Choose The Sentence In Which All Pronouns Are Used Correctly

Choose the Sentence in Which All Pronouns Are Used Correctly: A Comprehensive Guide

Choosing the correct pronoun can be tricky, even for experienced writers. Pronouns, those handy words that replace nouns, must agree in number (singular or plural) and person (first, second, or third) with their antecedents (the nouns they replace). This guide will delve into the complexities of pronoun usage, helping you confidently identify and correct errors, ultimately improving the clarity and professionalism of your writing. We will examine common pronoun pitfalls and provide clear examples to illustrate correct usage.

Understanding Pronoun Agreement

The foundation of correct pronoun usage lies in agreement. This means the pronoun must match its antecedent in:

Number: Singular vs. Plural

• Singular: A singular antecedent requires a singular pronoun. For example: "The dog wagged its tail." (Dog is singular; its is singular.)
• Plural: A plural antecedent requires a plural pronoun. For example: "The dogs wagged their tails." (Dogs is plural; their is plural.)

A common mistake occurs with collective nouns (nouns that refer to a group, like team, family, or committee). Whether you use a singular or plural pronoun depends on whether you're emphasizing the group as a single unit or the individuals within the group.

• Singular emphasis: "The team celebrated its victory." (Team acts as a single unit.)
• Plural emphasis: "The team argued amongst themselves about the strategy." (Focus is on individual members.)

Person: First, Second, and Third

• First person: Refers to the speaker or writer (I, me, we, us, my, mine, our, ours).
• Second person: Refers to the person being addressed (you, your, yours).
• Third person: Refers to someone or something other than the speaker or the person being addressed (he, him, she, her, it, they, them, his, hers, its, their, theirs).

Inconsistent person usage can be jarring and confusing. For example, switching from "you" to "one" in the same paragraph without good reason is generally considered poor style.

Gender: He, She, or They?

The traditional use of "he" as a generic pronoun referring to both men and women is now widely considered outdated and sexist. The preferred alternative is to use plural pronouns ("they," "them," "their," "theirs") even when referring to a singular antecedent. This is grammatically accepted by many style guides and is becoming increasingly common in modern writing.

Example: "Every student should bring their own lunch."

However, some still prefer to use "he or she" or rewrite the sentence to avoid the pronoun altogether, although these alternatives can be awkward and repetitive.

• Original sentence: Each employee must submit their timesheet. (Considered grammatically correct by many but some still find it jarring)
• Alternative 1: Each employee must submit his or her timesheet. (Can be clunky and repetitive, especially with multiple uses)
• Alternative 2: Timesheets must be submitted by each employee. (Avoids pronoun altogether, preferable in many cases.)

Common Pronoun Errors and How to Avoid Them

Let's examine some frequently encountered pronoun errors:

1. Ambiguous Pronoun Reference

A pronoun must clearly refer to a specific antecedent. Avoid ambiguity by ensuring there's only one logical antecedent.

• Incorrect: "John told Tom he was wrong." (Who was wrong, John or Tom?)
• Correct: "John told Tom that Tom was wrong." (Clearly identifies the antecedent)

2. Pronoun Shift

Maintaining consistent person throughout a sentence or paragraph is crucial. Avoid shifting unexpectedly from one person to another.

• Incorrect: "If a person wants to succeed, you have to work hard." (Shifts from third person "person" to second person "you")
• Correct: "If a person wants to succeed, they have to work hard." (Maintains third person) or "If you want to succeed, you have to work hard." (Maintains second person)

3. Incorrect Case

Pronouns change form depending on their grammatical function in a sentence. The subjective case (I, he, she, we, they) is used for the subject of a verb; the objective case (me, him, her, us, them) is used for the object of a verb or preposition; and the possessive case (my, mine, his, her, hers, our, ours, their, theirs) shows possession.

• Incorrect: "Me and John went to the store." (Incorrect case – "me" should be "I")

• Correct: "John and I went to the store." (Correct case – "I" is the subject)

• Incorrect: Give the book to she. (Incorrect case)

• Correct: Give the book to her. (Correct case)

4. Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement Errors with Indefinite Pronouns

Indefinite pronouns (e.g., anyone, everyone, someone, no one, everybody, anybody) are always singular and require singular pronouns.

• Incorrect: Everyone should bring their own lunch. (Incorrect: their is plural)
• Correct: Everyone should bring his or her own lunch. (Correct but can be clunky)
• Correct: Everyone should bring their own lunch. (Correct, using the singular "they")

5. Problems with Relative Pronouns

Relative pronouns (who, whom, whose, which, that) introduce relative clauses. "Who" and "whom" refer to people; "which" refers to things; "that" refers to both people and things. "Whom" is the objective case of "who."

• Incorrect: Who did you give the book to? (Incorrect: "who" is the object of the preposition "to")

• Correct: To whom did you give the book? (Correct: "whom" is the object of "to")

• Incorrect: The car, which I bought it, is red. (Redundant use of pronoun)

• Correct: The car, which I bought, is red.

Practical Exercises: Identifying Correct Pronoun Usage

Let's test your understanding with some examples. Choose the sentence in each pair where the pronouns are used correctly:

Example 1:

a) Myself and my brother went to the park. b) My brother and I went to the park.

Answer: b) "Myself" is a reflexive pronoun and should not be used as a subject.

Example 2:

a) Each of the students submitted their assignment on time. b) Each of the students submitted his or her assignment on time.

Answer: Both a) and b) can be considered correct, depending on your stylistic preference. "a)" is becoming increasingly acceptable in modern usage, while "b)" is a more traditional, but potentially less concise, alternative.

Example 3:

a) Between you and I, the secret is safe. b) Between you and me, the secret is safe.

Answer: b) "Me" is the objective case, correctly used as the object of the preposition "between."

Example 4:

a) The company announced its new product line. b) The company announced their new product line.

Answer: a) "Company" is a singular collective noun, requiring a singular pronoun ("its").

Example 5:

a) The dog chased its tail furiously. b) The dog chased their tail furiously.

Answer: a) The singular pronoun "its" correctly agrees with the singular antecedent "dog".

Example 6:

a) Everyone brought their own snacks to the picnic. b) Everyone brought his or her own snacks to the picnic.

Answer: Both a and b are considered correct, depending on your preference. "a)" reflects modern grammatical usage, while "b)" is a more traditional but potentially cumbersome alternative.

Example 7:

a) The teacher gave the test to she and him. b) The teacher gave the test to her and him.

Answer: b) "Her" and "him" are the correct objective case pronouns.

Example 8:

a) Who did you see at the meeting? b) Whom did you see at the meeting?

Answer: b) "Whom" is the correct objective case pronoun, used as the object of the verb "see."

Conclusion: Mastering Pronoun Usage for Clear and Effective Writing

Correct pronoun usage is essential for clear, concise, and grammatically sound writing. By understanding pronoun agreement, avoiding common errors, and practicing consistently, you can significantly enhance the quality and impact of your written communication. Remember that while stylistic choices can influence pronoun selection, adhering to grammatical rules is paramount for effective communication. Regular practice and attention to detail are key to mastering the intricacies of pronoun usage. By consistently applying the principles outlined in this guide, you'll significantly improve the clarity and professionalism of your writing.