Pronouns and Antecedents

Question 1

What is an antecedent?

Answer 1

The noun to which a pronoun refers. Also known as referent.

Question 2

How do we check for pronoun-antecedent errors?

Answer 2

When there is a pronoun in a sentence, identify its possible antecedents.

Question 3

What is a “delayed subject”?

Answer 3

A subject that follows the expletive “it” and the main verb of the clause.

Ex.
Whenever Jim sings, IT is apparent THAT HE REALLY ENJOYS PERFORMING. (use expletive “it” and delayed subject)

Whenever Jim sings, THAT HE REALLY ENJOYS PERFORMING is apparent. (uses normal subject placement)

Question 4

What must agree for a pronoun and its antecedent?

Answer 4

A pronoun must agree in number with its antecedent. A singular pronoun must refer to a singular antecedent, and a plural pronoun must refer to a plural antecedent.

Question 5

Pronouns that correctly refer to “each” or “every” are always…?

Answer 5

Singular. Regardless of whether “each” or “ever” begins a phrase that contains a plural noun or that describes a group.

Question 6

The indefinite pronouns are always…?

Answer 6

Singular. Indefinite pronouns such as “everyone,” “anyone,” “someone,” “no one,” and “nobody.”

Question 7

If the pronoun is doing the action, what pronoun must be used?

Answer 7

A subject pronoun

Ex. I, you, he, she it, we, you, they, who, whoever, which, that, what, everybody

Question 8

If the pronoun is being acted upon or is the object of a preposition, what pronoun must be used?

Answer 8

An object pronoun

Ex. me, you, him, her, it, us, you, them, whom, whoever, which, that, what, everybody

Question 9

If the pronoun is indicating ownership, what pronoun must be used?

Answer 9

A possessive pronoun

Ex. mine, yours, his, hers, its, ours, yours, theirs, whose, everybody’s

Question 10

How to determine whether to use “who”/“whoever” or “whom”/“whomever”?

Answer 10

Replace the pronoun with “he” or “him”. If “he” is correct, then “who” or “whoever” is the correct pronoun to use. If “him” is correct, use “whom” or “whomever”

If the pronoun serves as a subject, the correct pronoun to use is the subject pronoun “who”/“whoever”

Question 11

What happens when the word “term”, “label”, “name” is used in reference to the name of something?

Answer 11

Make sure that any pronouns meant to refer to that thing refer to the thing itself and not to the word “term”, “label”, “name”.

Ex.
The label “socialism” has long been avoided by many, but recent news stories have made IT a more mainstream ideology.
- Incorrect because the sentence illogically indicates that a label is an ideology.

The label “socialism” has long been avoided by many, but recent news stories have made SOCIALISM a more mainstream ideology.

Question 12

Why is “Jason was nervous about the chemistry exam, because it was not his best subject” incorrect?

Answer 12

Incorrect. An adjective can’t be the antecedent of a pronoun.

A chemistry exam is not a subject in school. The subject that isn’t’ Jason’s best is chemistry. Since “chemistry” modifies “exam” in the sentence, the pronoun “it” does not have a logical antecedent to which to refer.

Correct
“Jason was nervous about the chemistry exam, because chemistry was not his best subject.”

Question 13

Why is “When Lena visits New York City, she always attends a Broadway show, even though it’s a touristy section of Manhattan.” incorrect?

Answer 13

Incorrect.

The touristy section to which “it” is supposed to refer is Broadway itself; however, in the construction above, “Broadway” acts as an adjective modifying the noun “show” and, therefore, cannot be the antecedent.

Correct
“When Lena visits New York City, she always attends a Broadway show, even though Broadway is a touristy section of Manhattan.”

Question 14

Why is “The road was severely damaged, and it made driving on it almost impossible.” not preferred?

Answer 14

Incorrect. In GMAT, a pronoun will not refer to a clause in a correct answer.

The first “it” in the second part of the sentence could refer to “the road,” but that reference is not really logical, and thus, “it” seems to refer to the sentence’s entire first clause, “The road was severely damaged.”

Correct
The road was severely damaged, and so, driving on it was almost impossible.

Question 15

What is a demonstrative pronoun?

Answer 15

A pronoun that points out or “demonstrates” the noun in the sentence.

Major demonstrative pronouns are “this,” “that,” “these,” and “those.”

Question 16

When is a demonstrative pronoun being used?

Answer 16

A demonstrative pronoun takes the place of a noun and always stands alone.

Ex.
The TIRES on most sports cars are wider than THOSE on most mid-size sedans.

“Those” is a demonstrative pronoun that stands on its own and relates to a noun that appears earlier in the sentence. “Those” replicates the noun “tires.” and does not refer to the tires on sports car; or refers to tires on mid-sized sedans. There is a comparison being made.

Question 17

When is a demonstrative adjective being used?

Answer 17

A demonstrative adjective is always followed by a noun, as adjective modify nouns.

Ex.
That book is long.

“That” does not stand alone as a pronoun. Instead, “that” modifies the noun “book.” Because “that” modifies the noun “book, “that” acts as a demonstrative adjective indicating which book is long (that one).