PSAT Writing : Correcting Pronoun Errors: Incorrect Usage

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for PSAT Writing

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Example Questions

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Example Question #162 :Pronoun Usage Errors

She was alwayshard on her, battling with low self-esteem since she was a child.

Possible Answers:

hard in herself

hard to her

hard with her

hard on herself

hard on her

Correct answer:

hard on herself

Explanation:

The use of the pronoun "her" in the underlined phrase is confusing, as it is not clear whether this is a new person in the sentence or refers back to the subject. To be more clear, a reflexive pronoun must be used. The correct answer is "hard on herself."

Example Question #4 :Correcting Pronoun Errors: Incorrect Usage

The materials must be brought回到我自己as soon as you are done with them.

Possible Answers:

back from me

back from myself

back to me

back toward myself

回到我自己

Correct answer:

back to me

Explanation:

The only issue in the sentence as it is written is the use of "myself," a reflexive pronoun, when there is no other first person pronoun to which it can refer back. The only answer choice which both appropriately uses "me," and keeps the same meaning is "back to me."

Example Question #32 :Correcting Pronoun Errors

The information was onlygiven to myselfafter the rest of the students had seen it all.

Possible Answers:

given to me

gave to myself

giving to me

giving to myself

given to myself

Correct answer:

given to me

Explanation:

The only issue with the sentence is its use of the reflexive pronoun "myself," despite not previously using a first person pronoun. All reflexive pronouns need an antecedent, or previous pronoun in the same person, to be used correctly, or it should be changed to the simple pronoun. As this is the only problem with the sentence, "given to me" is the correct answer choice.

Example Question #4 :Correcting Pronoun Errors: Incorrect Usage

Those supplies all need to be broughtdirectly to myself.

Possible Answers:

directly to myself.

direct to myself.

directly to me.

directly for myself.

directly from myself.

Correct answer:

directly to me.

Explanation:

The only issue with the sentence is the use of the reflexive pronoun "myself" without a previous use of the first person pronoun. All reflexive pronouns need to refer back to an earlier use of the pronoun in the sentence. The solution to this issue is to change "myself" to the simple "me," making "directly to me" the correct answer choice.

Example Question #1 :Correcting Word Usage Errors

The information needs to bereviewed by yourselfbefore it is sent out.

Possible Answers:

reviewing by your

reviewed by yourself

reviewed by you

reviewing by yourself

reviews by yourself

Correct answer:

reviewed by you

Explanation:

The use of the reflexive pronoun "yourself" is incorrect in this sentence, as it has no previous "you" to refer back to. "Yourself" needs to simply be replaced by "you," making "reviewed by you" the correct answer choice.

Example Question #6 :Correcting Pronoun Errors: Incorrect Usage

The supplies were immediatelybrought to myselfas soon as they were purchased.

Possible Answers:

brought to me

being brought to myself

brought to myself

bringing to myself

bringing to me

Correct answer:

brought to me

Explanation:

The use of "myself" in the sentence is incorrect. "Myself" is a reflexive pronoun, meaning it needs an earlier first person pronoun to refer back to. The appropriate word in this situation is just "me," and that is the only issue with the sentence; therefore, "brought to me" is the correct answer.

Example Question #1 :Correcting Pronoun Errors: Incorrect Usage

Unlike myself,he has never gotten a speeding ticket on the highway.

Possible Answers:

Unlike me,

Unto like myself,

Unlikely myself,

Unlike myself,

Unlike I,

Correct answer:

Unlike me,

Explanation:

The reflexive pronoun "myself" is absolutely incorrect in this sentence, as there is no regular first person pronoun to which it can refer. "Myself" needs to be changed to the subjective pronoun "me," making "Unlike me" the correct answer choice.

Example Question #21 :Improving Sentences

Most of the time, he brings the newspaperto myself first, then passes it around the office.

Possible Answers:

to myself first

to my own self first

to myself firstly

from myself first

to me first

Correct answer:

to me first

Explanation:

The use of the reflexive pronoun "myself" is absolutely wrong in this sentence, as there is no previous use of the first person pronoun for it to refer to. The pronoun must be changed to the simple first person objective form, "me." As this is the only issue in the sentence, the correct answer choice is "to me first."

Example Question #2 :Correcting Pronoun Errors: Incorrect Usage

The reports all need to be seenby myselfbefore they are sent out.

Possible Answers:

by myself

as myself

for myself

to myself

by me

Correct answer:

by me

Explanation:

The use of "myself" in the sentence is incorrect, as it is a reflexive pronoun and needs a previous usage of the regular pronoun first. As there is none, the pronoun needs to be changed to the regular pronoun "me." This makes "by me" the correct answer choice.

Example Question #21 :Improving Sentences

I have never questionedthe innate abilities of me.

Possible Answers:

the innate ability of me.

the innate abilities for me.

the innate abilities to me.

the innate abilities of me.

the innate abilities of myself.

Correct answer:

the innate abilities of myself.

Explanation:

The use of me, although technically correct as the objective form, is awkward in this sentence after the previous use of "I" as the subject. By placing the reflexive pronoun "myself" in the sentence, the pronoun now appropriately refers back to the subject of the sentence. The correct answer choice is "the innate abilities of myself."

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