chomp!

chomp!

This presentation is
brought to you by
Grammar Bytes!,
©2015 by Robin L.
Simmons.
 Pronoun
Pronoun Reference
Reference

Can I say Or do I have

just she? to use
Esmerelda?
A pronoun reference item on
an objective test might
Thislook
presentation
covers identifying
like this . . . unclear pronoun
reference and
selecting the
appropriate
correction.
 Sample
Sample Item
Item

Bryan told his

his lab
lab partner
partner Craig
Craig that
that he
he
Craig
A BB
needed safety goggles for thethe experiment.
experiment.
C
IsHe
Is his
He
hisis,, he
is he
an
an,, or
or
A.their ambiguous
ambiguousthe
the
B.Craig
Craig experiment
experiment
pronoun,
pronoun, which
which
option
option BB corrects.
aa problem?
problem?
corrects.
C.it
D.No change is necessary.
Two
Two or
or More
More People,
People, Same
Same
Gender
Gender

Martin complained to Brad,that Martin

Brad
“I do
“Youhe did
not notdid
do have
not
did
not right
the
havehave
the answers
the right
right answers
to
answers
theto
algebra
the
to algebra
the algebra
problems.”

If you don’t like the

Is Martin complaining
repetition of the
about his own lack of
names, add a
math skill or Brad’s?
quotation.
 Ambiguous They
Ambiguous They

Our garden has not attracted many bees

Scientists
this year. They say thatsay
thesethatinsects
these are
disappearing
insects all over the all
are disappearing country.
over the
country.

They who
They who?? Psychics
Psychics??
Astrologers
Astrologers?? Or
Or aa
respectable
respectable source
source like
like
entomologists
entomologists?? The bees
The bees say!
say!
That’s who
That’s who!!
 Ambiguous It
Ambiguous It

Tom
It saysTerry, Channel
on the news 9’scan
that we chief
expect rain
meteorologist,
later today. says that we can expect
rain later today.

What says? A
newscaster? The
weatherman?
Doppler radar?
 Quick
Quick Test
Test

Directions: In the items that follow, choose

the option that corrects an error in the
underlined portion(s). If no error exists, choose
“No change is necessary.”

Your turn!
Let’s see
what you
can do.
 Item
Item 1
1

We decided to swim in the hotel pool since itit

says at
says at the
thelifeguard
lifeguardstand
stand
that
that
sharks
sharks
are
are
feeding near shore.

A.it states at the lifeguard stand

B.they say at the lifeguard stand
C.the
the lifeguard
lifeguardsays
says
D.No change is necessary.
 Item
Item 2
2
The doctor
doctortold
toldVeronica
Veronicathat
thatshe
shehad
Veronica
had had
A B B
headaches because of the high stress level at the

office. An aspirin would help the

the headaches
headachesaalittle,
little,
C
but a vacation would relieve the stress best.

A.Doctor Lee
B.Veronica
Veronica
C.it
D.No change is necessary.
 Don’t
assume all
doctors are
male!
 Item
Item 3
3

Freddie is unhappy with the unhealthy cafeteria

choices. They
They are
are serving
servingmore
morefried
friedfoods
foodsand
and
fewer fruits and vegetables.

A.
A.The
The chefs
chefsare
areserving
serving
B.It is
C.They prepare
D.No change is necessary.
 Item
Item 4
4

Neighbors
They
They say
say that
that
saythe
the
that
old
oldthe
house
house
old house
on
on Mayfair
Mayfair
on Mayfair
is
is is
A A
haunted, but Caroline doesn’t believe the
the stories.
stories.
B
She is a physics major who has no use for ghosts.
ghosts.
C

A.
A.Neighbors
Neighbors
B.it
C.them
D.No change is necessary.
 Item
Item 5
5
Leonardo called us over and pointed at the
computer screen. ItIt claimed
claimedatatthe
thewebsite
websitethat
that
our favorite restaurant serves squirrel!

A.At the website, it claimed

B.The
The website
websiteclaimed
claimed
C.The website, it claimed
D.No change is necessary.
 Item
Item 6
6
Mom told Aunt Julia that she
she didn’t
Mom didn’t
didn’traise
raise
raiseher
her
herchildren
children
children
A
right. The girls didn’t chew with their
their mouths
mouthsclosed,
closed,
B
and the boys burped without excusing themselves
themselves. .
C

A.
A.Mom
Mom
B.them
C.it
D.No change is necessary.
 Item
Item 7
7

Mom told Aunt Julia

Julia that
thatshe
sheneeded
neededa alion
lion
tamer to
tamer toget
getthe
thechildren
children under
under
control.
control.

A.Julia, “that she needed … control.”

B.Julia,
Julia,“I“Ineed
need……control.”
control.”
C.Julia, You need … control.
D.No change is necessary.
 Item
Item 8
8

NASA just landed another rover rover on

on Mars.
Mars.
A
They say
They
Scientists
say ifif say
water
water
if water
is
is evident,
evident,
is evident,
the
the government
government
the government
B B C C
will begin colonization plans.

A.one
B.Scientists
Scientists
C.it
D.No change is necessary.
 Item
Item 9
9

Put that back on the shelf! The

The label
label says
saysthat
that
high fructose corn syrup and partially
hydrogenated oils are ingredients.

A.It says on the label

B.They claim on the label
C.On the label it says
D.No change
changeisisnecessary.
necessary.
 Item
Item 10
10
Maria explained to Diane that her
her sauce
Sara’s
sauce
sauce
was
waswas
too
too too
AA
salty and too garlicky and would give everyone
everyone
B
heartburn. .
heartburn
C

A.
A.Sara’s
Sara’s
B.him
C.it
D.No change is necessary.
 Grammar Bytes!
provides additional
handouts and exercises on
pronoun reference.
Go to
chomp!
chompchomp.com!
chomp!
The End.