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Higher Education

Identifying Pronoun Errors Quiz

The sentences in this quiz demonstrate common pronoun errors. Identify the pronoun error from among the four choices below. (Note: There is only one pronoun error in each sentence, but some sentences contain more than one pronoun.)

Pronoun Errors

pronoun–antecedent agreement error: the pronoun doesn't agree with its antecedent (i.e., the noun or indefinite pronoun that it replaces)

pronoun reference error: the pronoun (often this, that, which, or a personal pronoun) doesn't refer back to one specific noun in the sentence; instead, it may not have a grammatical antecedent, there may be two possible antecedents, or it may refer to the general idea in the sentence rather than a specific noun

pronoun inconsistency error: the same "person" of pronoun is used inconsistently in one or several sentences—for example, the writer might arbitrarily switch from the third-person (he, she, they, their, etc.) to the first-person (I, me, we, us, our); nouns are usually considered third-person and should be replaced by third-person pronouns

pronoun case or form error: the writer doesn't use the form of the pronoun that shows its function in the sentence—for example, the writer may use who (subjective form) when the pronoun acts as an object of the verb or preposition, which requires the objective form whom

(Javascript must be enabled for this exercise.)

1. If a student can handle the stress, they will be better prepared to enter the workforce.

a) pronoun case error
b) pronoun inconsistency error
c) pronoun–antecedent agreement error
d) pronoun reference error

Answer


2. If people can control their stress, it can play a beneficial role in our lives.

a) pronoun case error
b) pronoun inconsistency error
c) pronoun–antecedent agreement error
d) pronoun reference error

Answer


3. How can we deny a person the chance to improve their life if the stem cells from an embryo can provide the cure for their condition?

a) pronoun reference error
b) pronoun–antecedent agreement error
c) pronoun inconsistency error
d) pronoun case error

Answer


4. "Good" and "bad" bacteria in the stomach are linked to our digestive system, which, in turn, can affect the state of one's skin.

a) pronoun case error
b) pronoun inconsistency error
c) pronoun–antecedent agreement error
d) pronoun reference error

Answer


5. Reality shows choose specific participants and place them in artificial situations based on how entertaining they will be.

a) pronoun–antecedent agreement error
b) pronoun case error
c) pronoun inconsistency error
d) pronoun reference error

Answer


6. The new regulations mean that every new driver will have to wait two years until you are eligible for a class-five licence.

a) pronoun inconsistency error
b) pronoun case error
c) pronoun reference error
d) pronoun–antecedent agreement error

Answer


7. Eating disorders can develop if a person is continually criticized about their weight by members of their own family.

a) pronoun inconsistency error
b) pronoun reference error
c) pronoun–antecedent agreement error
d) pronoun case error

Answer


8. Agriculture in North America is affected by any decrease in the bee population because they rely heavily on honey bees for plant pollination.

a) pronoun–antecedent agreement error (half marks)
b) pronoun inconsistency error
c) pronoun reference error
d) pronoun case error

Answer


9. Leaders who people look up to are those who follow their own inner voice rather than society's.

a) pronoun reference error
b) pronoun inconsistency error
c) pronoun–antecedent agreement error
d) pronoun case error

Answer


10. Denmark is a country where they introduced universal access to post-secondary education.

a) pronoun reference error
b) pronoun inconsistency error
c) pronoun–antecedent agreement error
d) pronoun case error

Answer


11. Teenagers around the age of 16 are at the point in our lives where you are learning to drive and taking on more responsibilities.

a) pronoun reference error
b) pronoun–antecedent agreement error
c) pronoun case error
d) pronoun inconsistency error

Answer


12. Consumers these days may be led to spend ridiculous amounts of money on products that supposedly restore his or her youth and beauty.

a) pronoun inconsistency error
b) pronoun–antecedent agreement error
c) pronoun reference error
d) pronoun case error

Answer


13. Taking an English course during your first year of university will help most students in the rest of their courses.

a) pronoun reference error
b) pronoun case error
c) pronoun inconsistency error
d) pronoun–antecedent agreement error

Answer


14. Lack of funding to school boards affects the quality of the PE curriculum, but this requires the parents' initiative for change to occur.

a) pronoun case error
b) pronoun reference error
c) pronoun inconsistency error
d) pronoun–antecedent agreement error

Answer


15. In the first five years of life, a child is moulded into the person he will later become.

a) pronoun–antecedent agreement error
b) pronoun inconsistency error
c) pronoun reference error
d) pronoun case error

Answer