Exercise 4: Noun-Pronoun Agreement
Choose the appropriate word in the sentences.
Question 1
Mr. Banks and Ms. Cutler are selling (his/her/their) stock in the construction company.
his
Incorrect.
"Their" is correct. The noun is plural (two people-- Mr.Banks and Ms. Cutler), so it requires the plural pronoun "their."
"Mr. Banks and Ms. Cutler are selling their stock in the construction company."
her
Incorrect.
"Their" is correct. The noun is plural (two people-- Mr.Banks and Ms. Cutler), so it requires the plural pronoun "their."
"Mr. Banks and Ms. Cutler are selling their stock in the construction company."
their
Correct.
"Their" is correct. The noun is plural (two people-- Mr.Banks and Ms. Cutler), so it requires the plural pronoun "their."
"Mr. Banks and Ms. Cutler are selling their stock in the construction company."
Question 2
Neither my mother nor yours would give us (her/their) permission to go cross country on a motorcycle.
her
Correct.
"Her" is correct; "neither" is a "trick singular." Although there are two peple here, the noun functions as a singular noun because of the trick-singular word "neither."?
Neither my mother nor yours would give us (her/their) permission to go cross country on a motorcycle.
their
Incorrect.
"Her" is correct; "neither" is a "trick singular." Although there are two peple here, the noun functions as a singular noun because of the trick-singular word "neither."?
Neither my mother nor yours would give us (her/their) permission to go cross country on a motorcycle.
Question 3
Jane Roberts is my friend and mentor; (she/they) answers all my questions.
she
Correct.
"She" is correct, because it is a singular, feminine pronoun that takes the place of the singular, feminine noun "Jane Roberts." Note that you also need to change "answer" to "answers" in order to have the verb agree with the singular noun.
"Jane Roberts is my friend and mentor; she answers all my questions."
they
Incorrect.
"She" is correct, because it is a singular, feminine pronoun that takes the place of the singular, feminine noun "Jane Roberts." Note that you also need to change "answer" to "answers" in order to have the verb agree with the singular noun.
"Jane Roberts is my friend and mentor; she answers all my questions."
Question 4
I wrote the letter (ourselves/myself/yourself).
ourselves
Incorrect.
"Myself" is correct, because the subject is first person and singular.
"I wrote the letter myself."
myself
Correct.
"Myself" is correct, because the subject is first person and singular.
"I wrote the letter myself."
yourself
Incorrect.
"Myself" is correct, because the subject is first person and singular.
"I wrote the letter myself."
Question 5
When I came into the apartment Sal was singing "I'm going to sit right down and write (myself/herself/yourself) a letter."
myself
Correct.
"Myself" is correct, because the subject is first person and singular.
"When I came into the apartment Sal was singing "I'm going to sit right down and write myself a letter."
herself
Incorrect.
"Myself" is correct, because the subject is first person and singular.
"When I came into the apartment Sal was singing "I'm going to sit right down and write myself a letter."
yourself
Incorrect.
"Myself" is correct, because the subject is first person and singular.
"When I came into the apartment Sal was singing "I'm going to sit right down and write myself a letter."
