PSAT Writing : Correcting Pronoun Errors: Incorrect Usage
Study concepts, example questions & explanations for PSAT Writing
All PSAT Writing Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #91 : Other Pronoun Errors
Suddenly, the hikers saw the mountain lion on the trail ahead of there path.
on the trail ahead of their path.
on the trail up ahead of there path.
in the trail ahead of there path.
on the trail ahead there path.
on the trail ahead of there path.
on the trail ahead of their path.
The underlined portion of the sentence needs one change to one word. "There," indicating a location, should be changed to "their," the third person plural possessive. Thus, "on the trail up ahead of their path" is the correct answer choice.
Example Question #92 : Other Pronoun Errors
When you are done with the book, please bring it to myself.
unto myself.
to myself.
for myself.
to me.
to I.
to me.
The use of "myself" in the sentence is incorrect, as "myself" is a referential pronoun, but has nothing in the sentence to refer to earlier in the sentence; therefore, "to me" is the correct answer choice.
Example Question #93 : Other Pronoun Errors
Fine tuning the book took a great deal of time due to it's massive length.
due to it's massive longevity.
due to its massive length.
due to it's massive length.
due to it is massive length.
because of it's massive length.
due to its massive length.
The use of the word "it's" is incorrect in the sentence, as "it's" is only the contraction of "it is." The possessive form is always "its," making the correct answer "due to its massive length."
Example Question #94 : Other Pronoun 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. One of the answer choices reproduces the underlined portion as it is written in the sentence.
The issue was first brought to myself well over five years ago.
The issue was first bringing to myself well over five years ago.
The issue being first brought to myself well over five years ago.
The issue was first brought to me well over five years ago.
The issue was first brought to my own self well over five years ago.
The issue was first brought to myself well over five years ago.
The issue was first brought to me well over five years ago.
The use of the pronoun "myself" in the sentence is wrong, as it is the only use of a first person pronoun, and needs a previous usage to refer to; therefore, the word needs to be changed to the simple first person pronoun, "me," which makes "The issue was first brought to me well over five years ago," the correct answer choice.
Example Question #95 : Other Pronoun 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. One of the answer choices reproduces the underlined portion as it is written in the sentence.
For no apparent reason, the boy harbors a great deal of anger toward myself.
a great deal of anger toward myself.
a great deal of anger toward me.
a great deal of angry toward myself.
a great deal of anger to myself.
a great deal of anger for myself.
a great deal of anger toward me.
The use of the reflexive pronoun in this sentence is incorrect, as there is no previous use of the first person pronoun to which it can refer. The word "myself" needs to changed to the simple first person objective pronoun, "me." Therefore, the correct answer choice is "a great deal of anger toward me."
Example Question #96 : Other Pronoun 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. One of the answer choices reproduces the underlined portion as it is written in the sentence.
Many people do not trust them to watch their own weight.
themselves to watch their own weight.
them to watch their own weight.
themselves to watch their selves own weight.
them to watch weight.
themself to watch their selves own weight.
themselves to watch their own weight.
The use of "them" is imprecise, as it is unclear who exactly "them" is referring to in the sentence. To clear up this confusion, the use of "themselves" is the best way to indicate this usage refers to the subject of the sentence. "Themselves to watch their own weight" is the correct answer choice.
Example Question #61 : 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. One of the answer choices reproduces the underlined portion as it is written in the sentence.
The issue was brought to myself as soon as he was aware of the problem.
The issue was brought to myself
The issue was brought to me
The issue was brought on myself
The issue was bringing to myself
The issue brought to myself
The issue was brought to me
The use of the reflexive pronoun "myself" is incorrect when it has no previous first person pronoun to refer to. "Myself" must be replaced by the simple first person objective pronoun "me." As the only answer choice to make this change, "The issue was brought to me" is the correct answer.
Example Question #51 : 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. One of the answer choices reproduces the underlined portion as it is written in the sentence.
The boys all arrived together to make sure they had a numerical advantage on they're side.
in they're side.
on their side.
on they're side.
on there side.
unto there side.
on their side.
The key grammatical issue in the sentence is that two homonyms are confused, creating a mispelling in "they're." "They're" is actually the contraction for "they are," while the sentence needs the third person plural possesive form. "On their side" is the correct answer choice.
Example Question #101 : Other Pronoun 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. One of the answer choices reproduces the underlined portion as it is written in the sentence.
The teacher had to repeat many questions to her students, which were very sleepy that day.
they
who
what
that
which
who
Because the word being chosen is referring to a group of people ("students"), you need to use "who."
Example Question #64 : 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. One of the answer choices reproduces the underlined portion as it is written in the sentence.
The ability to distinguish faces is one that certain people lack, but itself is a skill that can be developed.
but itself are skills
but its is a skill
but itself is skillful
but itself is a skill
but it is a skill
but it is a skill
The use of "itself" in the sentence is incorrect. "Itself" is a referential pronoun, and as the word is used as the subject in a complete though, there is nothing to refer to therefore, the correct answer is "bit it is a skill."
All PSAT Writing Resources
