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Pronoun Errors – Quiz 1
Pronoun Errors Quiz 1 (30 MCQs)
This multiple-choice question set evaluates the understanding of correct pronoun usage and agreement, including gender-inclusive language, singular vs. plural pronouns, subject-verb agreement, and identifying unclear antecedents in sentences.
Quiz Instructions
Select an option to see the correct answer instantly.
1.
Which sentence contains a vague pronoun reference?
A) After Mrs. Thorn spoke with Shirley about the incident in class, Mrs. Thorn felt much better.
B) After Ms. Thorn spoke with Shirley about the incident in class, she felt much better.
C) All the above.
D) None of the above.
Show Answer
Explanations:
Option B contains a vague pronoun reference with "she," which is unclear whether it refers to Mrs. Thorn or Shirley.
Option Analysis:
Option A:
Clear pronoun references.
Option B:
Vague pronoun reference ("she").
Option C:
All contain vague pronoun references in Option B. Incorrect as only one option is asked for.
Option D:
Clear pronoun references.
2.
Uncle John likes to knit, which seems boring to ..... , but ..... enjoys .....
A) Me / he / it.
B) Me / she / it.
C) He / I / it.
D) I / he / it.
Show Answer
Explanations:
The correct answer is Option A: "Me / he / it." This option correctly uses the reflexive pronoun "me" as the subject of the first clause, and the objective form "he" to refer back to Uncle John in the second clause. The third blank requires a neuter pronoun "it," which fits well with the context of knitting being described as boring.
Option Analysis:
Option A:
Correctly uses "me" for the first blank, "he" for the second, and "it" for the third.
Option B:
Incorrect use of "I" instead of "me."
Option C:
Incorrect order; should be "He / I / it."
Option D:
Incorrect use of "he" for the first blank.
3.
The librarian helped ..... and me with the research.
A) She.
B) Her.
C) All the above.
D) None of the above.
Show Answer
Explanations:
The correct answer is
B) Her.
In this sentence, "Her" should be used as the objective pronoun to replace "and me," which are both objects of the verb "helped." The phrase "the librarian helped her and me with the research" correctly uses "her" in its objective form.
Option Analysis:
Option A:
She is a subject pronoun, not an object. It cannot be used here.
Option B:
Her is the correct objective pronoun to use with "helped."
Option C:
All the above is incorrect because only one option (B) is correct.
Option D:
None of the above is incorrect since Option B is correct.
4.
Read each set of sentences below. Two of the sentences in each set have errors in pronoun usage; one sentence is written correctly. Choose the sentence that is written correctly, with NO ERRORS in pronoun usage.
A) Will you tell him and me about your trip to the Netherlands?.
B) Mom and Sarah built a greenhouse to protect her plants from wind and frost.
C) Before each race, Carl asks hisself, "Can I do better than the last time?".
D) None of the above.
Show Answer
Explanations:
The correct answer is
A) Will you tell him and me about your trip to the Netherlands?
. This sentence uses the pronouns "him" and "me" correctly, both in objective case (indicated by their placement after a verb or preposition). In contrast:
- B has an error with "her," which should be "their" if referring to multiple people.
- C has an error with "hisself," which is incorrect; the correct reflexive pronoun would be "himself."
Option Analysis:
Option A:
Correct usage of objective case pronouns.
Option B:
Error in pronoun agreement ("her" should be "their").
Option C:
Error in reflexive pronoun form ("hisself" is incorrect).
Option D:
Not applicable as there is a correct option.
5.
They picked .....
A) She and I.
B) Her and me.
C) All the above.
D) None of the above.
Show Answer
Explanations:
The correct answer is
B) Her and me.
This option uses the objective case of "her" and "me," which is appropriate when they are objects in a sentence, such as after verbs like "picked." In this context, "They picked her and me" indicates that both "she" and "I" were chosen.
Option Analysis:
Option A:
Uses the subjective case ("She and I"), which is incorrect for objects in a sentence.
Option B:
Correct use of objective case pronouns ("Her and me").
Option C:
Incorrect, as it includes "She and I," making both cases mixed improperly.
Option D:
Not applicable since one correct option exists.
6.
That garden was planted by ..... volunteers.
A) We.
B) Us.
C) All the above.
D) None of the above.
Show Answer
Explanations:
"Us" is the correct answer because it correctly uses the subject form of the pronoun to agree with the plural verb "were." In English, when a pronoun is used as the subject of a sentence or clause, it must match in number and person with the subject noun. Here, "volunteers" is plural, so we use the plural subject form "us."
Option Analysis:
Option A:
"We" is incorrect because "we" is the object form of the pronoun and does not agree with the verb in this context.
Option B:
"Us" is correct as explained above.
Option C:
"All the above" is incorrect since only one option, "us," is grammatically correct.
Option D:
"None of the above" is incorrect because "us" is the correct answer.
7.
Select the sentence that has a pronoun error.
A) Every student must have their ID card.
B) Each of the players has their own locker.
C) Neither of the options is suitable for their needs.
D) Someone left their bag in the classroom.
Show Answer
Explanations:
The correct answer is
B) Each of the players has their own locker.
This sentence contains a pronoun error because "their" is plural and does not agree with "each," which is singular. The correct form should be "Each of the players has his or her own locker."
Option Analysis:
Option A:
Correct use of "their."
Option B:
Pronoun error: "their" does not agree with singular "each."
Option C:
Correct use of "their."
Option D:
Correct use of "their."
8.
We were starving but decided to make the long drive home because the choices at the food court would have poisoned you.
A) Us.
B) Her.
C) No change is necessary.
D) Them.
Show Answer
Explanations:
The sentence "We were starving but decided to make the long drive home because the choices at the food court would have poisoned you." uses the pronoun "you" correctly as the object of a past hypothetical situation (would have poisoned). The subject "we" is used correctly in the first part of the sentence. Therefore, no change is necessary.
Option Analysis:
Option A:
Correct. No change needed.
Option B:
Incorrect. "Her" does not fit grammatically or contextually.
Option C:
Incorrect. There is no error in the sentence that requires a change.
Option D:
Incorrect. "Them" would be incorrect as it doesn't refer to anyone in the sentence.
9.
That fact surprised Danielle and .....
A) I.
B) Me.
C) All the above.
D) None of the above.
Show Answer
Explanations:
The correct answer is
B) Me.
In this sentence, the pronoun "Me" should be used because it follows a verb that requires an object form of the pronoun (surprised). The phrase "That fact surprised Danielle and me..." indicates that both subjects are receiving the action of being surprised.
Option Analysis:
Option A:
I - Incorrect, as "I" is not used in object position.
Option B:
Me - Correct, as it is the appropriate object form for this sentence structure.
Option C:
All the above - Incorrect, since only one option fits grammatically here.
Option D:
None of the above - Incorrect, as "Me" is the correct choice.
10.
Sally says ..... likes to skip stones and see how far ..... go.
A) She / they.
B) You / they.
C) It / them.
D) She / them.
Show Answer
Explanations:
The sentence "Sally says ..... likes to skip stones and see how far ..... go" requires the correct pronoun forms that match the subject-verb agreement and the context of the sentence.
Option A: "She / they" is correct because:
- "She" agrees with the singular subject implied by "Sally."
- "They" would be incorrect as it does not agree in number with the singular subject.
Option Analysis:
Option A:
Correct. "She" matches Sally, and "they" correctly refers to a group or plural subjects.
Option B:
Incorrect. "You" is not appropriate as it does not match the singular subject implied by "Sally." "They" would be incorrect for the same reason as in A.
Option C:
Incorrect. "It" is not suitable because "it" refers to a single, non-personal noun, and "them" would be incorrect for the same reasons as B.
Option D:
Incorrect. "She" matches Sally, but "them" does not correctly refer to a plural subject in this context.
11.
..... students help out in lots of ways.
A) We.
B) Us.
C) All the above.
D) None of the above.
Show Answer
Explanations:
The sentence "..... students help out in lots of ways" uses a subject pronoun that should agree with the plural noun "students." The correct form is "We," which is a first-person plural pronoun, matching the plural subject. Therefore, Option A) We is correct.
Option Analysis:
Option A:
Correct. "We" agrees with the plural subject "students."
Option B:
Incorrect. "Us" is a pronoun used as an object and does not agree with "students."
Option C:
Incorrect. "All the above" would be correct if both A and B were right, but only A is.
Option D:
Incorrect. There is a correct answer among the options provided.
12.
Anybody who forgets ..... homework will have detention at lunch.
A) His.
B) Its.
C) My.
D) Their.
Show Answer
Explanations:
The correct answer is
D) Their.
The pronoun "their" agrees with the plural subject "Anybody who forgets," making it the appropriate choice to maintain grammatical agreement in the sentence.
Option Analysis:
Option A:
Incorrect. "His" implies a singular male subject, which does not match "Anybody who forgets."
Option B:
Incorrect. "Its" is possessive and does not fit the context of the sentence.
Option C:
Incorrect. "My" implies ownership by a singular subject, which is not applicable here.
Option D:
Correct. "Their" agrees with the plural subject "Anybody who forgets."
13.
Some is a ..... pronoun.
A) Singular.
B) Plural.
C) All the above.
D) None of the above.
Show Answer
Explanations:
"Some" is a plural pronoun because it refers to more than one person or thing and agrees with a plural noun in the sentence.
Option Analysis:
Option A:
Singular. Incorrect, "some" does not refer to a single entity.
Option B:
Plural. Correct, as explained above.
Option C:
All the above. Incorrect, "some" cannot be singular and plural simultaneously.
Option D:
None of the above. Incorrect, since option B is correct.
14.
Which sentence contains a pronoun error?
A) Everyone should bring their own lunch.
B) Neither of the girls have her book.
C) Each of the students must submit their assignment.
D) Somebody left their umbrella.
Show Answer
Explanations:
The correct answer is C) Each of the students must submit their assignment. This sentence contains a pronoun error because "their" should be singular to agree with the singular noun "each." The proper form would be "Each of the students must submit his or her assignment."
Option Analysis:
Option A:
Correct usage of possessive pronoun.
Option B:
Incorrect plural verb "have" with singular subject "Neither." The correct form would be "Neither of the girls has her book."
Option C:
Pronoun error: "their" should be "his or her" to agree with the singular noun "each."
Option D:
Correct usage of possessive pronoun.
15.
His or her is a ..... pronoun.
A) Singular.
B) Plural.
C) All the above.
D) None of the above.
Show Answer
Explanations:
The pronoun "his" and "her" are singular possessive determiners used to indicate ownership by a single person, making them singular in nature.
Option Analysis:
Option A:
Correct. "His or her" refers to a single individual, thus it is a singular pronoun.
Option B:
Incorrect. "His or her" does not refer to multiple individuals.
Option C:
Incorrect. "His or her" cannot be plural.
Option D:
Incorrect. The correct answer is provided in Option A.
16.
Each player starts at ..... own base.
A) Their.
B) His or her.
C) All the above.
D) None of the above.
Show Answer
Explanations:
The correct answer is
B) His or her.
This option uses the appropriate pronoun "his or her" to refer to a player of unspecified gender, which is grammatically correct in English when referring to a singular indefinite noun. The phrase "Each player starts at his or her own base" ensures clarity and inclusivity.
Option Analysis:
Option A:
"Their" is a plural pronoun and would be incorrect for the singular subject "each player."
Option B:
Correct, as it uses "his or her," which is appropriate for a singular indefinite noun.
Option C:
Incorrect because neither "Their" nor "His or her" can be used with both players and each player in this context.
Option D:
Incorrect as there is a correct answer among the options provided.
17.
The store was having a huge sale on all ..... shoes.
A) Her.
B) Its.
C) My.
D) Our.
Show Answer
Explanations:
The correct answer is
B) Its
. The sentence should read, "The store was having a huge sale on all its shoes." Here, the pronoun "its" correctly refers back to the store and agrees with it as the owner of the shoes.
Option Analysis:
Option A:
Incorrect. "Her" is a possessive pronoun used for feminine human subjects, which does not fit in this context.
Option B:
Correct. "Its" is the correct possessive form of "it," referring to the store's shoes.
Option C:
Incorrect. "My" is a possessive pronoun used for first-person singular, which does not fit in this context.
Option D:
Incorrect. "Our" is a possessive pronoun used for first-person plural, which does not fit in this context.
18.
Choose the sentence that has NO error in terms of pronoun usage.
A) It's scent is so strong.
B) It is me.
C) Let's keep this secret between you and I.
D) There is a monster among us.
Show Answer
Explanations:
Option D is correct because it uses the pronoun "us" correctly in a plural context, without any errors.
Option Analysis:
Option A:
Uses "It's" which is grammatically correct but not an error. However, "scent is so strong" could be clearer with "its scent."
Option B:
Incorrect use of pronoun; should be "It is I" or simply "I."
Option C:
Incorrect use of pronoun; should be "between you and me."
Option D:
Correct usage.
19.
Is this present for ..... or for ..... ?
A) Her, him.
B) She, him.
C) All the above.
D) None of the above.
Show Answer
Explanations:
The correct answer is Option A: Her, him. This is because the pronouns "her" and "him" are used to refer back to female and male subjects respectively in a sentence. The question asks for the presence of these specific pronouns.
Option Analysis:
Option A:
Correct. Uses appropriate gender-specific pronouns.
Option B:
Incorrect. "She" is not used to refer to males, only females.
Option C:
Incorrect. This option includes an incorrect combination of pronouns and a redundant choice.
Option D:
Incorrect. The correct answer exists among the given options.
20.
Emily and Nathan both love to sing so ..... are going to do a duet for the talent show.
A) They.
B) He.
C) Their.
D) She.
Show Answer
Explanations:
The sentence "Emily and Nathan both love to sing so
they
are going to do a duet for the talent show" uses the correct pronoun "they," which is plural and agrees with the subject "Emily and Nathan." This demonstrates proper subject-verb agreement in a compound subject.
Option Analysis:
Option A:
They - Correct. Uses appropriate plural pronoun for both subjects.
Option B:
He - Incorrect. Singular pronoun does not match the plural subject.
Option C:
Their - Incorrect. Possessive pronoun, not a subject or verb agreement issue.
Option D:
She - Incorrect. Singular pronoun does not match the plural subject.
21.
Which pronoun correctly completes the sentence? 'Neither of the girls brought ..... umbrella.'
A) Its.
B) His.
C) Their.
D) Her.
Show Answer
Explanations:
The correct pronoun to complete the sentence is "Her." This is because "Neither of the girls" refers to two female individuals, and "her" agrees with the plural subject in terms of gender. The other options do not fit grammatically or semantically: "Its" (belonging to it), "His" (masculine singular), and "Their" (neutral or mixed gender).
Option Analysis:
Option A:
Incorrect; "its" is possessive, not a personal pronoun.
Option B:
Incorrect; "his" refers to masculine singular, not plural females.
Option C:
Incorrect; "their" is neutral or mixed gender and does not specify female individuals.
Option D:
Correct; "her" agrees with the plural feminine subject "neither of the girls."
22.
Which sentence does NOT have a pronoun error? (hint:refer to your "pronoun case and linking verbs" video assignment)
A) The strongest players on the team would have to be her and him.
B) You are not as qualified for this job as him.
C) The greatest poet in our class is he.
D) Take this to they're house when you are finished.
Show Answer
Explanations:
Option C is correct because it uses the singular pronoun "he" to agree with the singular subject "The greatest poet in our class." This sentence does not contain a pronoun error.
Option Analysis:
Option A:
Uses "her and him," which is incorrect as it mixes singular and plural subjects.
Option B:
Incorrectly compares "you" to the singular "him." The correct form would be "You are not as qualified for this job as he."
Option D:
Uses "they're," which is a contraction of "they are," and should be followed by a plural noun or pronoun. It should read, "Take this to their house when you are finished."
23.
Which uses a pronoun incorrectly?
A) The right people for the job are clearly they!.
B) She thinks she is so much better than their.
C) She thinks she is so much better than I.
D) She thinks she is so much better than we.
Show Answer
Explanations:
Option B is incorrect because "their" is a possessive pronoun and cannot be used to compare individuals. The correct comparison would use the singular form of "I" (me) in this context.
Option Analysis:
Option A:
Incorrect, as "they" should refer back to "the right people."
Option B:
Incorrect, as "their" is a possessive pronoun and cannot be used for comparison.
Option C:
Correct, as it uses the singular form of "I" correctly in a comparative sentence.
Option D:
Incorrect, as "we" does not fit grammatically or logically in this context.
24.
Kyle and Leah was late to the party, even though she got dressed early.
A) Kyle and Leah was late to the party, even though he got dressed early.
B) Kyle and Leah was late to the party, even though their got dressed early.
C) Kyle and Leah was late to the party, even though they got dressed early.
D) No change is necessary.
Show Answer
Explanations:
Option C is correct because it uses the proper pronoun "they" to agree with the plural subject "Kyle and Leah." The sentence structure and tense are also maintained correctly.
Option Analysis:
Option A:
Uses "he," which does not match the plural subjects. Incorrect.
Option B:
Has a grammatical error with "their" instead of "they." Incorrect.
Option C:
Correctly uses "they" to agree with the plural subject. Correct.
Option D:
No change is necessary, but option C does need correction. Incorrect.
25.
The students made ..... own costumes for the play.
A) Their.
B) Our.
C) Her.
D) My.
Show Answer
Explanations:
The students made their own costumes for the play. The pronoun "their" is used to indicate possession by multiple subjects (the students). This matches the context of the sentence, where a group of people (students) are making something (costumes).
Option Analysis:
Option A:
Correct. Indicates possession by the students.
Option B:
Incorrect. "Our" would imply ownership by the speaker and possibly others, not just the students.
Option C:
Incorrect. "Her" is singular and does not match the plural subject (students).
Option D:
Incorrect. "My" is singular and does not fit the context of multiple students making costumes.
26.
Did the ant find ..... way back to the colony?
A) Its.
B) It's.
C) All the above.
D) None of the above.
Show Answer
Explanations:
The correct answer is
A) Its.
The word "Its" is a possessive pronoun, indicating that the way belongs to the ant. In contrast, "It's" is a contraction of "it is" or "it has," which does not fit in this context.
Option Analysis:
Option A:
Correct. "Its" is used as a possessive pronoun.
Option B:
Incorrect. "It's" is a contraction and not suitable here.
Option C:
Incorrect. Only option A is correct.
Option D:
Incorrect. At least one option (A) is correct.
27.
The police officer gave ..... students a ride home.
A) We.
B) Us.
C) All the above.
D) None of the above.
Show Answer
Explanations:
The correct answer is
B) Us.
In this sentence, the pronoun "us" should be used because it refers to a group of students, and the verb "gave" requires an object form of the pronoun. "We" would not be appropriate here as it is the subject form.
Option Analysis:
Option A:
Incorrect; "we" should be in object form.
Option B:
Correct; "us" is the proper object form for a group of students.
Option C:
Incorrect; both options are not correct.
Option D:
Incorrect; there is a correct answer among the choices provided.
28.
Which pronoun can be both SUBJECTIVE and OBJECTIVE?
A) Them.
B) You.
C) He.
D) Him.
Show Answer
Explanations:
The pronoun "You" can function both as a subjective and objective pronoun in English grammar. As the second person singular and plural subject, it is used to address the listener or reader directly. For example: "You are smart." Here, "you" is the subject of the sentence. Additionally, "you" can be used as an object when receiving action from another noun or pronoun, such as in "The teacher praised you."
Option Analysis:
Option A:
Them - Only objective case.
Option B:
You - Both subjective and objective case.
Option C:
He - Only subjective case.
Option D:
Him - Only objective case.
29.
Which answer contains only subjective pronouns? (refer to your pronoun case study set)
A) My, he, she, him.
B) It, me, he, she.
C) You, your, they.
D) He, she, they.
Show Answer
Explanations:
Option D contains only subjective pronouns: "he," "she," and "they." Subjective pronouns are used as the subject of a sentence, such as in "He ran" or "She sings."
Option Analysis:
Option A:
Includes objective pronouns ("him").
Option B:
Includes objective and possessive pronouns ("me," "it").
Option C:
Includes possessive pronoun ("your").
Option D:
Correct, contains only subjective pronouns.
30.
..... willing to help us with the project on Wednesday. Choose the word or phrase that best completes the sentence.
A) There.
B) He.
C) Their.
D) They're.
Show Answer
Explanations:
The correct answer is
D) They're
. The sentence requires a contraction of "they are" to indicate that multiple people are willing to help with the project on Wednesday. "There," "He," and "Their" do not fit grammatically or contextually.
Option Analysis:
Option A:
There is used to indicate existence or location, which does not make sense in this context.
Option B:
He refers to a singular male subject, which is inappropriate for the plural "us" and "project."
Option C:
Their indicates possession but does not form a contraction with "are," making it incorrect here.
Option D:
They're correctly forms the contraction of "they are," fitting the context perfectly.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are pronoun errors?
Pronoun errors refer to mistakes in using pronouns, such as incorrect agreement with antecedents or unclear reference. These can include issues like pronoun-antecedent disagreement, ambiguity, and misuse of pronoun cases.
How do singular indefinite nouns affect pronoun usage?
Singular indefinite nouns like "everyone," "someone," or "anyone" require singular pronouns to maintain subject-verb agreement. Misusing a plural pronoun can lead to errors in sentence structure and clarity.
What is the difference between pronoun agreement and pronoun case errors?
Pronoun agreement involves matching a pronoun with its antecedent in number, gender, and person. Pronoun case errors relate to using the wrong form of a pronoun (subjective vs. objective) based on its role in a sentence.
How can I avoid pronoun ambiguity?
To avoid pronoun ambiguity, ensure that each pronoun clearly refers to only one noun or person in the sentence. Using specific nouns or rephrasing sentences can also help clarify meaning and prevent confusion.
What are some common gender-specific pronoun errors?
Gender-specific pronoun errors occur when a writer uses gendered pronouns (he, she) to refer to people whose gender is not specified or known. Using singular they or other gender-neutral alternatives can help address these issues and promote inclusivity.