AccelePrep for the ACT Test 2nd Edition Student Text

32 • S URGE TO S UCCESS ! E NGLISH T EST P REP

PRONOUN USAGE

Except for a few idiomatic expressions (“It” is getting late; “It” will be sunny today), every pronoun must have an antecedent (a word the pronoun is replacing). An antecedent must be a noun, not a thought or phrase. Identify a pronoun’s antecedent and then check that it is correct by substituting the antecedent for the pronoun in the sentence. 1. During her rise to fame, she betrayed many of her friends, and because of it, very few people trust her. A. NO CHANGE B. and in spite of it C. and even though D. and because of her behavior Example: 2. Ten years ago, the United States imported ten times as much French cheese as Italian cheese, but today Americans are eating more of it. F. NO CHANGE G. of them H. French cheese J. Italian cheese The pronoun must agree with its antecedent in number. 3. Although a college dean used to be a symbol of authority, today they receive little respect from most students. A. NO CHANGE B. they received C. he or she receives D. college deans can receive Remember also to watch for shifting subject errors. These errors occur if different forms of the same pronoun are used to refer to the antecedent. 4. After three years of college education, one should be allowed to apply to graduate school, because by that time you are ready to choose a profession. F. NO CHANGE G. a profession can be chosen H. your profession is ready to be chosen J. one is ready to choose a profession Example:

PRONOUNS MUST HAVE ANTECEDENTS

STRATEGY ALERT Trace it to the source. When an underlined phrase includes a pronoun, back up in the sentence until ›‘— ϐ‹† –Š‡ ƒ–‡…‡†‡–Ǥ No antecedent? Unclear antecedent? Then you know the problem the correct ƒ•™‡” ‡‡†• –‘ ϐ‹šǤ Explanations for the example questions are included later in the chapter. Circle your answers now. Later when you reach the explanations at the end of the section, come back and check to make sure you answered the questions correctly.

The antecedent of a pronoun must be made clear from the structure of the sentence. ANTECEDENTS MUST BE CLEAR

PRONOUN-ANTECEDENT AGREEMENT Example:

Example: