Practice Test on Pronoun Antecedent Agreement: Tips and Tricks to Ace It
Pronoun antecedent agreement is a crucial grammar concept that every writer must master. This concept makes sure that the pronoun you use agrees with its antecedent in gender, number, and person. Failing to do so will result in awkward sentences, confusion, and a lack of clarity. To help you build your skills, we have prepared a practice test on pronoun antecedent agreement that will help you to enhance your grammar skills.
Before we get started, here are a few essential tips to help you become a master of pronoun antecedent agreement:
1. Identify the antecedent: The antecedent is the noun or pronoun that the pronoun refers to. Always make sure that the pronoun agrees with its antecedent in gender, number, and person.
2. Keep an eye on the proximity: Make sure the pronoun is close enough to the antecedent to avoid any ambiguity.
3. Remember that collective nouns can be singular or plural: Collective nouns, such as “team,” “family” or “committee,” can be singular or plural based on the context.
Now that you’re familiar with the basics of pronoun antecedent agreement, here are some practice questions to help you to test your skills:
1. The cat finished eating _____ food, so _____ took a nap on the couch.
A. its / it
B. their / them
C. her / she
Answer: A. its / it. In this sentence, “cat” is the antecedent, so the pronoun that follows must agree with it in gender and number.
2. The teacher told _____ students that _____ had to study harder for the next exam.
A. him / they
B. his / him
C. their / them
Answer: C. their / them. In this sentence, “students” is the antecedent, so the pronoun that follows must agree with it in number.
3. The company announced _____ earnings, and _____ became the top performer of the year.
A. its / it
B. their / they
C. it`s / its
Answer: A. its / it. In this sentence, “company” is the antecedent, so the pronoun that follows must agree with it in gender and number.
4. The team congratulated _____ coach on _____ successful season.
A. their / his
B. its / their
C. its / its
Answer: B. its / their. In this sentence, “team” is the antecedent, so the pronoun that follows must agree with it in number.
5. The family went to _____ favorite restaurant, and _____ enjoyed the meal.
A. their / they
B. its / it
C. his / he
Answer: A. their / they. In this sentence, “family” is the antecedent, so the pronoun that follows must agree with it in both gender and number.
In conclusion, mastering pronoun antecedent agreement is essential to writing clear and effective sentences. By practicing regularly and keeping these tips in mind, you`ll be able to identify and correct grammatical errors more accurately and confidently. So, keep practicing, and you`ll be a pro in no time!