An answer choice with correct use of pronouns must ensure pronoun-antecedent agreement, and avoid pronoun case errors and vague pronoun references. The pronoun must clearly refer to its specific antecedent and be consistent in number and case throughout the text.
To select the answer choice that contains no pronoun reference, pronoun-antecedent agreement, or pronoun case error, it is important to understand several key concepts related to pronouns in the English language.
A pronoun is a word that takes the place of a noun or noun phrase. Its antecedent is the noun to which it refers. For proper coherency and clarity in writing, the pronoun and its antecedent must agree in number and gender. This is known as pronoun-antecedent agreement. For example, in the sentence 'All nine members of the school board voted in favor of changing the district's mascot. They explained their reasoning during the meeting.', the pronoun 'they' clearly refers to the 'members' of the school board.
Pronoun case errors involve using the incorrect form of a pronoun based on its role within a sentence. Subjective case pronouns are used when the pronoun is the subject of the verb, objective case pronouns are used when the pronoun is the object of the verb or a preposition, and possessive case pronouns show ownership.
In addition, pronoun reference issues arise when pronouns such as 'this', 'that', 'which', and 'it' vaguely refer to an idea, event, or situation instead of a specific antecedent.
To avoid these errors, ensure that the pronoun clearly refers to a specific noun and matches in number and case, consider rewriting sentences to avoid vague references, and maintain consistency throughout the text to meet conventional expectations in rhetorically effective ways.