SAT Writing : Correcting Agreement Errors
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Example Questions
Example Question #21 : Correcting Pronoun Antecedent Agreement Errors
Choose the answer below which best replaces the underlined section of the following sentence. This should result in a sentence that meets all of the rules of standard written English.
After the fight, the boys didn't want to be held responsible for there actions.
boys's
there
our
they're
their
their
The proper possessive pronoun for the antecedent "the boys" is "their."
Example Question #22 : Correcting Pronoun Antecedent Agreement 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 crowd was electric, their volume magnified by the many microphones' booming of their voices.
their volume was magnified by the many microphones' booming of their voices
their volume magnified by the many microphones booming of their voices
their volume magnified by the many microphones boom
its volume magnified by the many microphones' booming of their voices
their volume is magnified by the microphones booming of their voices
its volume magnified by the many microphones' booming of their voices
The "crowd," despite containing many people, is a singular, unified entity. Thus, pronouns that refer to it should be singular--hence "its," not "their."
Example Question #23 : Correcting Pronoun Antecedent Agreement 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.
No parent should have to bury their child; the loss of a young loved one is very often too much to bear.
No parent should have to bury their child:
No parent should have to bury his or her child;
No parent should have to bury they're child;
No parent should have to bury there child;
No parent should have to bury their child;
No parent should have to bury his or her child;
There is an antecedent/pronoun agreement error in the sentence above. The antecedent "No parent" does not match up correctly with "their." Since "no parent" concerns individual parents a plural pronoun is inappropriate in this situation. The best way to correct the error is: "No parent should have to bury his or her child;"
Note that a semicolon correctly separates two independent clauses in the example sentence.
Example Question #24 : Correcting Pronoun Antecedent Agreement 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.
Each person should know their place, especially when addressing a monarch as important as Frederick.
Everyones should know their place,
Each person should know their place:
Each person should know their place,
Each person should know his or her place,
One should know their place,
Each person should know his or her place,
There is an antecedent/pronoun agreement error in the sentence above. The antecedent "each person" does not match up correctly with "their." "Their" is a plural possessive pronoun, and should only be used to connote possession for unified groups, not large groups that are individualized. The best way to correct the error is: "Everyone should know his or her place,"
Example Question #25 : Correcting Pronoun Antecedent Agreement 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.
Angel did his best to put out the blaze, but even a great firefighter like her couldn't keep the house from collapsing.
Angel did her best to put out the blaze;
Angel did her best to put out the blaze:
Angel did his best to put out the blaze;
Angel did his best to put out the blaze,
Angel did her best to put out the blaze,
Angel did her best to put out the blaze,
There is an antecedent/pronoun agreement error in the sentence above. The antecedent "Angel" does not match up correctly with "his," as Angel is clearly feminine based on the second (not underlined and therefore unchangeable) clause of the sentence. The best way to correct the error is: "Angel did her best to put out the blaze,"
Note that it is incorrect for a semicolon to precede a coordinating conjunction (like "but").
As a general tip, it is important to consider underlined portions in the full context of the sentence, as the unchangeable parts of the sentence will contain the parts of the sentence structure that are correct.
Example Question #31 : Correcting Pronoun Antecedent Agreement 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.
Every single person has a right to be safe in their own home: this right is a crucial part of what makes our society worthwhile.
Everyone has a right to be safe in there own home: this right is a crucial part of what makes our society worthwhile.
Every single person has a right to be safe in his or her own home: this right is a crucial part of what makes our society worthwhile.
Every single person has a right to be safe in their own home: this right is a crucial part of what makes our society worthwhile.
Everyone has a right to be safe in they're own home: this right is a crucial part of what makes our society worthwhile.
Everyone has a right to be safe in ones own home: this right is a crucial part of what makes our society worthwhile.
Every single person has a right to be safe in his or her own home: this right is a crucial part of what makes our society worthwhile.
There is an antecedent/pronoun agreement error in the sentence above. The antecedent "everyone" does not match up correctly with "their." The best way to correct the error is: "Everyone has a right to be safe in his or her own home: this right is a crucial part of what makes our society worthwhile."
Note that a colon correctly separates these two independent clauses, because the second clause here expands directly on the first.
Example Question #31 : Correcting Pronoun Antecedent Agreement 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.
No one should have to put up with constant abuse from their boss.
No one should have to put up with constant abuse from their boss.
No one should have to put up with constant abuse from his or her boss.
No one should have to put up with constant abuse from there boss.
No one should have to put up with constant abuse from they're boss.
No one should have to put up with constant abuse from their boss.
No one should have to put up with constant abuse from his or her boss.
There is an antecedent/pronoun agreement error in the sentence above. The antecedent "no one" does not match up correctly with "their." The best way to correct the error is: "No one should have to put up with constant abuse from his or her boss."
Note that the subject of this sentence is "no one," which is singular.
Example Question #86 : Correcting Agreement 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.
Everyone has a right to be safe in their own home; the government is creating a new program to ensure this right.
Everyone has a right to be safe in their own home; the government is creating a new program to ensure this right.
Everyone has a right to be safe in their own home; the government is creating a new program to ensure those right.
Everyone has a right to be safe in his or her own home; the government is creating a new program to ensure this right.
Everyone has a right to be safe in their own home; the government is creating a new program to ensure that right.
Everyone has a right to be safe in their own home; the government is creating a new program to ensure these right.
Everyone has a right to be safe in his or her own home; the government is creating a new program to ensure this right.
There is an antecedent/pronoun agreement error in the sentence above. The antecedent "everyone" does not match up correctly with "their." "Everyone" individualizes the subject, and therefore a plural pronoun is incorrect. The best way to correct the error is, "Everyone has a right to be safe in his or her own home; the government is creating a new program to ensure this right."
Example Question #32 : Correcting Pronoun Antecedent Agreement 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.
Everyone has a lot of trouble with their taxes: the system should be simplified.
Everyone has a lot of trouble with their taxes; so the system should be simplified.
Everyone has a lot of trouble with his or her taxes: the system should be simplified.
Everyone has a lot of trouble with their taxes; and the system should be simplified.
Everyone has a lot of trouble with his or her taxes: and the system should be simplified.
Everyone has a lot of trouble with their taxes: the system should be simplified.
Everyone has a lot of trouble with his or her taxes: the system should be simplified.
There is an antecedent/pronoun agreement error in the sentence above. The antecedent "everyone" does not match up correctly with "their," since "everyone" individualizes the subject a plural pronoun is incorrect. The best way to correct the error is, "Everyone has a lot of trouble with his or her taxes: the system should be simplified."
Example Question #33 : Correcting Pronoun Antecedent Agreement 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.
No one has the right to treat other people however he wants; it's important to treat others with respect as often as possible.
No one has the right to treat other people however him wants; its important to treat others with respect as often as possible.
No one has the right to treat other people however they want; it's important to treat others with respect as often as possible.
No one has the right to treat other people however they wants; it's important to treat others with respect as often as possible.
No one has the right to treat other people however she wants; it's important to treat others with respect as often as possible.
No one has the right to treat other people however he wants; it's important to treat others with respect as often as possible.
No one has the right to treat other people however they want; it's important to treat others with respect as often as possible.
There is an antecedent/pronoun agreement error in the sentence above. The antecedent "no one" does not match up correctly with "he." No one can be treated as a plural or a singular pronoun, in this case it should be treated as plural since the sentence is making a general statement. The best way to correct the error is, "No one has the right to treat other people however they want; it's important to treat others with respect as often as possible."
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