Unclear Pronoun References (Eng Dept, Methodist University)

Which of the following sentences uses pronouns clearly?

• When Pearl Buck was forty, her novel The Good Earth won the Pulitzer Prize.

• When she was forty, Pearl Buck's novel The Good Earth won the Pulitzer prize.

Which of the following sentences uses pronouns in the clearest way?

• Buck received much critical praise and earned over $7 million, but she was very modest about it.

• Buck received much critical praise and earned over $7 million, but she was very modest about her achievements.

Choose the sentences that uses pronouns in the clearest way.

• Bill bought a Norwegian canoe because he had heard that they make the best canoes.

• Bill bought a Norwegian canoe because he had heard that Norwegians make the best canoes.

Choose the sentence that uses pronouns in the clearest way.

• Katie was an only child, and it was hard.

• Katie was an only child, and her solitary life was hard.

Which sentence is clearer in its pronoun reference?

• Jennifer's sister wondered if she were tall enough to be a model.

• Jennifer's sister wondered if Jennifer were tall enough to be a model.

Which sentence is clearer in its pronoun reference?

• Dipping the spoon into the pot of simmering soup, Jean felt the spoon slip out of her hand.

• Dipping the spoon into the pot of simmering soup, Jean felt it slip out of her hand.

Which sentence uses pronouns in a clear way?

• At a local restaurant, they provide each table with a bucket of peanuts.

• At a local restaurant, the owner provides each table with a bucket of peanuts.

Which sentence is UNCLEAR in its pronoun reference?

• Mary and Tom left their bags at the ticket counter, but then they weren't sure if their bags were safe.

• Mary and Tom left their bags at the ticket counter, but then they weren't sure if they were safe.

Which of the following nouns does the word "it" refer to in this sentence: The boat bumped the edge of the dock, but it didn't need many repairs.

• boat

• "it" is an unclear pronoun reference

• dock

Which noun does the word "they" refer to in this sentence: The supervisors told the workers that they would receive the bonus.

• the supervisors

• "they" is an unclear pronoun reference

• the workers