PSAT Writing : Correcting Pronoun Errors: Incorrect Usage

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for PSAT Writing

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Example Questions

Example Question #1 : Correcting Word Usage Errors

She was always hard on her, battling with low self-esteem since she was a child.

Possible Answers:

hard to her

hard on herself

hard with her

hard on her

hard in herself

Correct answer:

hard on herself

Explanation:

The use of the pronoun "her" in the underlined phrase is confusing, as it is not clear whether this is a new person in the sentence or refers back to the subject. To be more clear, a reflexive pronoun must be used. The correct answer is "hard on herself."

Example Question #1 : Correcting Pronoun Errors: Incorrect Usage

The materials must be brought back to myself as soon as you are done with them.

Possible Answers:

back from myself

back to me

back toward myself

back from me

back to myself

Correct answer:

back to me

Explanation:

The only issue in the sentence as it is written is the use of "myself," a reflexive pronoun, when there is no other first person pronoun to which it can refer back. The only answer choice which both appropriately uses "me," and keeps the same meaning is "back to me."

Example Question #1 : Correcting Word Usage Errors

The information was only given to myself after the rest of the students had seen it all.

Possible Answers:

giving to myself 

gave to myself

giving to me

given to myself

given to me

Correct answer:

given to me

Explanation:

The only issue with the sentence is its use of the reflexive pronoun "myself," despite not previously using a first person pronoun. All reflexive pronouns need an antecedent, or previous pronoun in the same person, to be used correctly, or it should be changed to the simple pronoun. As this is the only problem with the sentence, "given to me" is the correct answer choice.

Example Question #1 : Correcting Word Usage Errors

Those supplies all need to be brought directly to myself.

Possible Answers:

directly to myself.

directly to me.

directly from myself.

directly for myself.

direct to myself.

Correct answer:

directly to me.

Explanation:

The only issue with the sentence is the use of the reflexive pronoun "myself" without a previous use of the first person pronoun. All reflexive pronouns need to refer back to an earlier use of the pronoun in the sentence. The solution to this issue is to change "myself" to the simple "me," making "directly to me" the correct answer choice.

Example Question #1 : Correcting Word Usage Errors

The information needs to be reviewed by yourself before it is sent out.

Possible Answers:

reviewed by you

reviews by yourself

reviewing by yourself

reviewed by yourself

reviewing by your

Correct answer:

reviewed by you

Explanation:

The use of the reflexive pronoun "yourself" is incorrect in this sentence, as it has no previous "you" to refer back to. "Yourself" needs to simply be replaced by "you," making "reviewed by you" the correct answer choice.

Example Question #491 : Sentence Correction

The supplies were immediately brought to myself as soon as they were purchased.

Possible Answers:

brought to myself

being brought to myself

bringing to me

brought to me

bringing to myself

Correct answer:

brought to me

Explanation:

The use of "myself" in the sentence is incorrect. "Myself" is a reflexive pronoun, meaning it needs an earlier first person pronoun to refer back to. The appropriate word in this situation is just "me," and that is the only issue with the sentence; therefore, "brought to me" is the correct answer.

Example Question #41 : Correcting Word Usage Errors

Unlike myself, he has never gotten a speeding ticket on the highway.

Possible Answers:

Unlikely myself,

Unto like myself,

Unlike me,

Unlike myself,

Unlike I,

Correct answer:

Unlike me,

Explanation:

The reflexive pronoun "myself" is absolutely incorrect in this sentence, as there is no regular first person pronoun to which it can refer. "Myself" needs to be changed to the subjective pronoun "me," making "Unlike me" the correct answer choice.

Example Question #491 : Sentence Correction

Most of the time, he brings the newspaper to myself first, then passes it around the office.

Possible Answers:

to myself first

to my own self first

to myself firstly

to me first

from myself first

Correct answer:

to me first

Explanation:

The use of the reflexive pronoun "myself" is absolutely wrong in this sentence, as there is no previous use of the first person pronoun for it to refer to. The pronoun must be changed to the simple first person objective form, "me." As this is the only issue in the sentence, the correct answer choice is "to me first."

Example Question #11 : Correcting Pronoun Errors: Incorrect Usage

The reports all need to be seen by myself before they are sent out.

Possible Answers:

by me

to myself

by myself

for myself

as myself

Correct answer:

by me

Explanation:

The use of "myself" in the sentence is incorrect, as it is a reflexive pronoun and needs a previous usage of the regular pronoun first. As there is none, the pronoun  needs to be changed to the regular pronoun "me." This makes "by me" the correct answer choice.

Example Question #492 : Sentence Correction

I have never questioned the innate abilities of me.

Possible Answers:

the innate ability of me.

the innate abilities of me.

the innate abilities of myself.

the innate abilities to me.

the innate abilities for me.

Correct answer:

the innate abilities of myself.

Explanation:

The use of me, although technically correct as the objective form, is awkward in this sentence after the previous use of "I" as the subject. By placing the reflexive pronoun "myself" in the sentence, the pronoun now appropriately refers back to the subject of the sentence. The correct answer choice is "the innate abilities of myself."

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