Avoiding Vague Language

What is a vague pronoun?

• a word that take the place of noun

• a blurry picture

• a pronoun that is confusing because it can refer to more than one person or thing

• a precisely clear pronoun

Tags

CCSS.L.3.1A

CCSS.L.6.1A

CCSS.L.6.1C

CCSS.L.6.1D

What is the vague pronoun in the following sentence: They said the snow was going to start falling at midnight.

• was

• They

• snow

• midnight

Tags

CCSS.L.3.1A

CCSS.L.1.1D

Which of the sentences below contains a vague pronoun?

• Mom and Lauren ate dinner together.

• Mom ate Lauren's dinner.

• Mom gave Lauren her dinner.

• Mom and Lauren love Mexican food.

Tags

CCSS.L.3.1A

CCSS.L.1.1D

How would you correct the below sentence to fix the vague pronoun without changing the meaning of the sentence?

Julie told Emily to make the call on her cell phone.

• Emily gave her cell phone to Julia.

• Julie gave Emily her cell phone.

• Julia called Emily.

• Julie handed her cell phone to Emily so that Emily could make the call.

Tags

CCSS.L.3.1A

CCSS.L.6.1A

CCSS.L.6.1C

CCSS.L.6.1D

Which choice best fixes the vague pronoun issue in the sentence below without changing the sentence's meaning?

The supervisors told the workers that they would get a bonus.

• The supervisors told them that they would get a bonus.

• The supervisors told the workers that the workers would get a bonus.

• The supervisors and the workers got bonuses.

• The workers got a bonus.

Tags

CCSS.L.3.1A

CCSS.L.6.1A

CCSS.L.6.1C

CCSS.L.6.1D

The musicians asked me to help put instruments back on the buses, but I can't find them. (This is vague. Who could them refer to in this sentence? - check all that apply)

• musicians

• buses

• instruments

• me

• I

Tags

CCSS.L.3.1A

CCSS.L.6.1A

CCSS.L.6.1C

CCSS.L.6.1D

Find the vague pronoun: I watched a spooky show last night with Sid and Travis. He was so scared!

• Sid

• Travis

• He

• I

Tags

CCSS.L.3.1A

CCSS.L.1.1D

Miss Havisham lives with Estella in her mansion. (This is vague. Who could "her" refer to in this sentence?)

• Miss Havisham only

• Estella only

• Either Miss Havisham or Estella

• Both Miss Havisham and Estella

Tags

CCSS.L.3.1A

CCSS.L.6.1A

CCSS.L.6.1C

CCSS.L.6.1D

Which of the following sentences contains a vague pronoun?

• We stopped at a shop but didn't see any worth buying.

• We stopped at a shop but didn't see any toys worth buying.

Tags

CCSS.L.3.1A

CCSS.L.1.1D

Which of the following sentences contains a vague pronoun?

• Mice resemble rats, but they are much bigger.

• Mice resemble rats, but rats are much bigger.

Tags

CCSS.L.3.1A

CCSS.L.1.1D