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©2018 by Robin L.
Simmons.
Pronoun Reference

Can I say Or do I have

just she? to use
Esmerelda?
A pronoun reference item on
an objective test might
Thislook
presentation
covers identifying
like this ... unclear pronoun
reference and
selecting the
appropriate
correction.
 Sample Item

Bryan told his

his lab
lab partner
partner Craig
Craig that
that he
he
Craig
A BB
needed safety goggles for thethe experiment.
experiment.
C
IsHe
hisis, he
an , or
A. their ambiguous
the
B. Craig
Craig experiment
pronoun, which
option B corrects.
a problem?
C. it
D. No change is necessary.
 Two or More People,
Same Gender

Martin complained to Brad, “You

Brad that Martin
Brad
“I do
henot
do
didnot
have
did
notdid
not have
the
haveright
the answers
the right
right answers
to
answers
theto
algebra
the
to algebra
the algebra
problems.”
problems.

IsIfMartin
you don’t like the
complaining
about hisofown
repetition lack of
the names,
math a quotation
add skill or Brad’s. ?
 Ambiguous T hey

Our garden has not attracted many bees

Scientists
this year. They say thatsay thatinsects
these these are
disappearing
insects are disappearing
all over the all
country.
over the
country.

They who? Psychics?

Astrologers? Or a
respectable source like
entomologists? The bees say!
That’s who!
 Ambiguous It

Tom
It saysTerry,
on the Channel 9’scan
news that we chief
expect rain
meteorologist,
later today. says that we can expect
rain later today.

What says? A
newscaster? The
weatherman?
Doppler radar?
 Quick Test

Directions: In the items that follow, choose

the option that corrects an error in the
underlined portion(s). If no error exists, choose
“No change is necessary.”

Your turn!
Let’s see
what you
can do.
 Item 1

We decided to swim in the hotel pool since itit

says at
says at the
thelifeguard
lifeguardstand
stand
that
that
sharks
sharks
areare
feeding near shore.

A. it states at the lifeguard stand

B. they say at the lifeguard stand
C. the
the lifeguard
lifeguardsays
says
D. No change is necessary.
 Item 2
The doctor
doctortold
toldVeronica
Veronicathat
thatshe
shehad
Veronica
had had
A B B
headaches because of the high stress level at the

office. An aspirin would help the

the headaches
headachesaalittle,
little,
C
but a vacation would relieve the stress best.

A. Doctor Lee
B. Veronica
Veronica
C. it
D. No change is necessary.
 Don’t
assume all
doctors are
male!
 Item 3

Freddie is unhappy with the unhealthy cafeteria

choices. They
They are
are serving
servingmore
morefried
friedfoods
foodsand
and
fewer fruits and vegetables.

A. The chefs
chefsare
areserving
serving
B. It is
C. They prepare
D. No change is necessary.
 Item 4

Neighbors
They
They say
say that
that
saythe
the
that
old
oldthe
house
house
old house
on
on Mayfair
Mayfair
on Mayfair
is
is is
A A
haunted, but Caroline doesn’t believe the
the stories.
stories.
B
She is a physics major who has no use for ghosts.
ghosts.
C

A. Neighbors
Neighbors
B. it
C. them
D. No change is necessary.
 Item 5

Leonardo called us over and pointed at the

computer screen. It claimed
claimedatatthe
thewebsite
websitethat
that
our favorite restaurant serves squirrel!

A. At the website, it claimed

B. The website
websiteclaimed
claimed
C. The website, it claimed
D. No change is necessary.
 Item 6
Mom told Aunt Julia that she
she didn’t
Mom didn’t
didn’traise
raise
raiseher
her
herchildren
children
children
A
right. The girls didn’t chew with their
their mouths
mouthsclosed,
closed,
B
and the boys burped without excusing themselves.
themselves.
C

A. Mom
Mom
B. them
C. it
D. No change is necessary.
 Item 7

Mom told Aunt Julia

Julia that
thatshe
sheneeded
neededa alion
lion
tamer to
tamer toget
getthe
thechildren
children under
under
control.
control.

A. Julia, “that she needed … control.”

B. Julia,
Julia, “I“Ineed
need…
…control.”
control.”
C. Julia, You need … control.
D. No change is necessary.
 Item 8

NASA just landed another rover rover on

on Mars.
Mars.
A
They say
They
Scientists
say ifif say
water
water
if water
is
is evident,
evident,
is evident,
the
the government
government
the government
B B C C
will begin colonization plans.

A. one
B. Scientists
Scientists
C. it
D. No change is necessary.
 Item 9

Put that back on the shelf! The label

label says
saysthat
that
high fructose corn syrup and partially
hydrogenated oils are ingredients.

A. It says on the label

B. They claim on the label
C. On the label it says
D. No change
changeisisnecessary.
necessary.
 Item 10

Sara’s
Maria explained to Diane that her
her sauce
sauce
sauce
was
waswas
too
tootoo
AA
salty and too garlicky and would give everyone
everyone
B
heartburn.
heartburn.
C

A. Sara’s
Sara’s
B. him
C. it
D. No change is necessary.
 Grammar Bytes!
provides additional
handouts and exercises on
pronoun reference.
Go to
chompchomp.com!
The End.