SAT Writing : Correcting Pronoun Errors: Inconsistent Usage

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for SAT Writing

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Example Questions

Example Question #31 : Correcting Pronoun Errors: Inconsistent 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.

When you write, you must be consistent with your pronoun usage, or one will confuse the readers.

Possible Answers:

When you write, you must be consistent with your pronoun usage, or you will confuse the readers.

When you write you must be consistent with your pronoun usage, or you will confuse the readers.

When you write you must be consistent with your pronoun usage, or one will confuse the readers.

When you write, you must be consistent with one's pronoun usage, or one will confuse the readers.

When you write, you must be consistent with your pronoun usage, or one will confuse the readers.

Correct answer:

When you write, you must be consistent with your pronoun usage, or you will confuse the readers.

Explanation:

The pronoun most frequently used in the sentence above is "you," and to avoid any inconsistency errors, this pronoun should be used throughout the sentence. The best way to correct the underlined portion of the sentence above is, "When you write, you must be consistent with your pronoun usage, or you will confuse the readers."

As a general tip, know your pronouns and choose just one for every sentence you write!

Example Question #132 : Correcting 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.

It's extremely frustrated that you won't clean up after yourself, one should be enough of an adult to do so.

Possible Answers:

you should be enough of an adult to do so.

ones should be enough of an adult to do so.

one should be enough of an adult to do so.

one should be enough of an adult to do that.

one should be enough of an adult to do it.

Correct answer:

you should be enough of an adult to do so.

Explanation:

The pronoun in the portion of the sentence above that is not underlined is "you," and to avoid any inconsistency errors, this pronoun should be used throughout the sentence. The best way to correct the underlined portion of the sentence above is, "you should be enough of an adult to do so."

Example Question #33 : Correcting Pronoun Errors: Inconsistent 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.

One does what one must, but you shouldn't push too hard, as such behavior leads to injury.

Possible Answers:

but you shan't push too hard, as such behavior leads to injury.

but one shouldn't push too hard, as such behavior leads to injury.

but you shouldn't push too hard, as such behavior leads to injury.

but you shouldn't push to hard, as such behavior leads to injury.

but you shouldn't push two hard, as such behavior leads to injury.

Correct answer:

but one shouldn't push too hard, as such behavior leads to injury.

Explanation:

The pronoun in the portion of the sentence above that is not underlined is "one," and to avoid any inconsistency errors, this pronoun should be used throughout the sentence. Even though the pronoun "one" is in the dependent clause, as opposed to the main clause, the main clause pronoun should be changed, since there is no option to change the pronoun in the introductory clause. The best way to correct the underlined portion of the sentence above is, "but one shouldn't push too hard, as such behavior leads to injury."

One is either speaking generally, or one is directly addressing someone in the second person, one cannot do both in the same sentence.

Example Question #34 : Correcting Pronoun Errors: Inconsistent 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.

If you have a headache, one should take medicine to deal with the pain.

Possible Answers:

If you have a headache, you should, take medicine to deal with the pain.

If you have a headache, then one should take medicine to deal with the pain.

If you have a headache, perhaps one should take medicine to deal with the pain.

If you have a headache, one should take medicine to deal with the pain.

If you have a headache, you should take medicine to deal with the pain.

Correct answer:

If you have a headache, you should take medicine to deal with the pain.

Explanation:

The first pronoun in the sentence above is "you," and to avoid any inconsistency errors, this pronoun should be used throughout the sentence. If both "you" and "one" both appear as pronouns (outside of quotation marks) in the same sentence one of them needs to change! The best way to correct the underlined portion of the sentence above is, "If you have a headache, you should take medicine to deal with the pain."

Example Question #133 : Correcting 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.

One should not be so petulant in court, because the judge will not like you if you keep it up.

Possible Answers:

You all should not be so petulant in court,

One should not be so petulant in court,

They should not be so petulant in court,

You should not be so petulant in court,

Her should not be so petulant in court,

Correct answer:

You should not be so petulant in court,

Explanation:

The pronoun in the portion of the sentence above that is not underlined is "you," and to avoid any inconsistency errors, this pronoun should be used throughout the sentence. The best way to correct the underlined portion of the sentence above is, "You should not be so petulant in court,"

Example Question #134 : Correcting 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 robot's artificial brain was badly damaged: I was worried that he would never recover its full capacity.

Possible Answers:

I was worried that he would never recover his full capacity.

I was worried that he would never recover its full capacity.

I was worried, that he would never recover its full capacity.

I was worried that it would never recover its' full capacity.

I was worried that it would never recover its full capacity.

Correct answer:

I was worried that it would never recover its full capacity.

Explanation:

The correct pronoun for the portion of the sentence above that is underlined is "it," and to avoid any inconsistency errors, this pronoun should be used throughout the clause. The best way to correct the underlined portion of the sentence above is, "I was worried that it would never recover its full capacity."

Example Question #135 : Correcting 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.

You have to pay closer attention when you work with power tools, or one is going to get hurt very badly.

Possible Answers:

or you guys is going to get hurt very badly.

or you is going to get hurt very badly.

or one is going to get hurt very badly.

or ones are gonna get hurt very badly.

or you are going to get hurt very badly.

Correct answer:

or you are going to get hurt very badly.

Explanation:

Since the pronoun in the part of the sentence that is not underlined is "you," "you" must be consistently used throughout the sentence in order to maintain pronoun agreement. The best way to correct the underlined portion of the sentence above is, "or you are going to get hurt very badly."

Example Question #391 : Improving Sentences

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.

One must stay focused on your's future, because if one allows distractions to take over nothing will come of it.

 

Possible Answers:

One must stay focused on your future,

One must stay focused on yours future,

One must stay focused on one's future,

You must stay focused on his future,

One must stay focused on your's future,

Correct answer:

One must stay focused on one's future,

Explanation:

The pronoun in the portion of the sentence that comes first is "one," and to avoid any inconsistency errors, this pronoun should be used throughout the sentence. The best way to correct the underlined portion of the sentence above is, "One must stay focused on one's future, because if one allows distractions to take over nothing will come of it."

 

Example Question #36 : Correcting Pronoun Errors: Inconsistent 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.

If you have a hard time staying focused in class, one must try certain techniques to improve.

Possible Answers:

If you have a hard time staying focused in class; and they must try certain techniques to improve.

If you have a hard time staying focused in class; one must try certain techniques to improve.

If you have a hard time staying focused in class, one must try certain techniques to improve.

If you have a hard time staying focused in class, you must try certain techniques to improve.

If you have a hard time staying focused in class: one must try certain techniques to improve.

Correct answer:

If you have a hard time staying focused in class, you must try certain techniques to improve.

Explanation:

The pronoun in the portion of the sentence above that appears first is "you," and to avoid any inconsistency errors, this pronoun should be used throughout the sentence. The best way to correct the underlined portion of the sentence above is, "If you have a hard time staying focused in class, you must try certain techniques to improve."

Example Question #142 : Correcting Word 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. One of the underlined choices repeats the answer as it is written. 

When we have purpose in our lives, they can wake up every day feeling confident and fulfilled.

Possible Answers:

she can wake up every day feeling confident and fulfilled

you can wake up every day feeling confident and fulfilled

they can wake up every day feeling confident and fulfilled

one can wake up every day feeling confident and fulfilled

we can wake up every day feeling confident and fulfilled

Correct answer:

we can wake up every day feeling confident and fulfilled

Explanation:

The sentence begins with the pronoun "We" but switches to the pronoun "they." We must therefore change the second pronoun to "we" in order to maintain grammatical consistency.  

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