PSAT/NMSQT Prep 2022 - Eggert M.D., Strelka A. 2022
Agreement: pronouns
Spotting and fixing errors: sentence structure, punctuation, and agreement
PSAT Reading
LEARNING OBJECTIVE
After this lesson, you will be able to:
· Identify and correct pronoun agreement issues
To answer a question like this:
The public library is an invaluable treasure trove of the wisdom, research, drama, and wit of the ages, all available for easy access to eager patrons. Indeed, anyone with a card can borrow 23 them free of charge.
23.
A. NO CHANGE
B.it
C.those
D. the library’s resources
You need to know this:
Pronoun Forms
A pronoun is a word that takes the place of a noun. Pronouns can take three different forms, each of which is used based on the grammatical role it plays in the sentence.
|
Form |
Pronouns |
Example |
Subjective: The pronoun is used as the subject. |
I, you, she, he, it, we, they, who |
Rivka is the student who will lead the presentation. |
Objective: The pronoun is used as the object of a verb or a preposition. |
me, you, her, him, it, us, them, whom |
With whom will Rivka present the scientific findings? |
Possessive: The pronoun expresses ownership. |
my, mine, your, yours, his, her, hers, its, our, ours, their, theirs, whose |
Rivka will likely choose a partner whose work is excellent. |
Note that a pronoun in subjective form can, logically, be the subject in a complete sentence. Pronouns that are in objective form cannot.
When there are two pronouns or a noun and a pronoun in a compound structure, drop the other noun or pronoun to tell which form to use—for example: Leo and me walked into town. If you were talking about yourself only, you would say, “I walked into town,” not “Me walked into town.” Therefore, the correct form is subjective, and the original sentence should read: Leo and I walked into town.
Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement
A pronoun’s antecedent is the noun it logically represents in a sentence. If the noun is singular, the pronoun must be singular; if the noun is plural, the pronoun must be plural.
|
Antecedent |
Incorrect |
Correct |
selection |
The selection of books was placed in their designated location. |
The selection of books was placed in its designated location. |
A woman |
A woman visiting the zoo fed the giraffes all of the lettuce they had purchased. |
A woman visiting the zoo fed the giraffes all of the lettuce she had purchased. |
sapling |
The sapling, along with dozens of flowers, was relocated to where they would thrive. |
The sapling, along with dozens of flowers, was relocated to where it would thrive. |
apples |
If apples are unripe, it should not be purchased. |
If apples are unripe, they should not be purchased. |
Ambiguous Pronouns
A pronoun is ambiguous if its antecedent is either missing or unclear. When you see an underlined pronoun, make sure you can identify the noun to which it refers.
|
Ambiguous Pronoun Use |
Corrected Sentence |
Anthony walked with Cody to the ice cream shop, and he bought a banana split. |
Anthony walked with Cody to the ice cream shop, and Cody bought a banana split. |
You need to do this:
If the underlined portion includes a pronoun, find the logical antecedent. If there is no clear antecedent, the pronoun is ambiguous and this error must be corrected. Then check that the pronoun:
· Uses the correct form
o If the pronoun is the subject of the sentence, use a subjective pronoun such as I, you, she, he, it, we, they, or who.
o If the pronoun is an object within the sentence, use an objective pronoun such as me, you, her, him, it, us, them, or whom.
o If the pronoun indicates possession, use a possessive pronoun such as my, mine, your, yours, his, her, hers, its, our, ours, their, theirs, or whose.
· Agrees with its antecedent
o A singular antecedent requires a singular pronoun; a plural antecedent requires a plural pronoun.
Explanation:
Every underlined pronoun on the PSAT must have a crystal-clear antecedent. In this case, although it is understood from the context that the writer means that people can borrow library materials, the pronoun “them” is ambiguous—indeed, its nearest antecedent is “eager patrons,” which is not what the writer intended to mean can be borrowed! Eliminate (A), as well as the other pronoun answer choices, since they all result in ambiguity. (D) is correct because it identifies precisely what can be borrowed.
If pronouns give you trouble, study the information above and try these Drill questions before completing the Try on Your Own questions that follow. Edit each sentence to correct the pronoun issue. Answers to the Drill can be found on the next page.
Drill
a. The manager let the employee go home an hour early because she was in a good mood.
b. My parents had a great surprise for my sister and (I/me): a visit to the beach.
c. The manager moved the display of vintage comic books from (its/their) location in the back of the store to the front.
d. Fai was able to convince (him/his) teacher to give the class no homework over the long weekend.
e. After purchasing (her/their) tickets, Jen watched the singers perform in the concert.
Try on Your Own
Directions: Take as much time as you need on these questions. Work carefully and methodically. There will be an opportunity for timed practice at the end of the chapter.
Questions 24—29 refer to the following passage.
James Joyce
As we contemplate the state of literature in our modern era, it is difficult to resist a longing for the epic writers of eras gone by. At times, we take great pains to merely remember that there were once authors such as Homer, Dante, and Melville: authors 24 whom were able to relate stories of heroic travels and struggles. They did not waste their time or ours with trivial affairs; they compelled 25 you to mull over the great philosophical questions of all time in stories that stand up to readers’ repeated perusal from generation to generation.26 They took extensive care to depict accurately the best and worst aspects of human nature; strove to ensure that they would be enhancing, rather than degrading, the public’s intellect; and did not resort to tricks or devices in order to garner readership for their writings. In all these regards, past writers are firmly distinguished from many modern writers: the most notorious of these modern writers is the Irish novelist James Joyce.
While literary critics typically offer vastly different assessments of its quality after 27 our readings of Ulysses, Joyce’s novel that retells Homer’s The Odyssey, my contention is that Joyce sullied the very form of the epic genre. Whereas The Odyssey was a great tale of a noble hero’s struggle against a seemingly insurmountable series of trials in order to restore order and honor to his household, 28 his book is nearly the direct opposite. The protagonist is no hero: his actions are listless and forgettable, and his obsession with obscene and undignified behavior is virtually nauseating. And even more shamefully, Joyce wasted his talent; subject matter aside, the art of masterfully crafting words came naturally to 29 him. Sadly, it is the literary world’s loss that he was not born a few centuries earlier, when his talents could have been utilized in a more dignified manner.
24.
A. NO CHANGE
B.which
C.who
D. who’re
25.
A. NO CHANGE
B.me
C.one
D. us
26.
A. NO CHANGE
B.Readers
C.Such authors
D. He
27.
A. NO CHANGE
B.their
C.his or her
D. my
28.
A. NO CHANGE
B.their
C.Joyce’s
D. Homer’s
29.
A. NO CHANGE
B.himself
C.his own self
D. he
Drill answers from previous page:
a. The manager let the employee go home an hour early because the manager was in a good mood.
b. My parents had a great surprise for my sister and me: a visit to the beach.
c. The manager moved the display of vintage comic books from its location in the back of the store to the front.
d. Fai was able to convince his teacher to give the class no homework over the long weekend.
e. After purchasing her tickets, Jen watched the singers perform in the concert.