GMAT Verbal › Correcting Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement Errors
Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English.
The recent photographs of the giant squid are remarkable because they show these enormous living creatures as moving around in their natural environment, whereas previous pictures have been of only dead animals.
in that they show this enormous living creature moving around in its
because they show these living creatures as moving around in their
in that they show this most enormous of living creatures moving around in its
because these enormous living creatures are shown to be moving around in their
because they show this enormous living creature moving around in a
Do not make the mistake of deciding to eliminate either ‘because’ or ‘in that’ – both are more or less the same, and they are not what is being tested. The main problem with the sentence is that suddenly the single squid has become a multitude. Thus you can immediately eliminate those containing "these creatures". You can also eliminate the phrase which changes the meaning and makes the squid one of the most enormous of all living creatures. Finally, we are talking about the creature in its natural environment and so the vague ‘a natural environment’ is not appropriate.
Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English.
Like supermarkets across the country, the grocery chain was seeking to offer their clientele more local and organic products to meet new consumer demands.
the grocery chain was seeking to offer its clientele more local and organic products to meet new consumer demands.
the grocery chain was seeking to offer their clientele more local and organic products to meet new consumer demands.
the grocery chain was seeking to offer their clients more local and organic products to meet new consumer demands.
the grocery chain was seeking to offer their clientele more local or organic products to meet new consumer demands.
the grocery chain was seeking to offer their clientele more local and organic products, to meet new consumer demands.
In the underlined portion of the sentence, "the grocery chain" is singular, but the chain's "clientele" is referred to with a plural pronoun, "their." The pronoun must be changed to the possesive singular pronoun, "its." As the only answer choice that makes this correction, "the grocery chain was seeking to offer its clientele more local and organic products to meet new consumer demands" is the correct answer choice.
Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English.
The committee has decided to forward their findings to the state licensing board in the hopes that being proactive will lessen the sanctions against the corporation.
its
their
it's
theirs
their's
The antecedent for the pronoun is "the committee" which is singular and must be referenced by a singular pronoun. "It's" means "it is" and is thus not appropriate in this sentence.
Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English.
Neither the supervisor nor the employees expressed his objections to the schedule at the time it was posted.
expressed their objections to the schedule at the time it was posted.
had expressed his objections to the schedule at the time it was posted.
expressed one's objections to the schedule at the time it was posted.
expressed his or her objections to the schedule at the time it was posted.
expressed whatever objections he had at the time it was posted.
This sentence uses a correlative conjunction ("Neither . . . nor") to connect two antecedents; therefore, the pronoun must agree with the second antecedent, in this case "the employees," which is plural. Thus, the correct pronoun is "their."
Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English. One of the answer choices reproduces the underlined portion as it is written in the sentence.
Mitchell was one of the first members of corporate to realize that employees are most productive when he or she feels to be part of a team.
they feel as if they are part of a team
he or she feels to be part of a team
he or she feels part of a team
it's more like a team for them
feeling part of a team is made possible
The pronoun refers to employees, so the pronoun should be plural rather than the singular he or she.
Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English. One of the answer choices reproduces the underlined portion as it is written in the sentence.
The rites of ancient Roman religion are nearly impossible to recreate centuries after it was no longer an active faith.
after the faith was no longer active.
after it was no longer an active faith.
after it was not an active faith.
after the faith not being active.
after it was no longer active as a faith.
The phrase as written in the underlined portion makes an odd reference. The subject of the sentence are the "rites," and not the religion. The faith needs to be specifically referenced, as well as being fully grammatically correct; therefore, "after the faith was no longer active" is the correct answer choice.
Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English. One of the answer choices reproduces the underlined portion as it is written in the sentence.
The loss of a parent at a young age can traumatize a person for the rest of your life.
for the rest of his or her life.
for the rest of your life.
on the rest of your life.
for the rest of yourself's life.
for the rest of your living.
The use of "your" at the end of the sentence is confusing, as the only reference in the sentence is "a person," and the second person pronoun has no place in the sentence. Changing "your" to a third person possessive pronoun will straighten out this problem. Because we do not know whether the "person" in question is male or female, we should use the phrase "his or her." The correct answer choice, therefore, is "for the rest of his or her life."
Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English. One of the answer choices reproduces the underlined portion as it is written in the sentence.
Most books printed before the nineteenth century, even ones that have been carefully preserved, contain materials that cause it to decay.
that cause them to decay
that can cause it to decay
that causes them to decay
that causes it to decay
that cause it to decay
The original text contains a pronoun agreement error. The intended antecedent of the pronoun "it" is supposed to be "books," which is plural and would therefore require the plural pronoun "them" instead of the singular pronoun "it."
The only answer choices that contain "them" instead of "it" are "that cause them to decay" and "that causes them to decay." The answer choice with "causes," however, uses this singular verb with a plural subject, "materials," and is therefore incorrect.
While it can seem like a daunting task to train for a marathon, anyone who has completed the challenge knows that preparing a plan that they stick to is the key to success.
Identify the answer choice that best improves the underlined portion of the sentence.
preparing a plan and sticking to it
preparing a plan that he sticks to
sticking to a plan
preparing, and having that be a plan that they stick to
preparing a plan that they stick to
In this sentence, the subject is "anyone," a singular pronoun. Therefore, all pronouns relating back to "anyone" should be singular. In the underlined portion of the sentence, "preparing a plan that they stick to," "they" is plural, not singular. Now that we have identified the problem, we have to figure out how to correct it.
Given that "anyone" is gender neutral, the best way to improve this sentence is avoid the use of a gendered pronoun (meaning "he" or "she") and simply avoid using a pronoun at all. The correct answer, "preparing a plan and sticking to it," accomplishes this objective and is therefore the best way to improve the sentence.
Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English.
It is explicitly stated in the employee handbook that all workers must supply his or her own steel-toed shoes.
that all workers must supply their own steel-toed shoes.
that each worker must supply their own steel-toed shoes.
that any worker must supply their own steel-toed shoes.
that each worker must supply they're own steel-toed shoes.
that all workers must supply one's own steel-toed shoes.
Because "all workers" is plural, the pronoun that refers to it as its antecedent must also be plural. Thus, the correct version of the sentence is: "It is explicitly stated in the employee handbook that all workers must provide their own steel-toed shoes."
If the workers are made individual ("each worker") then the correct pronoun form would be "his or her," because the individual pronoun is required but the gender of the worker is not specified.