All questions
Question 1
Identify the sentence that demonstrates an error in pronoun-antecedent agreement.
- Someone left his or her keys on the conference table after the important meeting concluded.
- Anyone who wants to participate must register themselves by the end of this week. (correct answer)
- Everyone should bring his or her own lunch to the outdoor company picnic event.
- Nobody wants to admit his or her mistakes when confronted with clear evidence.
Explanation: The correct answer is B. 'Anyone' is singular and requires a singular pronoun, but 'themselves' is plural. The correct pronoun would be 'himself or herself.' Choices A, C, and D all correctly use singular pronouns 'his or her' with their singular antecedents 'someone,' 'everyone,' and 'nobody.'
Question 2
Which revision corrects the pronoun-antecedent agreement error in this sentence: 'Each of the teachers submitted their lesson plans for administrative review'?
- Each of the teachers submitted his or her lesson plans for administrative review. (correct answer)
- Each of the teachers submitted their own lesson plans for administrative review.
- Each of the teachers submitted our lesson plans for administrative review.
- Each of the teachers submitted its lesson plans for administrative review.
Explanation: The correct answer is A. 'Each' is singular and requires the singular pronoun 'his or her.' Choice B maintains the original error with plural 'their.' Choice C incorrectly uses first-person 'our' instead of third-person. Choice D incorrectly uses 'its,' which refers to non-human entities, not people.
Question 3
Identify the sentence that demonstrates correct pronoun-antecedent agreement.
- Each of the musicians tuned their instruments carefully before the important evening performance.
- Each of the musicians tuned his or her instruments carefully before the important evening performance. (correct answer)
- Each of the musicians tuned our instruments carefully before the important evening performance.
- Each of the musicians tuned its instruments carefully before the important evening performance.
Explanation: The correct answer is B. 'Each' is singular and requires singular pronouns 'his or her.' Choice A uses plural 'their' with singular 'each.' Choice C inappropriately uses first-person 'our.' Choice D uses 'its,' which is for non-human entities, not people.
Question 4
Which sentence contains a pronoun-antecedent agreement error?
- The board of directors announced its decision regarding the proposed merger with competitors.
- The flock of geese changed their migration pattern due to unusual weather conditions. (correct answer)
- The herd of cattle moved slowly across the pasture toward the feeding area.
- The school of fish swam together in coordinated movements through the coral reef.
Explanation: The correct answer is B. 'Flock' is a collective noun treated as singular, but 'their' is plural, creating disagreement. The pronoun should be 'its.' Choice A correctly uses singular 'its' with 'board.' Choices C and D contain no pronouns to create agreement errors.
Question 5
Which sentence demonstrates correct pronoun-antecedent agreement?
- Both of the applicants submitted his resume with a detailed cover letter for consideration.
- Both of the applicants submitted its resume with a detailed cover letter for consideration.
- Both of the applicants submitted their resume with a detailed cover letter for consideration. (correct answer)
- Both of the applicants submitted our resume with a detailed cover letter for consideration.
Explanation: The correct answer is C. 'Both' is plural and requires the plural pronoun 'their.' Choice A uses singular masculine 'his' with a plural antecedent. Choice B uses 'its,' which is for non-human entities. Choice D inappropriately uses first-person 'our.'
Question 6
Which revision corrects the pronoun-antecedent agreement: 'A person should always double-check their work before submitting important documents'?
- A person should always double-check their work before submitting important documents.
- A person should always double-check his or her work before submitting important documents. (correct answer)
- A person should always double-check our work before submitting important documents.
- A person should always double-check its work before submitting important documents.
Explanation: The correct answer is B. 'A person' is singular and requires singular pronouns 'his or her.' Choice A maintains the error with plural 'their.' Choice C inappropriately uses first-person 'our.' Choice D uses 'its,' which is for non-human entities, not people.
Question 7
Identify the sentence with correct pronoun-antecedent agreement.
- Nobody wants to admit their mistake when confronted with clear evidence of wrongdoing.
- Nobody wants to admit his or her mistake when confronted with clear evidence of wrongdoing. (correct answer)
- Nobody wants to admit our mistake when confronted with clear evidence of wrongdoing.
- Nobody wants to admit its mistake when confronted with clear evidence of wrongdoing.
Explanation: The correct answer is B. 'Nobody' is singular and requires singular pronouns 'his or her.' Choice A uses plural 'their' with singular 'nobody.' Choice C inappropriately uses first-person 'our.' Choice D uses 'its,' which is for non-human entities, not people.
Question 8
Which revision fixes the pronoun-antecedent agreement error: 'Either Sarah or Maria will present their research findings at the conference'?
- Either Sarah or Maria will present her research findings at the conference. (correct answer)
- Either Sarah or Maria will present their research findings at the conference.
- Either Sarah or Maria will present our research findings at the conference.
- Either Sarah or Maria will present his research findings at the conference.
Explanation: The correct answer is A. With 'either...or' constructions, the pronoun agrees with the closer antecedent. Since 'Maria' is closer and singular, 'her' is correct. Choice B maintains the error with plural 'their.' Choice C incorrectly uses first-person 'our.' Choice D uses masculine 'his' when both antecedents are feminine names.
Question 9
Which revision corrects the pronoun-antecedent agreement: 'Everyone in the office should submit their timesheet by Friday afternoon'?
- Everyone in the office should submit their timesheet by Friday afternoon.
- Everyone in the office should submit our timesheet by Friday afternoon.
- Everyone in the office should submit his or her timesheet by Friday afternoon. (correct answer)
- Everyone in the office should submit its timesheet by Friday afternoon.
Explanation: The correct answer is C. 'Everyone' is singular and requires singular pronouns 'his or her.' Choice A maintains the error with plural 'their.' Choice B inappropriately uses first-person 'our.' Choice D uses 'its,' which is for non-human entities, not people.
Question 10
Which sentence contains a pronoun-antecedent agreement error?
- The jury reached its verdict after deliberating for several hours in the courthouse.
- The audience showed their appreciation by giving the performers a standing ovation. (correct answer)
- The staff completed its training session on new safety procedures and workplace protocols.
- The committee submitted its final report with detailed recommendations for policy changes.
Explanation: The correct answer is B. 'Audience' is a collective noun treated as singular in American English, but 'their' is plural, creating disagreement. The pronoun should be 'its.' Choices A, C, and D correctly use singular 'its' with singular collective nouns 'jury,' 'staff,' and 'committee.'
Question 11
Which revision fixes this pronoun-antecedent agreement error: 'Someone in the group forgot to bring their presentation materials to the meeting'?
- Someone in the group forgot to bring their presentation materials to the important meeting.
- Someone in the group forgot to bring our presentation materials to the important meeting.
- Someone in the group forgot to bring his or her presentation materials to the important meeting. (correct answer)
- Someone in the group forgot to bring its presentation materials to the important meeting.
Explanation: The correct answer is C. 'Someone' is singular and requires singular pronouns 'his or her.' Choice A maintains the error with plural 'their.' Choice B inappropriately uses first-person 'our.' Choice D uses 'its,' which is for non-human entities, not people.
Question 12
Which sentence demonstrates a pronoun-antecedent agreement error?
- Few of the participants understood the complex instructions given during the orientation session.
- Most of the employees appreciated their supervisor's efforts to improve workplace communication.
- Some of the information was outdated, so they needed to update it immediately. (correct answer)
- Several of the documents required additional signatures before final submission to the review board.
Explanation: The correct answer is C. 'Some of the information' is singular (information is non-count), but 'they' is plural, creating disagreement. The pronoun should be 'it.' Choices A, B, and D are correct: A has no pronoun, B correctly uses plural 'their' with plural 'employees,' and D has no pronoun.
Question 13
Identify the sentence that demonstrates correct pronoun-antecedent agreement.
- Neither of the proposals received the approval they desperately needed from the review committee.
- Neither of the proposals received the approval it desperately needed from the review committee. (correct answer)
- Neither of the proposals received the approval we desperately needed from the review committee.
- Neither of the proposals received the approval he desperately needed from the review committee.
Explanation: The correct answer is B. 'Neither' is singular and requires the singular pronoun 'it.' Choice A uses plural 'they' with singular 'neither.' Choice C inappropriately uses first-person 'we.' Choice D uses masculine 'he,' which is inappropriate for inanimate objects like proposals.
Question 14
Identify the sentence with a pronoun-antecedent agreement error.
- The committee members discussed their concerns about the new policy during the lengthy meeting.
- Neither of the proposals received the support they needed from the review board members. (correct answer)
- Both candidates presented their qualifications thoroughly during the interview process yesterday.
- All of the participants submitted their registration forms before the specified deadline.
Explanation: The correct answer is B. 'Neither' is singular and requires a singular pronoun, but 'they' is plural, creating disagreement. Choice A correctly uses plural 'their' with plural 'members.' Choice C correctly uses plural 'their' with plural 'candidates.' Choice D correctly uses plural 'their' with plural 'participants.'
Question 15
Which sentence demonstrates correct pronoun-antecedent agreement?
- Every student must submit their final project by Friday to receive full credit for the assignment.
- Every student must submit his or her final project by Friday to receive full credit for the assignment. (correct answer)
- Every student must submit its final project by Friday to receive full credit for the assignment.
- Every student must submit our final project by Friday to receive full credit for the assignment.
Explanation: The correct answer is B. The singular antecedent 'every student' requires a singular pronoun. 'His or her' correctly maintains singular agreement. Choice A uses the plural pronoun 'their' with a singular antecedent. Choice C incorrectly uses 'its,' which is for non-human entities. Choice D uses 'our,' which doesn't agree with the third-person antecedent.
Question 16
Which revision fixes this error: 'The organization announced that they would be restructuring their departments'?
- The organization announced that they would be restructuring its departments for improved efficiency.
- The organization announced that it would be restructuring its departments for improved efficiency. (correct answer)
- The organization announced that we would be restructuring our departments for improved efficiency.
- The organization announced that he would be restructuring his departments for improved efficiency.
Explanation: The correct answer is B. 'Organization' is singular and requires singular pronouns 'it' and 'its' throughout. Choice A mixes plural 'they' with singular 'its.' Choice C inappropriately shifts to first-person pronouns. Choice D uses inappropriate masculine singular pronouns for an organization.
Question 17
Identify the sentence with a pronoun-antecedent agreement error.
- All of the employees received their paychecks through the new direct deposit system.
- Several of the participants expressed their satisfaction with the comprehensive training program.
- None of the equipment was functioning properly when they tested it yesterday morning. (correct answer)
- Many of the students completed their assignments ahead of the scheduled due date.
Explanation: The correct answer is C. 'None of the equipment' is singular (equipment is non-count), but 'they' is plural, creating disagreement. The pronoun should be 'it.' Choices A, B, and D correctly use plural pronouns with plural antecedents ('employees,' 'participants,' 'students').
Question 18
Which revision corrects this agreement error: 'Any student who fails to complete their homework will receive a warning'?
- Any student who fails to complete their homework assignments will receive a formal warning notice.
- Any student who fails to complete our homework will receive a formal warning notice.
- Any student who fails to complete his or her homework will receive a formal warning notice. (correct answer)
- Any student who fails to complete its homework will receive a formal warning notice.
Explanation: The correct answer is C. 'Any student' is singular and requires singular pronouns 'his or her.' Choice A maintains the error with plural 'their.' Choice B inappropriately uses first-person 'our.' Choice D uses 'its,' which is for non-human entities, not people.
Question 19
Which sentence has correct pronoun-antecedent agreement?
- The team celebrated their victory with an elaborate dinner at the restaurant.
- The team celebrated its victory with an elaborate dinner at the restaurant. (correct answer)
- The team celebrated his victory with an elaborate dinner at the restaurant.
- The team celebrated our victory with an elaborate dinner at the restaurant.
Explanation: The correct answer is B. 'Team' is a collective noun treated as singular in American English, requiring the singular pronoun 'its.' Choice A treats 'team' as plural with 'their.' Choice C uses inappropriate masculine singular 'his.' Choice D incorrectly shifts to first-person 'our.'
Question 20
Identify the error in pronoun-antecedent agreement in this sentence: 'One of the students forgot to turn in their assignment before the deadline.'
- The pronoun 'their' is plural, but the antecedent 'one' is singular and requires agreement. (correct answer)
- The pronoun 'their' is correct because it refers to multiple students mentioned in the sentence.
- The pronoun 'their' is inappropriate because it should be replaced with the possessive pronoun 'theirs.'
- The pronoun 'their' is wrong because it should agree with 'students' rather than 'one.'
Explanation: The correct answer is A. The antecedent is 'one' (singular), not 'students,' so the plural pronoun 'their' creates a disagreement error. Choice B incorrectly identifies the antecedent as 'students.' Choice C misunderstands the issue as possessive vs. possessive pronoun. Choice D incorrectly suggests 'students' is the antecedent.