Question

If a noun is a word that names a person, place, object or idea and a pronoun is a word that takes the place of a noun - how is the noun to be understood if the writer uses pronouns?

a) The antecedent must be clearly stated and understood before replacing with a pronoun.

b) none of the choices

c)demonstrative pronouns must be used

d) indefinite pronouns are always used and understood

Answer 1

The correct answer is (a) The antecedent must be clearly stated and understood before replacing with a pronoun, to ensure clarity in pronoun reference.

Step-by-step explanation:

To ensure clarity and understanding in writing, pronouns must have a clearly stated and understood antecedent. The antecedent is the original noun that the pronoun replaces, and it typically appears earlier in the sentence or in the preceding text. 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 word 'They' is a pronoun with a clear antecedent, which is 'members'. This use of pronouns helps avoid repetition and maintains the flow of writing.

Indefinite pronouns, such as 'everyone' or 'anybody', do not have a specific antecedent and are used when referring to nonspecific entities. However, a pronoun should always match its antecedent in terms of gender and number for proper pronoun reference. A writer must establish clear antecedents before replacing them with pronouns, as indicated by option (a).