English III: Skill Review (Tricky Antecedents)

English III Skill Review

Pronoun Agreement: Tricky Antecedents

Poll

Do you understand how to identify correct pronouns based on their antecedents?

• Yes, completely.

• Somewhat

• No, but I understand small parts

• Not at all

Problem Nouns

• Collective nouns can be singular or plural depending on usage.

Let's practice with a few common collective nouns.

Multiple Choice

Every afternoon the baseball team follow(s) ______ coach out to the hot field for practice.

• its

• their

Multiple Choice

The jury agrees that the prosecutors did not provide enough evidence, so ________________ verdict is not guilty.

• its

• their

Multiple Choice

After the three-hour practice under the brutal sun, the team shower, change into ________ street clothes, and head to __________ air-conditioned homes.

• its/its

• their/their

More Tricky Nouns

Plural form subjects with a singular meaning take a singular referent.  (news, measles, mumps, physics, etc)

Multiple Choice

The mumps was prevalent in the 1960's; _____ affected many people throughout the United States.

• it

• they

Multiple Choice

The news has lost much of ______ sting two days later.

• its

• their

Multiple Choice

The Phillippines lost the 1915 war for independence; _____ became a province instead.

• they

• it

Poll

Rate your understanding of collective nouns and tricky nouns after this lesson:

1 (lowest) to 5 (highest)

• 1

• 2

• 3

• 4

• 5