Dr. Prinsky
Engl. 1101
Test on Pronoun Case and Pronoun Reference (Ch. 36 NMHH)
Pronoun Case
1. As pointed out by the authors of NMHH, pronouns in English have how many cases: (a) three (b) four (c) five (d) six
2. As pointed out by the authors of NMHH, which kind of pronouns have the most variation in pronoun case: (a) reflexive (b) indefinite (c) reciprocal (d) personal
3. As pointed out by the authors of NMHH, which kind of pronouns have the most variation in pronoun case: (a) interrogative (b) relative (c) demonstrative (d) possessive
4. In their text box, the authors of NMHH list how many situations conducive to pronoun case errors: (a) six (b) eight (c) ten (d) twelve
5. In the common sentence to be heard among young people, including some students on campus -- “Her and Mary went shopping for dresses at the Mall” -- which kind of error, tabulated by NMHH, is illustrated: (a) pronouns preceding a gerund (b) pronouns in comparisons (c) pronouns in compound structures (d) pronouns in appositives
6. The error that occurs in the pronoun case in the immediately preceding question occurs because the pronoun “Her” grammatically is: (a) part of the subject of the clause (b) part of the verb of the clause (c) part of the direct object of the clause (d) part of the objective complement of the clause
7. In the following sentence -- The director gave the leading roles to my brother and I -- the pronoun “I” is incorrect because the pronoun functions as: (a) the subject of the clause (b) the direct object of a verb (c) the predicate adjective (d) the object of a preposition
8. In the following sentence -- Mark’s best friends are Jane and me -- the mistake in the pronoun occurs because of a problem with: (a) the predicate (verb) (b) the subject complement (c) the indirect object (d) the direct object
9. The problem cited in the immediately preceding question depends on: (a) linking verbs (b) participles (c) transitive verbs (d) helping verbs
Exercise 36.1
10. 36.1#1 (“The first”) The correct pronoun choice is: (a) I (b) me
11. 36.1#2 (“Throughout the”) The correct pronoun choice is: (a) he (b) him
12. 36.1#3 (“Lara joked”) The correct pronoun choice is: (a) her (b) she
13. 36.1#4 (“That outcome”) The correct pronoun choice is: (a) he (b) him
14. 36.1#5 (“Graduation was”) The correct pronoun choice is: (a) I (b) me
____________
15. The pronoun problem in the following sentences -- (a) The two weary travelers, Ramon and me, found shelter in an old cabin, (b) The police arrested two protesters, Jane and I -- occurs because of what grammatical element: (a) adjective clause (b) prepositional phrase (c) noun clause (d) the appositive
16. The pronoun problem in the following sentences -- (a) Us students never get to decide such things, (b) Things were looking desperate for we campers -- occurs because of needing to identify: (a) the subject of the clause (b) the predicate of the clause (c) the grammatical function of the immediately following noun (d) the placement of modifiers (adjectives or adverbs)
Exercise 36.2
17. 36.2#1 (“Americans live”) The correct pronoun is: (a) We (b) Us
18. 36.2#2 (“My parents”) The correct pronoun is: (a) I (b) me
19. 36.2#3 (“Our grandparents”) The correct pronoun is: (a) we (b) us
20. 36.2#4 (“On New Year’s”) The correct pronoun is: (a) I (b) me
21. 36.2#5 (“My grandmother”) The correct pronoun is: (a) I (b) me
_________
22. Looking closely at the explanation in 36g about pronoun problems caused by comparison using the words than or as reveals that the problems occur as a result of an elliptical (understood): (a) conjunction (b) (c) phrase (d) clause
23. Choose the correct pronoun: Norm’s wife has more common sense than: (a) him (b) he
24. Choose the correct pronoun: Norm’s personal library is huge; very few people own as many books as: (a) him (b) he
25. Choose the correct pronoun: Although the Cowardly Lion needed the Wizard’s help as much as Dorothy did, the King of the Jungle was less determined than [ (a) she (b) her ] to hike to Oz.
26. Choose the correct pronoun: Dorothy probably felt more confident than [ (a) he (b) him ] that she could deal with the Wonderful Wizard.
27. Choose the correct pronoun: Perhaps Dorothy could relate more easily to [ (a) he (b) him ] than a lion could.
28. Choose the correct pronoun: Although more cautious in his appraisal of the Wizard than Dorothy, the Scarecrow was no less eager for guidance than [ (a) she (b) her ]
29. Choose the correct pronoun: Perhaps the Scarecrow even feared that Dorothy would like the Wizard more than [ (a) he (b) him ]
30. Section 36h deals with problems of pronouns in relation to: (a) gerunds (b) participles (c) infinitives (d) adverbs
31. Section 36i deals with problems of pronouns in relation to: (a) gerunds (b) participles (c) infinitives (d) adverbs
Exercise 36.3
32. 36.3#1 (“Robert Browning”) Choose the correct pronoun form: (a) she (b) her
33. 36.3#2 (“Elizabeth Barrett’s”) Choose the correct pronoun form: (a) she (b) her
34. 36.3#3 (“Their/Them”) Choose the correct pronoun form: (a) Their (b) Them
35. 36.3#4 (“Even though”) Choose the correct pronoun form: (a) he (b) him
36. 36.3#5 (“Today, however”) Choose the correct pronoun form: (a) she (b) her
___________
[[If you have trouble differentiating who and whom, use Dr. Prinsky’s substitution trick: substitute he for who and him for whom in the clause or the sentence. This trick can be remembered by the m in him and the m in whom. Example: “Who/Whom did you mean?” Solution: choose either “You did mean he” / “You did mean him” -- the choice would be “You did mean him,” so “him” = “whom” . Note that in question sentences, turn the sentence around to make a statement; “Who/Whom did you mean?” = “You did mean who/whom”; then make the “he”/”him” substitution test.]]
__________
Read the following paragraph: (a) Henry Ford, who/whom started the Ford Motor Company was autocratic and stubborn. (b) Ford was the industrialist who/whom introduced assembly-line techniques to automobile manufacture. (c) It is he who/whom we should credit with making automobiles widely affordable. (d) Ford’s son Edsel, who/whom the auto magnate treated cruelly, was a brilliant auotmobile designer. (e) It was Ford who/whom historians think revolutionized the American workplace.
37. In sentence (a) the correct pronoun choice is: (a) who (b) whom
38. In sentence (b) the correct pronoun choice is: (a) who (b) whom
39. In sentence (c) the correct pronoun choice is: (a) who (b) whom
40. In sentence (d) the correct pronoun choice is: (a) who (b) whom
41. In sentence (e) the correct pronoun choice is: (a) who (b) whom
Exercise 36.5
42. 36.5#1 “(Who/Whom)” The correct pronoun choice is: (a) Who (b) Whom
43. 36.5#2 (“He was”) The correct pronoun choice is: (a) who (b) whom
44. 36.5#3 (“Edison,”) The correct pronoun choice is: (a) who (b) whom
45. 36.5#4 (“The hardworking”) The correct pronoun choice is: (a) who (b) whom
46. 36.5#5 “(Who/Whom)” The correct pronoun choice is: (a) Who (b) Whom
Pronoun Reference
[[A Dr. Prinsky tip for solving ambiguous pronoun reference (36q) when two potential antecedents precede the pronoun is to use the pronouns former or latter, which clearly point to the first or the second of the preceding antecedents.]]
47. Which is the best (least ambiguous, least repetitive) form of the following sentence: (a) The friendly banter between Hamlet and Horatio eventually provokes him to declare that his world view has changed (b) The friendly banter between Hamlet and Horatio eventually provokes Hamlet to declare that his world view has changed (c) The friendly banter between Hamlet and Horatio eventually provokes Hamlet to admit to a changed view of the world (d) The friendly banter between Hamlet and Horatio eventually provokes the former to admit to a changed view of the world
[[A Dr. Prinsky tip for a pronoun-reference problem because of a non-stated antecedent (36r) is that the problem often occurs with the pronoun “This” either at the beginning of a sentence or later in the sentence.]]
[[A Dr. Prinsky tip for avoiding the use of “you” in formal writing (36r-3) is to avoid substituting “one,” which sounds British and also tends to be wordy. Rather, rearrange the sentence or use the passive construction. Instead of “You never know when calamity will strike” -- “When calamity will strike is never known.”]]
48. Which sentence avoids the pronoun-reference problem: (a) Every weekday afternoon, my brothers cycle home from school, and then they leave them in the driveway (b) Every weekday afternoon, my brothers cycle home from school, and then they leave their bikes in the driveway
49. Which sentence avoids the pronoun-reference problem: (a) In Joseph Addison’s essay Spectator 15, he claims that many women overemphasize superficial values, including preoccupation with clothing (b) In his essay Spectator 15, Joseph Addison claims that many women overemphasize superficial values, including preoccupation with clothing
50. Which sentence avoids the pronoun-reference problem: (a) As government funding for higher education decreases, tuition increases. Are students supposed to accept this without protest? (b) As government funding for higher education decreases, tuition increases. Are students supposed to accept this situation without protest?
51. Which sentence avoids the pronoun-reference problem: (a) In some countries such as Canada, they cover many more people for medical costs than the United States does (b) In some countries such as Canada, the government covers many more people for medical costs than the United States does
Number the sentences in the sample paragraph about Berlioz in 36s; (a) = “Berlioz’s unconventional” ; (b) = “To get”; (c) = “Although he” ; (d) = “He turned”
52. With regard to the pronouns “his” and “he” in sentence (b) of the paragraph about Berlioz, sentence (a): (a) can be left as is (b) should be changed to “The unconventional music of Berlioz’s” (c) should be changed to “The opera and concert establishment were irritated by Berlioz’s unconventional music” (d) should be changed to “The unconventional music of Berlioz irritated the opera and concert establishment”
53. Which is the correct use of the pronoun: (a) FDR was the president that led the country during World War II (b) FDR was the president which led the country during World War II (c) FDR was the president who led the country during World War II (d) FDR was the president whom led the country during World War II
Exercise 36.7
54. 36.7#1 (“The tight”) Choose the best version: (a) The sentence is correct as is (b) The tight race between presidential candidates John Kerry and George W. Bush in 2004 compelled Kerry to campaign intensively in many states (c) The tight race between presidential candidates John Kerry and George W. Bush in 2004 compelled the former to campaign intensively in many states
55. 36.7#2 (“The candidates”) Choose the best version: (a) The sentence is correct as is (b) In three debates, the candidates answered them thoughtfully (c)The candidates debated three times, answering all questions thoughtfully
56. 36.7#3 (“During one”) Choose the best version: (a) The sentence is correct as is (b) During one debate, Kerry told Bush that Bush had an inadequate plan of action (c) During one debate, Kerry told Bush that the latter had an inadequate plan of action
57. 36.7#4 (“After Bush’s”) Choose the best version: (a) The sentence is correct as is (b) He promised, after Bush’s election, to return money to some taxpayers (c) After the election of Bush, he promised to return money to some taxpayers
58. 36.7#5 (second sentence) (“This stuck”) Choose the best version: (a) The sentence is correct as is (b) This charge stuck throughout the campaign (c) . . . Bush accused Kerry of being “wishy-washy,” which stuck throughout the campaign
59. 36.7#6 (“With Kerry”) Choose the best version: (a) The sentence is correct as is (b) With Kerry as president, the government would work on strengthening the economy with more jobs and higher incomes (c) With Kerry as president, strengthening the economy with more jobs and higher incomes would be worked on
60. 36.7#7 (“Even after”) Choose the best version: (a) The sentence is correct as is (b) Even after all the campaigning, debating, and polling, who would win the election on Tuesday, November 2, 2004, was still left doubtful (c) Even after all the campaigning, debating, and polling, one was still left wondering who would win the election on Tuesday, November 2, 2004
[[Christine Hult and Thomas Hucklin in The New Century Handbook note that mixed uses of the pronoun it should be avoided: “The word it can function either as a pronoun or an expletive. Do not use the word both ways in the same sentence.” Not (in the discussion of saving energy by turning off an appliance) “It is important to turn it off when it is not in use”; instead: “Turning it off when it is not in use is important.”]]
[[A Dr. Prinsky tip: Pronoun reference with the pronoun it can lead to pleonasm, that is the needless repetition of the pronoun comparable to the sentence “My brother he gave me a dime” -- which should be “My brother gave me a dime.” Not: “In the annual report it says it has been a disappointing year for the company”; instead: “The annual report says it has been a disappointing year for the company.”]]
61. Choose the best version: (a) Leah read avidly about gardening, although she had never planted one herself (b) Leah read avidly about gardening, although she had never planted a garden herself
62. Choose the best version: (a) Amanda could hardly believe that the representatives from Habitat for Humanity would visit wintry Madison, Wisconsin, when it was so bad (b) Amanda could hardly believe that the representatives from Habitat for Humanity would visit wintry Madison, Wisconsin, when the weather was so bad
63. Choose the best version: (a) When Amanda met the representatives from Habitat for Humanity, the winds were howling, the visitors were hungry, and it was predicted that they would get worse (b) When Amanda met the representatives from Habitat for Humanity, the winds were howling, the visitors were hungry, and forecasts predicted worsening conditions
64. Choose the best version: (a) When an electrical fire in the office of the Speaker of the House was soon followed by another in the Senate chamber, it was clear it was a problem (b) When an electrical fire in the office of the Speaker of the House was soon followed by another in the Senate chamber, problems of building repair became clear