15 mar Quiz on Pronoun Antecedent Agreement
Pronoun antecedent agreement is an essential grammar concept that every writer and editor should be familiar with. It refers to the agreement between a pronoun and the noun that it is replacing in a sentence. The pronoun should match the noun in number, gender, and person. For example, if the antecedent is a singular noun, the pronoun that replaces it should also be singular. Any discrepancy between the pronoun and its antecedent can result in a grammatical error that can impact the clarity and effectiveness of the writing.
To test your understanding of pronoun antecedent agreement, take this quiz and see how well you do!
Question 1: _____ is going to the store to buy _____ groceries.
a) She, her
b) She, hers
c) Her, her
d) Her, hers
Answer: a) She, her
Explanation: In this sentence, “she” is the subject, and “groceries” is the object. Since “groceries” is plural, the pronoun that replaces it must also be plural. Therefore, the correct answer is “she” (singular subject) and “her” (plural object).
Question 2: The athlete who won the gold medal in the marathon broke _____ own record.
a) His
b) Her
c) Their
d) Its
Answer: a) His
Explanation: In this sentence, the antecedent is “athlete,” which is singular and masculine. Therefore, the pronoun that replaces it should also be singular and masculine. The correct answer is “his.”
Question 3: When the students arrived at _____ desks, _____ found a surprise waiting for _____.
a) Their, they, them
b) Their, them, them
c) They, their, them
d) They, them, them
Answer: a) Their, they, them
Explanation: In this sentence, the antecedent is “students,” which is plural and possessive. Therefore, the pronoun that replaces it should also be plural and possessive. The correct answer is “their” (possessive), “they” (subject), and “them” (object).
Question 4: The dog barked until _____ owner called _____ inside.
a) Its, it
b) It`s, its
c) Its, its
d) It`s, it
Answer: a) Its, it
Explanation: In this sentence, the antecedent is “dog,” which is singular and possessive. Therefore, the correct pronouns to use are “its” (possessive) and “it” (subject).
Question 5: The writer and _____ editor worked together on the book for months.
a) His
b) Her
c) Their
d) Its
Answer: c) Their
Explanation: In this sentence, “writer” and “editor” are both antecedents, and both are singular. Therefore, the correct pronoun to use is “their” (plural possessive).
By taking this quiz, you can test your knowledge of pronoun antecedent agreement and improve your grammar skills. Remember to always check for accurate agreement between pronouns and their antecedents to ensure that your writing is clear and effective.