Question

Which of the following is the antecedent for the pronoun them in the sentence below?

Penelope and her maids walked towards the suitors and gave them the bow.
A. Penelope
B. her maids
C. the suitors

Answer 1

In the sentence provided, (Option C) 'the suitors' is the antecedent for the pronoun 'them', as they are the individuals receiving the bow from Penelope and her maids.

Step-by-step explanation:

The antecedent for the pronoun 'them' in the sentence 'Penelope and her maids walked towards the suitors and gave them the bow' is (Option C). the suitors. An antecedent is a word that is replaced by a pronoun later in a sentence. In this case, 'them' refers to the suitors, because it is the suitors to whom Penelope and her maids gave the bow. Hence, 'the suitors' is the noun phrase that the pronoun 'them' replaces.

Answer 2

The antecedent for "them" in this sentence is "the suitors", as Penelope and her maids are the subject of the sentence and they are the ones who gave the suitors (them) the bow.