SAT Writing › Identifying Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement Errors
Select the underlined portion of the sentence below that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Everyone has their fair share of troubles, and some suffer mightily for them. No error
their
Everyone
of
suffer
No error
The noun "everyone" is a third person, singular noun. Therefore, the correct pronoun to use in conjunction with "everyone" is "his" or "her." While the "troubles" are plural this have no bearing on the pronoun agreement which precedes them.
The full correct version of this sentence would read: "Everyone has his or her fair share of troubles, and some suffer mightily for them."
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
The admissions committee benefited from their decision to accept him, as he proved to be an industrious student. No error
their
benefited from
as
industrious
No error
An admissions committee is a thing or a body, so its possessive adjective would be “its.” If the sentence read, “The members of the admissions committee,” “their” would be correct.
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
I hate having to go to the doctor because they always ask very invasive questions that make me uncomfortable. No error
they
having to
ask
make me
No error
The word, "doctor" is singular. Therefore, pronouns that refer back to the doctor should also be singular. "They" is plural and therefore is incorrect; the phrase "he or she" should be used in the sentence, as we do not know the doctor's gender.
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
The queen and king agreed that no merchant should ever be knighted, no matter how great a difference they made for the country. No error
they
The queen
that
be knighted
No error
In the above sentence, the clause "no merchant should ever be knighted" is being modified by the phrase "no matter how great a difference they made for the country," which means that the pronoun "they" has the antecedent "merchant." Since "merchant" is singular, the pronoun(s) used to replace "merchant" should also be singular—in this case, "he or she."
Select the underlined portion of the sentence below that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
The wild men became violent; in such a large group they were practically uncontrollable. No error
No error
wild
became
they
violent;
There is no error in the sentence above, it is correct as written. Note that "wild men" is plural, and so is its corresponding pronoun, "they." While the sentence features two independent clauses, these clauses are correctly connected with a semi-colon.
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Penelope always thought of the most fabulous witty comebacks two hours after the situation in which she could have used it. No error
it
thought
the most
two hours after
No error
In this sentence, the pronoun “it” (singular) refers to “witty comebacks” (plural). These words should agree in number. The corrected sentence reads, "Penelope always thought of the most fabulous witty comebacks two hours after the situation in which she could have used them."
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
In order for a person to balance a career and family, it is essential that they be able to prioritize all the things that must be accomplished. No error
they
and
able to
that
No error
The subject of this sentence is "person." Therefore, the pronoun should be the singular "he or she," not the plural "they."
Select the underlined portion of the sentence below that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
I hate dealing with mosquitoes; them really ruin summer for me. No error
them
I
ruin
me
No error
"Them" is incorrect in this sentence. In the second clause "mosquitoes" are the subject. As such, the correct word to use is "they."
The correct version of this sentence would read: "I hate dealing with mosquitoes; they really ruin summer for me."
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Everyone has a right to one's opinion, but that doesn't mean that the truth should ever be ignored. No error
one's opinion,
has a
doesn't mean
the truth should
No error
There is an antecedent/pronoun agreement error in the sentence above. The antecedent "everyone" does not match up correctly with "one's" The portion of the sentence that needs to be corrected is, "one's opinion," which should be replaced with "his or her opinion," since everyone, while being inclusive, individualizes the multiple subjects.
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Despite their propensity to frighten young children, the garden snake is actually quite harmless. No error
their
to frighten
is
quite harmless
No error
The plural pronoun "their" refers to the singular noun "the garden snake". These should agree in number. Changing "their" to "its" corrects the sentence's error. The corrected sentence reads, "Despite its propensity to frighten young children, the garden snake is actually quite harmless."