SAT 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. 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.
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 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. One of the answer choices reproduces the underlined portion as it is written in the sentence.
The police searched for weeks for a mugger that fit the given description.
The police searched for weeks for a mugger who fit the given description.
The police, searching for weeks for a mugger, which fit the given description.
A mugger that fit the given description was searched for for weeks by the police.
The police searched for weeks for a mugger, one that fit the given description.
The police searched for weeks for a mugger that fit the given description.
The error in the original sentence is that the word "that" cannot modify people. "Who" must be used to refer to the mugger.
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.
Robert always doted on herself, bringing her flowers and asking her out more than a dozen times over two weeks.
on her,
on herself
on she,
in herself,
to her,
The reflexive pronoun "herself" is incorrect in this sentence because there is no previous reference to a third-person female pronoun. Reflexive pronouns ("herself," "myself," "yourself," etc.) are generally used when the subject of the sentence is the same as its object. Here, Robert is the subject and the person he dotes on is the object. "Herself" should be altered to the third-person objective pronoun "her," and since one dotes on someone rather than to them, "on her," is the correct answer.
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.
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. 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. One of the answer choices reproduces the underlined portion as it is written in the sentence.
One must not pay too much attention to Donald Trump during the debate; he will just try to ruffle your feathers.
You must not pay too much attention to Donald Trump during the debate;
One must not pay too much attention to Donald Trump during the debate;
They must not pay too much attention to Donald Trump during the debate;
He must not pay too much attention to Donald Trump during the debate;
One must not pay too much attention to Donald Trump during the debate,
The pronoun in the portion of the sentence above that is not underlined is "your," and to avoid any inconsistency errors, this construction should be used throughout the sentence. The best way to correct the underlined portion of the sentence above is, "You must not pay too much attention to Donald Trump during the debate;"