EXERCISES

Completion Questions Select the word that best completes each sentence. 1. Trish and (I, me) have decided to move to Brazil. 2. The new employees are (they, them). 3. The problem is unquestionably (she, her). 4. Human beings, (who, whom) are the most fascinating species on earth, are also the most admirable. 5. Those (whom, who) are early to bed and early to rise are healthy, wealthy, and very tired. 6. The best dressed employee has always been (him, he). 7. The winning contestants are the Griffels and (they, them). 8. The concept (which, that) intrigued (we, us) had not yet been publicized. 9. My car, (who, which) was brand new, had relatively little damage. 10. The car (which, that) hit me was speeding. 11. From (who, whom) did you buy that beautiful purse? 12. The thunderstorm frightened my cat and (I, me). 13. Please sit next to Rita and (me, I). 14. Brenda gave (he, him) a lot of unsolicited advice. 15. With (who, whom) have you agreed to carpool? Multiple-Choice Questions Select the best revision for each sentence. 1. When Harry and Chuck return home, he will call. (a) When Harry and Chuck return home, they will call. (b) When Harry and Chuck return home, Harry will call. (c) When Harry and Chuck return home, him will call. (d) When Harry and Chuck return home, calling will take place. 2. When Marcia spoke to Margery that morning, she did not realize that she would win the international bodybuilding contest. (a) When Marcia spoke to Margery that morning, her did not realize that she would win the international bodybuilding contest. (b) When Marcia spoke to Margery that morning, they did not realize that she would win the international bodybuilding contest. (c) When Marcia spoke to Margery that morning, Marcia did not realize that she would win the international bodybuilding contest. (d) When Marcia spoke to Margery that morning, no one realized that she would win the international bodybuilding contest. 3. When the rain started, we pulled out an umbrella. It annoyed the people around us, but we decided to stay at the ball field. (a) When the rain started, we pulled out an umbrella. Its annoyed the people around us, but we decided to stay at the ball field. (b) When the rain started, we pulled out an umbrella. Its annoyed the people around us, but we decided to stay at the ball field. (c) When the rain started, we pulled out an umbrella. The umbrella annoyed people around us, but we decided to stay at the ball field. (d) When the rain started, we pulled out an umbrella. They annoyed the people around us, but we decided to stay at the ball field. 4. If you asked Dick to describe Rudy, he would say that he was sly, boring, and cheap and then he would snicker. (a) If you asked Dick to describe Rudy, Dick would say that he was sly, boring, and cheap and then Dick would snicker. (b) If you asked Dick to describe Rudy, Dick would say that he was sly, boring, and cheap and then he would snicker.

(c) If you asked Dick to describe Rudy, he would say that he was sly, boring, and cheap and then snickering would occur. (d) If you asked Dick to describe Rudy, Rudy would say that Rudy was sly, boring, and cheap and then Dick would snicker. 5. They awarded we losers a gag prize. (a) They awarded them losers a gag prize. (b) They awarded yours losers a gag prize. (c) They awarded they losers a gag prize. (d) They awarded us losers a gag prize. 6. My neighbor agreed to support he for the condo board. (a) My neighbor agreed to support she for the condo board. (b) My neighbor agreed to support him for the condo board. (c) My neighbor agreed to support I for the condo board. (d) My neighbor agreed to support we for the condo board. 7. Naturally, you can invite whoever you want. (a) Naturally, you can invite who you want. (b) Naturally, you can invite which ever you want. (c) Naturally, you can invite whomever you want. (d) Naturally, you can invite that you want. 8. A student must understand that homework is very important to them. (a) Students must understand that homework is very important to them. (b) A student must understand that homework is very important to him. (c) A student must understand that homework is very important to her. (d) A student must understand that homework is very important to I. 9. The story was good, but they didnt explain what happened in the end. (a) The story was good, but he didnt explain what happened in the end. (b) The story was good, but the author didnt explain what happened in the end. (c) The story was good, but she didnt explain what happened in the end. (d) The story was good, but explaining what happened in the end didnt happen. 10. Justin saw the ad on the web page yesterday, but he cant seem to find it today. (a) Justin saw the ad in the web page yesterday, but he cant seem to find the today. (b) Justin saw the ad in the web page yesterday, but he cant seem to find its today. (c) Justin saw the ad in the web page yesterday, but he cant seem to find today. (d) Justin saw the ad in the web page yesterday, but he cant seem to find the ad today. In each sentence below, replace the italicized word(s) or word group(s) with an appropriate pronoun, being careful to use the correct form. 1. I sold my lorry to Gus. 2. I sold my lorry to Gus and Merdine. 3. I sold my lorry to Gus and Merdine. 4. The lorry's brakes were bad, and the lorry's tires were bald. 5. Merdine gave the lorry to Gus and Merdine's daughter. 6. Gus and Merdine's daughter promised to pay her parents for the lorry. 7. The daughter's boyfriend drove the lorry into a duck pond. 8. The duck pond belongs to me and my family, and my family and I now have one very unhappy duck. 9. The duck's temper is almost as bad as my temper. 10. Merdine and Gus have offered to pay me and my family for the damages by selling me the lorry that still sits in our pond.

Complete each of the following sentences with an appropriate personal or possessive pronoun. 1. Most of the voters placed _____ ballots in the wastebasket. 2. When children are left to themselves, _____ tend to emulate their parents' behavior. 3. Each woman at today's workshop described _____ project in detail. 4. The umbrella originated 3,400 years ago in Mesopotamia; _____ offered protection not from the rain but from the sun. 5. Before closing your word processor, _____ should always remember to save your text. 6. When students attend a local college, _____ can live quietly and inexpensively at home. 7. Students living in the dormitories must vacate _____ rooms during spring break. 8. When a woman joins the RESET program, _____ is required to develop a personal plan. 9. Neither one of the men could make up _____ mind. 10. An oak tree is just a nut that held _____ ground. 11. Never hold a baby in your lap when _____ are riding in a car. 12. Shakespeare left his second-best bed to _____ wife. 13. A century ago, the local drug store was different from the ones we have today: _____ usually stood in the center of town and served as a meeting place for people from all walks of life. 14. All students need to renew _____ identification cards before the first day of the new semester. 15. Neither one of the girls could remember _____ address. Each of the following sentences contains an error in pronoun reference. Rewrite these 15 sentences, making sure that all pronouns refer clearly to their antecedents. In some cases you may need to replace a pronoun with a noun or add an antecedent that the pronoun logically refers to. 1. When the boy gently picked up his puppy, his ears stood up and his tail started wagging. 2. My mother is a mail carrier, but they wouldn't hire me. 3. After Governor Baldridge watched the lion perform, he was taken to Main Street and fed 25 pounds of raw meat in front of the Fox Theater. 4. After drying your dog with a towel, be sure to drop it into the washing machine. 5. I applied for a student loan, but they turned me down. 6. Because guilt and bitterness can be emotionally destructive to you and your children, you must get rid of them. 7. After removing the roast from the broiling pan, allow it to soak in soapy water. 8. Beer in one hand and bowling ball in the other, Merdine raised it to her lips and swallowed it in one mighty gulp. 9. In the college catalog it says that students caught cheating will be suspended. 10. A few moments after the countess had broken the traditional bottle of champagne on the bows of the noble ship, she slid slowly and gracefully down the slipway, entering the water with scarcely a splash. 11. When Frank set the vase on the rickety end table, it broke. 12. A broken board had penetrated the driver's cabin and just missed his head; this had to be removed before the man could be rescued. 13. When a student is placed on probation, you may file an appeal with the dean. Correct any errors in pronoun reference and agreement in the following sentences. This may entail rewriting the sentence substantially. It might be helpful to identify the antecedent and pronoun first 1. John knew Michael when he was only six years old. 2. Valerie told her sister that she was worried because she had lost weight.

3. George had always admired his fathers career in medicine, so when he grew up he decided to become one too. 4. Although supporting the League of Nations in principle, the United States finally refused to join them. 5. One should brush their teeth twice daily. 6. The university has always taken an interest in their graduates. 7. She couldnt understand the directions to my house until I drew it for her. 8. After he had worked hard at the guitar for two years, he began to boast that he was a good one. 9. When Mary saw her mother in February, she did not know that she would be in Montreal in May. In the following pairs of sentences, one sentence is correct, and the other sentence contains a vague or ambiguous pronoun reference. Mark the CORRECT sentence. 1. A_____ When Pearl Buck was forty, her novel The Good Earth won the Pulitzer Prize. B_____ When she was forty, Pearl Bucks novel The Good Earth won the Pulitzer Prize. 2. A_____ Buck received much critical praise and earned over $7 million, but she was very modest about it. B_____ Buck received much critical praise and earned over $7 million, but she was very modest about her achievements. 3. A_____ Bill bought a Norwegian canoe because he had heard that they make the best canoes. B_____ Bill bought a Norwegian canoe because he had heard that Norwegians make the best canoes. 4. A_____ Katie was an only child, and it was hard. B_____ Katie was an only child, and her solitary life was hard. 5. A_____ Jennifers sister wondered if she were tall enough to be a model. B_____ Jennifers sister wondered if Jennifer were tall enough to be a model. 6. A_____ Dipping the spoon into the pot of simmering soup, Jean felt the spoon slip out of her hand. B_____ Dipping the spoon into the pot of simmering soup, Jean felt it slip out of her hand. 7. A_____ At a local restaurant, they provide each table with a bucket of peanuts. B_____ At a local restaurant, the owner provides each table with a bucket of peanuts. 8. A_____ Mary and Tom left their bags at the ticket counter, but then they werent sure if their bags were safe. B_____ Mary and Tom left their bags at the ticket counter, but then they werent sure if they were safe. 9. A_____ The boat bumped the edge of the dock, but the dock didnt need many repairs. B______ The boat bumped the edge of the dock, but it didnt need many repairs. 10. A_____ Although Mike was a real sports fan, his brother never became interested in them. B_____ Although Mike was a real sports fan, his brother never became interested in sports.

Choose the correct sentence from each group: 1. A. My friend and me bought tickets for the championship game. B. My friend and I bought tickets for the championship game. C. My friend and myself bought tickets for the championship game.

2. A. Dr. Evans asked Suzanne and me to explain why our papers were so similar. B. Dr. Evans asked Suzanne and I to explain why our papers were so similar. C. Dr. Evans asked Suzanne and myself to explain why our papers were so similar. 3. A. It was she who wrote, "A woman's place is in the house . . . and the Senate." B. It was her who wrote, "A woman's place is in the house . . . and the Senate." C. It was him who wrote, "A woman's place is in the house . . . and the Senate." 4. A. Not one of us committee members will reveal who the next chairperson will be. B. Not one of we committee members will reveal who the next chairperson will be. C. Not one of us committee members will reveal whom the next chairperson will be. 5. A. Everyone except you and myself won at least one game of Scrabble. B. Everyone except you and I won at least one game of Scrabble. C. Everyone except you and me won at least one game of Scrabble. 6. A. Jim, whom I admit is more diplomatic than I, tried to change the subject. B. Jim, who I admit is more diplomatic than I, tried to change the subject. C. Jim, who I admit is more diplomatic than me, tried to change the subject. 7. A. Whom did you say was on the ballot? B. Whomever did you say was on the ballot? C. Who did you say was on the ballot? 8. A. The policeman agreed with Dad and I that the accident was Gregory's fault. B. The policeman agreed with Dad and myself that the accident was Gregory's fault. C. The policeman agreed with Dad and me that the accident was Gregory's fault. 9. A. Just between you and I, I must say in all modesty that no one else is better qualified for the job than I. B. Just between you and me, I must say in all modesty that no one else is better qualified for the job than I. C. Just between you and me, I must say in all modesty that no one else is better qualified for the job than me. 10. A. Ask whom answers the telephone whether the concert begins at eight or eight thirty. B. Ask whomever answers the telephone whether the concert begins at eight or eight thirty. C. Ask whoever answers the telephone whether the concert begins at eight or eight thirty.