GMAT Verbal : Correcting Pronoun Errors: Incorrect Usage

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for GMAT Verbal

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Example Questions

Example Question #41 : Correcting Word Usage Errors

The reports all need to be seen by myself before they are sent out.

Possible Answers:

to myself

for myself

by me

by myself

as myself

Correct answer:

by me

Explanation:

The use of "myself" in the sentence is incorrect, as it is a reflexive pronoun and needs a previous usage of the regular pronoun first. As there is none, the pronoun  needs to be changed to the regular pronoun "me." This makes "by me" the correct answer choice.

Example Question #41 : Correcting Pronoun Errors

I have never questioned the innate abilities of me.

Possible Answers:

the innate ability of me.

the innate abilities of me.

the innate abilities of myself.

the innate abilities to me.

the innate abilities for me.

Correct answer:

the innate abilities of myself.

Explanation:

The use of me, although technically correct as the objective form, is awkward in this sentence after the previous use of "I" as the subject. By placing the reflexive pronoun "myself" in the sentence, the pronoun now appropriately refers back to the subject of the sentence. The correct answer choice is "the innate abilities of myself."

Example Question #11 : Correcting Pronoun Errors: Incorrect Usage

Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English.

The young woman brought her package directly to myself and no one else.

Possible Answers:

directly to me

directly unto myself 

directly to myself

directly for myself

direct to myself

Correct answer:

directly to me

Explanation:

The use of the reflexive pronoun "myself" is incorrect in the sentence, as it needs a previous usage of the first person pronoun to refer back to. The correct pronoun is the simple "me." Therefore, the correct answer choice is "directly to me."

Example Question #12 : Correcting Usage Errors

Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English.

The report was seen by yourself before anyone else was allowed to have it.

Possible Answers:

The report seen by yourself

The report was saw by yourself

The report was seen by you

The report was seen by yourself

The report being seen by yourself

Correct answer:

The report was seen by you

Explanation:

The use of the reflexive pronoun "yourself" is incorrect in this sentence, as it has no previous use of the second person pronoun "you" to refer to. "Yourself" should be changed to the simple second person pronoun "you." As this is the only issue in the sentence, the correct answer choice is "The report was seen by you."

Example Question #13 : Correcting Pronoun Errors: Incorrect Usage

Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English.

The questions have only been seen by myself.

Possible Answers:

been seeing myself.

been seen by myself.

been seen myself.

been seen by me.

being seen by myself.

Correct answer:

been seen by me.

Explanation:

The use of "myself" is incorrect in the sentence, as it is a reflexive pronoun and needs the first person pronoun "me" to precede it. Therefore, "myself" must be changed to the first person pronoun "me," making the correct answer "been seen by me."

Example Question #14 : Correcting Pronoun Errors: Incorrect Usage

Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English.

The game score was reported directly to myself as soon as the contest was over.

Possible Answers:

was reported directly for myself

was reported direct to myself

was reported directly to myself

was reporting directly to myself

was reported directly to me

Correct answer:

was reported directly to me

Explanation:

The use of the reflexive pronoun "myself" is incorrect in this sentence, as there is no previous usage of the first person pronoun for it to be referring to. "Myself" should be replaced by the simple objective pronoun "me." The correct answer is the only answer choice that does this, "was reported directly to me."

Example Question #15 : Correcting Pronoun Errors: Incorrect Usage

Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English.

The group has already expressed thanks both to the senator and myself.

Possible Answers:

both to the senator and myself.

both to me and the senator.

both to myself and the senator.

both to the senator and I.

both to the senator, and myself.

Correct answer:

both to me and the senator.

Explanation:

Using the reflexive pronoun "myself" is incorrect in this sentence. A reflexive pronoun needs to follow a previous use of the regular pronoun, and so this pronoun needs to become the simple first person objective pronoun, "me." The only answer choice that uses the correct pronoun is "both to me and the senator."

Example Question #2361 : Act English

Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English.

Every item was inspected by myself before it left the warehouse.

Possible Answers:

inspected by myself before it left

inspected by me before it left

inspected by myself before leaving

inspecting by myself before it left

inspected by myself before it leaves

Correct answer:

inspected by me before it left

Explanation:

The use of "myself" in the sentence is incorrect, as a reflexive pronoun always needs to be preceded by a previous pronoun to which it can refer. The reflexive pronoun "myself" needs to be replaced by the simple objective first person pronoun "me." Therefore, the correct answer choice is "inspected by me before it left."

Example Question #2362 : Act English

Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English.

The news report was first read by myself, then by everyone else in the room.

Possible Answers:

first read to myself,

first read by myself,

first read for myself,

first read by me,

first reading by myself,

Correct answer:

first read by me,

Explanation:

The use of the reflexive pronoun "myself" is incorrect in the sentence, as it needs to refer back to a previous use of the pronoun, and this sentence does not contain one. The pronoun that is appropriate in the sentence is the simple objective first person pronoun "me." Therefore, "first read by me," is the correct answer choice.

Example Question #2363 : Act English

Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English.

These presents were all given to myself by my family as birthday gifts.

Possible Answers:

were all given to myself from my family

were each given to myself by my family

were all given to me by my family

were all given to myself by my family

were all giving to myself by my family

Correct answer:

were all given to me by my family

Explanation:

The use of the reflexive pronoun in the sentence is incorrect, as it does not have a previous first person pronoun to which it can refer back. "Myself" should be changed to the simple first person objective pronoun, "me." Therefore, the correct answer choice is "were all given to me by my family."

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