SAT Writing : Identifying Pronoun Errors: Inconsistent Usage

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for SAT Writing

varsity tutors app store varsity tutors android store varsity tutors amazon store varsity tutors ibooks store

Example Questions

Example Question #81 :Identifying Pronoun Errors

Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.

When one's eyesgrow heavywith sleep,it'simportant foryouto find a pillowquickly.

Possible Answers:

grow heavy

you

it's

quickly

No error

Correct answer:

you

Explanation:

"You" does not agree with "one's." When using "one" as a pronoun to speak about an assumed general person, remember not to lapse into using the pronoun "you."

Example Question #82 :Identifying Pronoun Errors

Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.

Onemust understandthat even if it seems likeyourlifewill never beaffected, an alien abductioncould happen to anyone.No error

Possible Answers:

could happen to anyone

No error

will never be

must understand

your

Correct answer:

your

Explanation:

This sentence uses “one” and “you” interchangeably. These should stay consistent. The corrected sentence reads, "One must understand that even if it seems like one’s life will never be affected, an alien abduction could happen to anyone."

Example Question #83 :Identifying Pronoun Errors

Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.

Whendeciding what kind of car to buy,youmust consider many different aspectsof variousvehicles, including milage, size, cost, andmany otherimportant details which might affect one's decision.No error

Possible Answers:

of various vehicles

No error

many other

When

you

Correct answer:

you

Explanation:

"One" should be used in place of "you" in this sentence. When a setence is referring to a person nonspecifically in reference to an action, "one" should be used because "you" is a more direct pronoun used for talking directly to someone. Plus, "one" is used later in the sentence, and it is not correct to switch to using "one" in place of "you" (or vice-versa) in mid-sentence. So, "you" contains the error.

Example Question #84 :Identifying Pronoun Errors

Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.

一个lthough youhavethe highest grade in the class,oneshould仍在研究for the final exam.No error

Possible Answers:

one

have

should

for the final exam

No error

Correct answer:

one

Explanation:

The pronouns in a sentence must agree. If you use "you" to refer to one person, you cannot use "one" to refer to the same person in the same sentence.

Example Question #85 :Identifying Pronoun Errors

Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.

Wheneveryou are about toundertakesome new task,oneshould consider whetheror notthere is time to complete it.No error

Possible Answers:

or not

one

undertake

No error

Whenever

Correct answer:

one

Explanation:

在这个句子中,通用/客观的代词are used to give general advice to anyone rather than some person in particular. Both "you" and "one" are considered appropriate impersonal pronouns, but they must be used consistently for a sentence to be grammatically correct. In the above sentence, either the instance of "you" should be changed to "one" or the instance of "one" should be changed to "you," but only "one" is underlined, so that is the only correct answer.

Example Question #81 :Identifying Pronoun Errors

Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.

Billy the cat used to be a tiny kittenthat his owners could hold in one hand,buthehad grown huge and rotundas it matured,and now his owners were barely able to pick him up at all.No error

Possible Answers:

but

as it matured

he had grown huge and rotund

that his owners could hold in one hand

No error

Correct answer:

as it matured

Explanation:

This sentence's error occurs in the phrase "as it matured." Since Billy the cat is referred to as "he" in the rest of the sentence, it doesn't make sense to suddenly refer to him as "it" in this phrase. Changing "it" to "he" would correct the sentence's error.

Example Question #87 :Identifying Pronoun Errors

Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.

When oneloses a friendor family member,they shouldseek outothers whohave experiencedsimilar losses.No error

Possible Answers:

they should

No error

have experienced

others who

loses a friend

Correct answer:

they should

Explanation:

Because the singular pronoun "one" is used to describe the subject at the beginning of the sentence, the plural pronoun "they" cannot be used to describe the same subject. Therefore, in order for the sentence to be correct, "they should," would have to be replaced with "one should."

Example Question #93 :Identifying Word Usage Errors

Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.

The couches, carpets, and wallpaper in her houseareeach an alarming shade of pink; oneoften feelsas if one has walked into a palace made of cotton candywhen you step in the door.No error

Possible Answers:

often feels

The couches, carpets, and wallpaper in her house

are

when you step in the door

each an alarming shade of pink

Correct answer:

when you step in the door

Explanation:

The error in this sentence has to do with using both "one" and "you" as pronouns in a single sentence. Once you being using one of these pronouns in a sentence, you should stick with it and not switch to using the other one in mid-sentence. This sentence's latter half begins with "one" and uses the phrase "as if one has walked," but near the end, it switches to using "you" when it says "when you step in the door." To correct this sentence's error, "when you step in the door" should be changed to "when one steps in the door."

Example Question #101 :Identifying Word Usage Errors

Select the underlined portion of the sentence below that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.

One mustdo whatone can foryourcountry;it's incredibly重要的。NO ERROR

Possible Answers:

do what

NO ERROR

重要的。

your

country;

Correct answer:

your

Explanation:

在句子的第一部分,作者开始ns using the pronoun "one." This usage should be kept consistent throughout the sentence, so the introduction of "your" is erroneous and should be corrected.

Example Question #102 :Identifying Word Usage Errors

Select the underlined portion of the sentence below that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.

You must beconsistentinyouractions, becausethe peoplewill notrespect ambivalent leadership.NO ERROR

Possible Answers:

will not

consistent

actions, because

your

NO ERROR

Correct answer:

NO ERROR

Explanation:

In the sentence above, "you" is used, as is "your." This is consistent usage of the same pronoun, and the sentence is correct as it is written.

Learning Tools by Varsity Tutors