SAT Writing : Identifying Pronoun Errors: Incorrect Usage
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Example Questions
Example Question #31 : Identifying Pronoun Errors: Incorrect Usage
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
The committee had a tradition of voting bimonthly for their quarterly meeting, in which the members discussed important matters. No error
No error
their
had
discussed
in which
their
This is a pronoun agreement error. "Committee" is a group noun, so it is singular. The pronoun "their" refers to the committee but it is plural. "Their" should become "its."
Example Question #756 : Sat Writing
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
I've had more teachers than I can count, but by far the best one was Mr. Brown, that taught second grade. No error
but
I've had
Mr. Brown, that
No error
than
Mr. Brown, that
Because the dependent clause "that taught second grade" is modifying a person, it needs to be introduced by "who," not "that," so "Mr. Brown, that" is the part of the sentence that contains an error.
Example Question #265 : Identifying Sentence Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
I must say that I am somewhat jealous of you having your own private, in-home movie theater. No error
I must say
private,
somewhat
private,
you having
No error
No error
somewhat
you having
In this sentence, the word "having" is a gerund—a verb acting as a noun. A person is not jealous of an action but of some thing, in this case, the state of someone's having a movie theater. Since "having" is being treated as a noun, the other parts of speech must treat it as such as well. So the correct form of "you" would be possessive; the sentence should read "I am jealous of your having" just as you would say "I am jealous of your dog."
Example Question #33 : Identifying Pronoun Errors: Incorrect Usage
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
While on vacation in the Smokey Mountains, Jack saw a brown bear and it's cub run across the road. No error
While on vacation
run across the road
a brown bear and it's cub
No error
in the Smokey Mountains,
a brown bear and it's cub
The phrase "a brown bear and it's cub" contains this sentence's error because it uses "it's," which is the contracted form of "it is," instead of "its," which is the possessive form of the singular pronoun "it." Changing "it's" to "its" would correct the sentence's error.
Example Question #34 : Identifying Pronoun Errors: Incorrect Usage
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
If one puts meticulous effort into your studies day after day, one will most likely succeed. No error
most likely
No error
one
after
your studies
your studies
Pronouns must agree with their antecedents. Since the sentence uses the pronoun "one," and remains consistent with that pronoun in the final clause, the pronoun is "your" is incorrect." Pronouns must remain consistent throughout a sentence. One could correct the sentence's error by changing "your" to "one's."
Example Question #33 : Identifying Pronoun Errors: Incorrect Usage
The court documents were brought to myself by the court stenographer when I asked.
bringing to me
brought to I
brought to myself
bringing to myself
brought to me
brought to me
The use of "myself" in the sentence is incorrect. "Myself" is a reflexive pronoun, which means it needs an antecedent it refers to earlier in the sentence. There is no previous mention of a previous first person pronoun. That makes "brought to me" the correct answer choice.
Example Question #34 : Identifying Pronoun Errors: Incorrect Usage
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
The students were interested in the frogs they had been given for dissection, but most struggled to see it as scientific learning opportunities instead of gross, dead amphibians. No error
No error
The students were
for dissection, but
it
they had been given
it
This sentence's error occurs in its use of the pronoun "it." "It" is a singular pronoun, but in this sentence, it is used to refer to a plural antecedent, "frogs." To correct the sentence's error, you would need to change "it" to "them."
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