Pronoun Reference - Exercise 3 | PDF | Business | Nature - Free Printable

Let's go through each sentence in Pronoun Reference – Exercise 3 and fix the underlined pronoun errors. The goal is to ensure that each pronoun clearly refers to a specific antecedent (the noun it replaces) and avoids ambiguity or incorrect reference.

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1.

Original:
*In the last seconds of the game, Leroy passed the basketball to Marc, and then he tripped over an untied shoelace and broke his arm.*

Problem:
The pronoun "he" could refer to either Leroy or Marc, creating ambiguity.

Fix:
We need to clarify who tripped. Since Leroy passed the ball, and it’s more likely that Marc was the one who tripped after receiving the pass, but we don’t know for sure. To avoid confusion, we should replace "he" with the name or rephrase.

✔ Corrected:
*In the last seconds of the game, Leroy passed the basketball to Marc, and then Marc tripped over an untied shoelace and broke his arm.*

> ✔ Explanation: The pronoun "he" is ambiguous here. Replacing it with "Marc" makes the sentence clear.

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2.

Original:
*The computer geek's biggest dream* was to hack his way into the Defense Department's mainframe. Was he ever surprised when the FBI burst into his apartment.

Problem:
The phrase “The computer geek’s biggest dream” is the subject of the first sentence. Then, “Was he ever surprised…” uses “he” — but “dream” cannot be the antecedent of “he.” A dream can't be surprised.

Fix:
The pronoun “he” must refer to the computer geek, not the dream.

✔ Corrected:
*The computer geek’s biggest dream was to hack his way into the Defense Department’s mainframe. Was the computer geek ever surprised when the FBI burst into his apartment?*

> ✔ Explanation: The dream is not a person and cannot be surprised. The pronoun "he" must refer to the person — the computer geek.

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3.

Original:
*While terrifying, hungry space aliens were holding the class hostage, Mr. Parker announced that the research essays were due early—on Friday, not Monday. This really distressed the poor students.*

Problem:
“This” refers to what? It could mean the announcement, the fact that essays are due early, or even the aliens holding them hostage. But the context suggests the announcement about the essay deadline caused distress — not the aliens.

Fix:
Clarify that the announcement is what distressed the students.

✔ Corrected:
*...Mr. Parker announced that the research essays were due early—on Friday, not Monday. That announcement really distressed the poor students.*

> ✔ Explanation: "This" is vague. Using "that announcement" makes it clear what caused the distress.

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4.

Original:
*Lori surprised everyone when, at age nineteen, she saved enough money to make a down payment on her own home. And they say that young people don’t understand financial responsibility!*

Problem:
“They” is vague. Who says this? It’s unclear whether “they” refers to parents, experts, society, etc.

Fix:
Replace “they” with a specific group or rephrase.

✔ Corrected:
*Lori surprised everyone when, at age nineteen, she saved enough money to make a down payment on her own home. And some people say that young people don’t understand financial responsibility!*

> ✔ Explanation: “They” is a vague pronoun often used to refer to unnamed people. Replace it with a clearer noun like “some people” or “others.”

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5.

Original:
*It says in the syllabus* that Prof. Duncan won’t tolerate tardiness, but we were not surprised to see Will peeking through the classroom window, hoping that he could enter late once again.

Problem:
“It” is used as a dummy subject (“It says…”), which is acceptable. However, the clause “It says in the syllabus” is awkward and potentially misleading — it might seem like “it” refers to something else.

But actually, the real issue is: "It" is not a proper antecedent for "he" — no problem there. Wait — let’s check:

- “It says in the syllabus” → This is a common construction. “It” is a placeholder.
- Then “we were not surprised…” → okay.
- “Will… hoping that he could enter late…” → “he” clearly refers to Will, so no error here.

Wait — is there an error?

Actually, no pronoun error in this sentence. “It” is correctly used as a dummy subject, and “he” refers clearly to Will.

But wait — the instruction says fix the underlined error, and “It says in the syllabus” is underlined.

So maybe the issue is awkward phrasing or misuse of “it”?

Let’s consider:
“It says in the syllabus” is a common idiom, but some grammar guides suggest avoiding it because “it” has no clear antecedent.

Better: Use “The syllabus states…”

✔ Corrected:
*The syllabus states that Prof. Duncan won’t tolerate tardiness, but we were not surprised to see Will peeking through the classroom window, hoping that he could enter late once again.*

> ✔ Explanation: “It says in the syllabus” uses a dummy “it,” which is acceptable but sometimes considered informal or vague. Replacing it with “The syllabus states” improves clarity and formality.

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6.

Original:
*Jenny found a hungry, lost kitten in the mall parking lot. She brought it home to live with her twenty-three other cats. Cat food and litter get expensive if you have such a kind heart!*

Problem:
“You” is used in a general statement, but the context is about Jenny. Is “you” referring to Jenny? Or to readers?

This is a generalization — the sentence is meant to be humorous and rhetorical, implying that if you are kind-hearted like Jenny, then cat care gets expensive.

But “you” doesn’t have a clear antecedent in the previous sentences.

However, in rhetorical or general statements, “you” is acceptable.

But here, the issue may be shift in tone: from narrative (Jenny) to general advice (“you”). It’s acceptable, but perhaps awkward.

Still, no grammatical pronoun error — “you” is used as a general pronoun.

But the exercise says to fix the underlined error — “you have” is underlined.

Alternative: Could it be better to say “one has” or “people like you”?

But “you” is common in such expressions.

✔ Best correction:
*Cat food and litter get expensive if someone with such a kind heart adopts a stray animal!*

Or keep it as is, but recognize that “you” is acceptable in this context.

Alternatively:
*Cat food and litter get expensive if you’re such a kindhearted person!*

But the original is fine.

Wait — let’s think: The sentence is not about Jenny directly — it’s a comment on kindness. So “you” is intended as a general pronoun.

✔ Acceptable version:
*Cat food and litter get expensive if you have such a kind heart!*
→ This is correct as a general statement.

But since it’s underlined, perhaps the expected answer is to change “you” to a more formal pronoun?

Some teachers prefer “one” instead of “you” in formal writing.

✔ Improved version:
*Cat food and litter get expensive if one has such a kind heart!*

> ✔ Explanation: While “you” is acceptable in informal English, “one” is more formal and avoids the shift in perspective. But both are correct depending on tone.

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✔ Final Answers:

1. Marc
2. the computer geek
3. That announcement
4. some people
5. The syllabus states
6. one has (or “you have” is acceptable; but “one has” is more formal)

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✔ Corrected Sentences:

1. In the last seconds of the game, Leroy passed the basketball to Marc, and then Marc tripped over an untied shoelace and broke his arm.
2. The computer geek’s biggest dream was to hack his way into the Defense Department’s mainframe. Was the computer geek ever surprised when the FBI burst into his apartment?
3. While terrifying, hungry space aliens were holding the class hostage, Mr. Parker announced that the research essays were due early—on Friday, not Monday. That announcement really distressed the poor students.
4. Lori surprised everyone when, at age nineteen, she saved enough money to make a down payment on her own home. And some people say that young people don’t understand financial responsibility!
5. The syllabus states that Prof. Duncan won’t tolerate tardiness, but we were not surprised to see Will peeking through the classroom window, hoping that he could enter late once again.
6. Jenny found a hungry, lost kitten in the mall parking lot. She brought it home to live with her twenty-three other cats. Cat food and litter get expensive if one has such a kind heart!

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🔍 Summary of Errors:

| Sentence | Error Type | Fix |
|--------|------------|-----|
| 1 | Ambiguous pronoun ("he") | Replace with "Marc" |
| 2 | Pronoun refers to non-person ("dream") | Replace "he" with "the computer geek" |
| 3 | Vague pronoun ("this") | Replace with "That announcement" |
| 4 | Vague pronoun ("they") | Replace with "some people" |
| 5 | Awkward dummy "it" | Replace "It says..." with "The syllabus states..." |
| 6 | General pronoun ("you") | Replace with "one" for formality |

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