GED Reasoning Through Language ArtsLanguage Conventions and UsageHard
A student is proofreading a research paper. Which sentence contains an error in pronoun-antecedent agreement?
- AAll of the students completed their assignments before the deadline.
- BThe team submitted its final report on time.
- CEach of the scientists presented their findings at the conference.
- DNeither of the proposals received its full funding.
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: C. Each of the scientists presented their findings at the conference.
Pronouns must agree in number with their antecedents. 'Each' is a singular indefinite pronoun, so it requires a singular possessive pronoun ('his' or 'her' or 'his/her' or 'its', or rephrasing) rather than the plural 'their'. Options B, C, and D correctly match singular antecedents with singular pronouns, or plural antecedents with plural pronouns.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. Correct; 'All' (referring to individual students) is plural, and 'their' is plural.
- B. Correct; 'team' (acting as a singular unit) is singular, and 'its' is singular.
- D. Correct; 'Neither' is singular, and 'its' is singular.
Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement
A pronoun must agree in number (singular/plural) and gender (masculine/feminine/neuter) with the noun or pronoun it refers to (its antecedent).
- Singular antecedents take singular pronouns.
- Plural antecedents take plural pronouns.
- Indefinite pronouns (e.g., each, every, either, neither, one, anybody) are usually singular.
- Collective nouns (e.g., team, committee) can be singular or plural depending on context.
Memory trick: Pronoun and leader, match their number, or confusion will slumber.