way to improve this sentence is avoid the use of a gendered pronoun (meaning "he" or "she") and simply avoid using a pronoun at all. The correct answer, "preparing a plan and sticking to it," accomplishes this objective and is therefore the best way to improve the sentence.
Example Question #11 : Correcting Pronoun Antecedent Agreement Errors
Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English.
Just as they finished work for the day, the worker found his lost green helmet and made his way home happily.
Just as he finished work for the day, the worker found his lost green helmet and made his way home happily.
Just as he finished work for the day, his lost green helmet was found by the worker, who made his way home happily.
Just as he finished work for the day, the worker found his lost green helmet and made his way home happy.
Just as they finished work for the day, the worker finds his lost green helmet and made his way home happily.
Just as they finished work for the day, the worker found his lost green helmet and made his way home happily.
Just as he finished work for the day, the worker found his lost green helmet and made his way home happily.
The original sentence contains an error in noun-pronoun agreement: the plural possessive pronoun "their" is used to refer to "the worker," a singular noun. We need to use a singular possessive pronoun to refer to a singular noun, and our choices in this case are "his," "her," and "its." One doesn't use "its" to refer to people, and while "the worker" is not a gendered noun, we can tell that the worker being described in the sentence is male because of the use of the possessive pronoun "his" in the phrases "his lost green helmet" and "made his way home happily." For the sentence to be correct, we need to replace "their" with "his," so the correct answer is "Just as he finished work for the day, the worker found his lost green helmet and made his way home happily."
Example Question #1 : Correcting Pronoun Antecedent Agreement Errors
Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English. One of the answer choices reproduces the underlined portion as it is written in the sentence.
Although the basketball team used their star players, the match was lost.
The basketball team used its star players, although
Although the star players were used by the basketball team
Although the basketball team used its star players
The basketball team used their star players
Although the basketball team used their star players
Although the basketball team used its star players
Choose a pronoun that properly agrees with the subject. In this case, "basketball team" is singular, although it represents a group of people, and should be accompanied with "its," instead of "their."
Example Question #301 : Correcting Word Usage Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Small in size, the mongoose may not seem like an imposing creature, but when threatened they can fight off and even slay a large predator such as the king cobra. No error
they
fight off and even slay
an imposing creature
No error
Small in size
they
"They," a plural pronoun, is used in the sentence to refer to "the mongoose," a singular subject. So, "they" should be changed to "it."
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