Agreement of pronoun and Antecedent

Question 1

Q: Each of the students must complete ____ homework.
A) their B) his or her C) its D) their’s

Answer 1

Correct Answer: B) his or her
Explanation: Use “his or her” to maintain gender-neutral agreement with the singular antecedent “each.”

Rule: Use “his or her” or “his/her” for singular antecedents to maintain gender neutrality.

Question 2

Q: The team members are celebrating ____ victory.
A) their B) its C) his or her D) their’s

Answer 2

Correct Answer: A) their
Explanation: The plural antecedent “team members” requires the plural pronoun “their” for agreement.

Rule: Plural antecedents take plural pronouns.

Question 3

Q: Neither Jack nor Jill has finished ____ work.
A) his B) her C) his or her D) their’s

Answer 3

Correct Answer: A) his
Explanation: When using “neither…nor,” the pronoun agrees with the nearest antecedent, which in this case is “Jack.”

Rule: With neither/nor, the pronoun agrees with the closest antecedent.

Question 4

Q: Everybody should bring ____ own lunch.
A) their B) his or her C) its D) their’s

Answer 4

Correct Answer: B) his or her
Explanation: Use “his or her” to maintain gender-neutral agreement with the singular antecedent “everybody.”

Rule: Use “his or her” or “his/her” for singular antecedents to maintain gender neutrality.

Question 5

Q: The dog wagged ____ tail happily.
A) his B) its C) his or her D) their’s

Answer 5

Correct Answer: B) its
Explanation: The singular neuter antecedent “dog” requires the singular neuter pronoun “its” for agreement.

Rule: Singular neuter antecedents take singular neuter pronouns.

Question 6

Q: My sister and I will take ____ dog for a walk.
A) our B) its C) his or her D) their’s

Answer 6

Correct Answer: A) our
Explanation: The plural antecedent “sister and I” requires the plural pronoun “our” for agreement.

Rule: Plural antecedents take plural pronouns.

Question 7

Q: Someone left ____ phone on the table.
A) their B) his or her C) its D) their’s

Answer 7

A) “Their” is a possessive pronoun used to refer to the belongings or possessions of a group of people. In this case, it is used to indicate that someone left their phone on

Question 8

Q: Each of the books has ____ own unique story.
A) their B) his or her C) its D) their’s

Answer 8

Correct Answer: C) its
Explanation: The singular antecedent “each” requires the singular neuter pronoun “its” for agreement.

Rule: Singular neuter antecedents take singular neuter pronouns.

Question 9

Q: The committee members submitted ____ reports on time.
A) their B) his or her C) its D) their’s

Answer 9

Correct Answer: A) their
Explanation: The plural antecedent “committee members” requires the plural pronoun “their” for agreement.

Rule: Plural antecedents take plural pronouns.

Question 10

Q: A person should be proud of ____ accomplishments.
A) their B) his or her C) its D) their’s

Answer 10

Correct Answer: B) his or her
Explanation: Use “his or her” to maintain gender-neutral agreement when referring to a singular antecedent like “a person.”

Question 11

Q: Neither of the options is suitable for ____ needs.
A) their B) his or her C) its D) their’s

Answer 11

Correct Answer: B) his or her
Explanation: Use “his or her” to maintain gender-neutral agreement when referring to a singular antecedent like “neither.”

Rule: Use “his or her” or “his/her” for singular antecedents to maintain gender neutrality.

Question 12

Q: The company announced ____ plans for expansion.
A) their B) its C) his or her D) their’s

Answer 12

Correct Answer: B) its
Explanation: The singular antecedent “company” requires the singular neuter pronoun “its” for agreement.

Rule: Singular neuter antecedents take singular neuter pronouns.

Question 13

Q: All the children should bring ____ permission slips.
A) their B) his or her C) its D) their’s

Answer 13

Correct Answer: A) their
Explanation: The plural antecedent “children” requires the plural pronoun “their” for agreement.

Rule: Plural antecedents take plural pronouns.

Question 14

Q: Each of the employees should submit ____ time sheet.
A) their B) his or her C) its D) their’s

Answer 14

Correct Answer: B) his or her
Explanation: Use “his or her” to maintain gender-neutral agreement when referring to a singular antecedent like “each.”

Rule: Use “his or her” or “his/her” for singular antecedents to maintain gender neutrality.

Question 15

Q: The car needs ____ oil change.
A) their B) its C) his or her D) their’s

Answer 15

Correct Answer: B) its
Explanation: The singular neuter antecedent “car” requires the singular neuter pronoun “its” for agreement.

Rule: Singular neuter antecedents take singular neuter pronouns.

Question 16

Q: The students are responsible for bringing ____ own supplies.
A) their B) his or her C) its D) their’s

Answer 16

Correct Answer: A) their
Explanation: The plural antecedent “students” requires the plural pronoun “their” for agreement.

Rule: Plural antecedents take plural pronouns.

Question 17

Q: Neither Maria nor Juan has completed ____ assignment.
A) her B) his C) his or her D) their’s

Answer 17

Correct Answer: C) his or her
Explanation: Use “his or her” to maintain gender-neutral agreement when dealing with antecedents of different genders.

Rule: With neither/nor, the pronoun agrees with the closest antecedent.

Question 18

Q: Somebody left ____ backpack on the bus.
A) their B) his or her C) its D) their’s

Answer 18

Correct Answer: B) his or her
Explanation: Use “his or her” to maintain gender-neutral agreement when referring to a singular antecedent like “somebody.”

Q: Somebody left ____ backpack on the bus.
A) their B) his or her C) its D) their’s

Rule: Use “his or her” or “his/her” for singular antecedents to maintain gender neutrality.

Question 19

Q: Each of the paintings has ____ own unique style.
A) their B) his or her C) its D) their’s

Answer 19

C) Its

C) its

The word “each” is singular, so it should be followed by a singular pronoun. In this case, “each of the paintings” implies that each painting has its (singular possessive pronoun) own unique style. Therefore, the correct choice is “its.”

Question 20

Q: The jury members deliberated before giving ____ verdict.
A) their B) his or her C) its D) their’s

Answer 20

Correct Answer: A) their
Explanation: The plural antecedent “jury members” requires the plural pronoun “their” for agreement.

Rule: Plural antecedents take plural pronouns.

Question 21

Q: The company’s profits have increased, and ____ employees are receiving bonuses.
A) its B) their C) his or her D) their’s

Answer 21

Correct Answer: B) their
Explanation: The plural antecedent “employees” requires the plural pronoun “their” for agreement.

Rule: Plural antecedents take plural pronouns.

Question 22

Q: Neither the cat nor the dog has eaten ____ food.
A) its B) their C) his or her D) their’s

Answer 22

Correct Answer: A) its
Explanation: With “neither…nor,” the pronoun agrees with the closest antecedent, “cat,” which is singular and neuter.

Rule: With neither/nor, the pronoun agrees with the closest antecedent.

Question 23

Q: Everyone should bring ____ own contribution to the event.
A) his or her B) their C) its D) their’s

Answer 23

Correct Answer: A) his or her
Explanation: Use “his or her” for gender-neutral agreement when referring to a singular antecedent like “everyone.”

Rule: Use “his or her” or “his/her” for singular antecedents to maintain gender neutrality.

Question 24

: Neither the flowers nor the trees has lost ____ leaves.
A) their B) its C) his or her D) their’s

Answer 24

Correct Answer: B) its
Explanation: With “neither…nor,” the pronoun agrees with the closest antecedent, “trees,” which is singular and neuter.

Rule: With neither/nor, the pronoun agrees with the closest antecedent.

Question 25

Q: Any student who needs help can ask ____ teacher for assistance.
A) his or her B) their C) its D) their’s

Answer 25

Correct Answer: A) his or her
Explanation: Use “his or her” for gender-neutral agreement when referring to a singular antecedent like “student.”

Rule: Use “his or her” or “his/her” for singular antecedents to maintain gender neutrality.