PSAT Writing › Correcting Pronoun Errors: Incorrect Usage
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 questions have only been seen by myself.
been seen by me.
been seen by myself.
being seen by myself.
been seeing myself.
been seen myself.
The use of "myself" is incorrect in the sentence, as it is a reflexive pronoun and needs the first person pronoun "me" to precede it. Therefore, "myself" must be changed to the first person pronoun "me," making the correct answer "been seen by me."
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 repeats the underlined portion as it is written.
Few domesticated animals have the ability to fend for themselves without humans providing for themselves.
providing for them
providing for themselves
providing themselves
provide for themselves
provide for them
"Themselves" is a referential pronoun, and the structure of the sentence would make it refer to "humans." For the sentence to make sense, the pronoun needs to indicate "domesticated animals" are the ones being provided for. "Providing for them" 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.
Your sure your dad told you what time your mom would be home tonight, right?
You're sure your dad told you what time your mom would be home tonight, right?
Your sure you're dad told you what time you're mom would be home tonight, right?
Your sure your dad told you what time your mom would be home tonight, right?
You're sure your dad told you what time you're mom would be home tonight, right?
You're sure you're dad told you what time you're mom would be home tonight, right?
The first underlined part can be broken apart into "you are," and calls for the use of the contraction "you're;." The second two cases are possessives, and call for the use of "your."
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 repeats the underlined portion as it is written.
After the essay is written, please deliver a copy to ourselves.
to us
to ourselves
to ours
in ourselves
for ourselves
The use of "ourselves" is incorrect, as it is a referential pronoun, meaning that the word must refer to an earlier use of the first person plural pronoun. The use at the end of the sentence is the first one, and should not be a referential pronoun. "To us" 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 game score was reported directly to myself as soon as the contest was over.
was reported directly to me
was reported directly to myself
was reporting directly to myself
was reported direct to myself
was reported directly for myself
The use of the reflexive pronoun "myself" is incorrect in this sentence, as there is no previous usage of the first person pronoun for it to be referring to. "Myself" should be replaced by the simple objective pronoun "me." The correct answer is the only answer choice that does this, "was reported directly to me."
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.
Every single paper written by an employee must be given to myself.
Every single paper written by an employee must be given to me.
Every single paper written by an employee must be given to myself.
Each single paper written by an employee must be given to myself.
Every single paper written by an employee must be given for myself.
Every single paper written by an employee must be giving to myself.
The use of the reflexive pronoun "myself" in this sentence is incorrect and confusing, as it has no previous first person pronoun to refer back to. The reflexive pronoun can be changed to the simple first person objective pronoun "me" without changing the meaning of the sentence. Therefore, the correct answer choice is "Every single paper written by an employee must be given to me."
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.
For no apparent reason, the boy harbors a great deal of anger toward myself.
a great deal of anger toward me.
a great deal of anger toward myself.
a great deal of angry toward myself.
a great deal of anger to myself.
a great deal of anger for myself.
The use of the reflexive pronoun in this sentence is incorrect, as there is no previous use of the first person pronoun to which it can refer. The word "myself" needs to changed to the simple first person objective pronoun, "me." Therefore, the correct answer choice is "a great deal of anger toward me."
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 group has already expressed thanks both to the senator and myself.
both to me and the senator.
both to the senator and myself.
both to the senator and I.
both to myself and the senator.
both to the senator, and myself.
Using the reflexive pronoun "myself" is incorrect in this sentence. A reflexive pronoun needs to follow a previous use of the regular pronoun, and so this pronoun needs to become the simple first person objective pronoun, "me." The only answer choice that uses the correct pronoun is "both to me and the senator."
The full package was finally delivered to myself after a delay of over a week.
was finally delivered to me
was finally delivered to myself
was delivered finally to myself
was finally delivered for myself
was final delivered to myself
The use of the reflexive pronoun "myself" is incorrect in this sentence, as it has no previous first person pronoun to refer to. The simple first person objective pronoun is the pronoun that needs to be used in this sentence. Thus, the correct answer choice is "was finally delivered to me."
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.
Reading the daily paper was the usual morning routine for himself.
for him.
for himself.
from himself.
to himself.
on himself.
The use of the reflexive pronoun is incorrect in the sentence, as "himself" needs a previous use of the third person pronoun to refer back to in its usage. This pronoun needs to be changed to the simple pronoun "him," and otherwise there are no further issues with the sentence. The correct answer choice is "for him."