6. The members of the committee says we should go ahead as planned. f. NO CHANGE g. The members of the committee say we should go ahead as planned. h. The members of the committee have say we should go ahead as planned. j. The members of the committee say we should have go ahead as planned. 7. What are the cost of these packages? a. NO CHANGE b. What cost is of these packages? c. What is the cost of these packages? d. What are these packages costing? 8. I will not tolerate lying in this house. f. NO CHANGE g. I will not tolerate to lie in this house. h. I will not to tolerate lying in this house. j. I will not tolerating lying in this house. 9. Please allow me help you. a. NO CHANGE b. Please allow me helping you. c. Please allow me to helping you. d. Please allow me to help you. 10. I always avoid saying things that I might regret. f. NO CHANGE g. I always avoid to say things that I might regret. h. I always avoid saying things that I might to regret. j. I always avoid having said things that I might regret. Answers 1. c. 2. j. 3. b. 4. f. 5. d. 6. g. 7. c. 8. f. 9. d. 10. f. – ACT ENGLISH TEST PRACTICE– 74 Pronouns Pronouns, as we noted earlier, replace nouns, thus keeping us from having to repeat names and objects over and over. But pronouns can be a bit tricky at times. This section reviews the different kinds of pronouns and the rules they follow. PERSONAL PRONOUNS Personal pronouns refer to specific people or things. They can be either singular (I ) or plural (we); they can be subjects (I ) or objects (me). SUBJECT OBJECT singular I me you you he him she her it it plural we us they them Pronoun mistakes are often made by using the subject form when you really need the object form and vice versa. Here are three guidelines to follow: ■ Always use the object pronoun in a prepositional phrase. Pronouns and nouns in prepositional phrases are always objects. The package was addressed to both my sister and me . Between you and me , I don’t think she’s very talented. ■ Always use the subject pronoun when the pronoun is the subject of the sentence. I am the man for the job. She and I are the same age. ■ Always use the subject pronoun in a than construction (comparison). When a pronoun follows than, it is usually part of a clause that omits the verb in order not to repeat unnecessarily. Patty is older than I . [than I am] I am more detail-oriented than he . [than he is] – ACT ENGLISH TEST PRACTICE– 75 INDEFINITE PRONOUNS Unlike personal pronouns, indefinite pronouns, such as anybody and everyone, do not refer to a specific per- son. The following indefinite pronouns are always singular and require singular verbs: anyone, anybody everyone, everybody no one, nobody someone, somebody either, neither each one I believe s omeone is trying to get your attention. E ver ybody has cast his or her vote. N either doctor knows what caused the rash. D o es anyone know the answer? N obody has offered a satisfactory explanation. The following indefinite pronouns are always plural: both few many several Both are happy with the terms of the agreement. Many have tried and failed. These indefinite pronouns can be singular or plural, depending upon the noun or pronoun to which they refer: all any most none some Some extra t ime is needed to complete the task. Some st udents need extra time to complete the task. None of the w indows work. None of my money is where I left it. Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement Just as subjects (both nouns and pronouns) must agree with their verbs, pronouns must also agree with their antecedents—the words they replace. For example, in the following sentence: P orcupines will stay with their mates for their entire adult lives. – ACT ENGLISH TEST PRACTICE– 76 One of the most common mistakes we make when speaking and writing is an error of pronoun- antecedent agreement. We often say sentences like the following: Does everyone have their passport? Most people make this mistake because it’s easier (shorter and faster) to say their—but it’s not correct. When the antecedent is singular, the pronouns must be singular, too: Does everyone have his or her passport? A Bad Habit 77 The word porcupines is the antecedent and is replaced by their twice in the sentence. Because porcupines is plural, their must also be plural. Indefinite pronouns can also be antecedents. Singular indefinite pronouns require singular pronouns: E veryone must have his or her ticket before boarding. Someone left his or her book on the table. N e ither of the doctors could find he r notes from the lecture. Plural indefinite pronouns, on the other hand, require plural pronouns, just as they need plural verbs: both few many several B o th of them have done the ir best work so far. M any have found their free time has all but disappeared. Only a f ew are still in their original cases. Finally, those pronouns that can be either singular or plural, depending upon the noun or pronoun to which they refer, should take the pronoun that matches their referent. If the antecedent is singular, the pro- noun and verb must also be singular. If the antecedent is plural, they must be plural: all any most none some All of the chocolate is gone. It was delicious! All of the cookies are gone. They were delicious! Most of that jewelry collection is worthless; it’s mostly fake. Most of those jewels are worthless; they’re fake. None of the information is accurate; it’s all out of date. None of the facts are accurate; they’re all out of date. Some of the money looks like counterfeits. Some of these coins look like counterfeits. POSSESSIVE P RONOUNS The possessive pronouns its, your, their, and whose are often confused with the contractions it’s (it is or it has), you’re (you are), they’re (they are), and who’s (who is). Because we use apostrophes to show possession in nouns (Ted’s car, the dog’s bone), many people make the mistake of thinking that pronouns use apostrophes for pos- session, too. But possessive pronouns do not take apostrophes. When a pronoun has an apostrophe, it always shows contraction. POSSESSIVE PRONOUN MEANING EXAMPLE its belonging to it The bird left its nest. your belonging to you Your car is blocking the driveway. their belonging to them Their tickets are right behind home plate. whose belonging to whom Whose care is blocking the driveway? CONTRACTION it’s it is It’s time to go. you’re you are You’re going to have to move your car. they’re they are They’re going to the Yankees game. who’s who is Who’s going to the game? The pronouns who, that, and which are also often confused. Here are the general guidelines for using these pronouns correctly: ■ Use who or whom when referring to people: She is the one who fixed my computer. ■ Use that when referring to things: This is the computer that is having problems. – ACT ENGLISH TEST PRACTICE– 78 ■ Use which when introducing clauses that are not essential to the information in the sentence, unless they refer to people. In that case, use who. Mark is in Toronto, which is his favorite city. Rosa, who writes for the school paper, wants to interview me for a story. Practice 11 Circle the correct form of the italicized pronouns in the following sentences. 1. You’re/Your dog is growling at me. 2. He’s/His the one that/who won the prize. 3. Someone left their/his or her lights on. 4. Does anybody know who’s/whose cell phone this is? 5. This is Ellen, which/that/who reminds me of my mother. 6. Where are your/you’re shoes? 7. Neither of the choices sound/sounds good to me. 8. Most of the stamps in the collection is/are gone. 9. He feels more strongly about it than me/I. 10. To who/whom shall I address this letter? Answers 1. Yo ur dog is growling at me. 2. He’s the one who won the prize. 3. Someone left his or her lights on. 4. Does anybody know whose cell phone this is? 5. This is Ellen, who reminds me of my mother. 6. Where are your shoes? 7. Neither of the choices sounds good to me. 8. Most of the stamps in the collection are gone. 9. He feels more strongly about it than I. 10. To whom shall I address this letter? – ACT ENGLISH TEST PRACTICE– 79 . said things that I might regret. Answers 1. c. 2. j. 3. b. 4. f. 5. d. 6. g. 7. c. 8. f. 9. d. 10. f. – ACT ENGLISH TEST PRACTICE– 74 Pronouns Pronouns, as we noted earlier, replace nouns, thus keeping. that when referring to things: This is the computer that is having problems. – ACT ENGLISH TEST PRACTICE– 78 ■ Use which when introducing clauses that are not essential to the information in. choices sounds good to me. 8. Most of the stamps in the collection are gone. 9. He feels more strongly about it than I. 10. To whom shall I address this letter? – ACT ENGLISH TEST PRACTICE– 79