SECTION U: USAGE ISSUES

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1. Select the sentence that contains an error

English has two pronoun cases, the subjective and the objective.
The subjective case is required when the pronoun acts as the subject of a sentence.
The objective case is required when the pronoun acts as the object of a verb or a preposition.

2. Select the sentence that contains an error

When we write an appositive using a pronoun, that pronoun must be in the same case as the noun it replaces.
An appositive is a descriptive phase that has the same grammatical function as the word or phrase with which it is associated.
A pronoun appearing in an appositive is always in the subjective case.

3. Select the sentence that contains an error

Whenever you use the first person plural form of a pronoun, we or us, in conjunction with a noun, it must be in the subjective case, we.
Whenever you use we or us with a noun, choose the case according to its position in the sentence; if it is acting as a subject, use we, and if it is acting as an object, use us.
Using us together with a noun creates an awkward construction that should ideally be avoided.

4. Select the sentence that contains an error

When you are in doubt about what case to use for a pronoun employed in a comparison using than or as, complete the sentence mentally to determine that use.
When in doubt about what case to use for a pronoun employed in a comparison using than or as, always choose the subjective case.
When in doubt about what case to use for a pronoun employed in a comparison using than or as, determine whether it is functioning as a subject or an object in the sentence.

Pronouns that function as subject complements (words that follow linking verbs) and identify or describe the subject always appear in the objective case because they follow the verb.
Pronouns that function as subject complements take the same case as the subject they complement.
Pronouns that function as subject complements always take the subjective case.

Who and whom can be relative pronouns introducing clauses or interrogative pronouns introducing questions. In either instance, they take their case according to whether they are functioning as a subject or an object.
Who and whom, whether functioning as relative pronouns or interrogative pronouns, take their case according to whether they appear at the beginning or end of a sentence.
Who and whom, whether used as a relative or an interrogative pronoun, take their case according to their function in the sentence where they appear.

7. Select the sentence that contains an error

That and which, as relative pronouns, introduce adjective clauses; that is preferred for clauses occurring at the beginning of a sentence.
That is used as a relative pronoun to introduce a restrictive (or essential) adjective clause.
Which is used as a relative pronoun to introduce a non-restrictive (non-essential) adjective clause.

8. Select the sentence that contains an error

When students purchase a bus pass, they have to provide proof of their status to get the reduced rate.
When a student purchases a bus pass, he has to provide proof of his status to get the reduced rate.
When a male student purchases a bus pass, he has to provide proof of his status to get the reduced rate.

9. Select the sentence that contains an error

An absolute term such as unique, fatal, or square can be intensified by adding "more" or "most."
An absolute term cannot be intensified since it is already at its maximum state.
Sports announcers like to over-intensify by using the superlative "most" in reference to everything.

10. Select the sentence that contains an error

The passive voice is appropriate to use in referring to a situation where the person or agent responsible for an action is unknown.
The passive voice is appropriate at any time in writing and generally creates a longer and more impressive sentence.
The passive voice is appropriate when you wish to emphasize the action and not the agent of the action.

11. Select the sentence that contains an error

A split infinitive, such as to slowly climb, was once considered an error in formal writing.
If you cannot find a graceful alternative for a split infinitive, use it.
In formal writing, split infinitives are errors.

12. Select the sentence that contains an error

If we are comparing two people or things, we must use the comparative form.
If we are comparing more than two people or things, we must use the superlative form.
When we compare people or things, we should always use the superlative form.

Fill in the blank in each of the following questions

13. The term used to describe the particular form a pronoun takes in a sentence, according to its function, is __________.

case
number
gender

14. Two of the three cases for pronouns are subjective and objective. The third is ____________.

singular
possessive
masculine

15. Two candidates, Shirley-Anne and ____________, ran for the vacant student council seat.

I
me
myself

16. You have always loved driving across the empty prairies more than ____________.

I
me
myself

17. With the lottery prize now up to $15,000,000, the odds against ____________ winning it are huge.

our
us
we

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18. It seems to me that the Appeals Committee grants the appeal of ____________ it chooses, despite the logic of that appeal.

whoever
whomever
who

19. My motorcycle is the one ____________ is parked behind the Toyota pickup.

that
its
it's

20. The choir asked that ____________ picture be published in the church newsletter

their
its
it's

21. Our house, ____________ has just had a new roof put on, is going on the market Thursday.

that
it
which

22. It is hard to believe that ____________ has evolved through the centuries merely to pursue a life that is materially more comfortable.

mankind
humanity
womankind

23. Ms. Fong, the newly appointed ____________, is investigating the rights of same-sex couples to joint pension coverage.

ombudsperson
ombudsman

ombudswoman

24. We were able to get enough grouse for dinner, taking advantage of the fact ____________ come(s) out on the road before dusk to get gravel.

it
they

25. Have you heard ____________ won the hockey game last night?

who
whom
whoever

26. Three old friends-Jaswinder, Terry, and ____________ -are planning a trip to Mexico this spring.

me
I

27.Ontario has the ____________ population of the three biggest provinces.

larger
largest
large

Answer whether the following statements are true or false

28. To avoid pronoun errors, the writer must pay attention to three variables: number, gender, and case.

true
false

Answer whether the following statements are true or false

29. It's easy to know when to use I or me because me can only be used in the objective case while I can be used in either the subjective or objective case.

true
false

30. The question of whether to use we or us is resolved by knowing that we applies in the subjective case, us in the objective case.

true
false

31. Pronouns that modify gerunds always appear in the objective case.

true
false

32. Similarly, pronouns that function as subject complements (words that follow linking verbs) also always take the objective case.

true
false

33. It doesn't matter if a pronoun functions as the subject or object of an infinitive (the base form of a verb preceded by to); it must always appear in the objective case.

true
false

34. You can decide between who/whoever and whom/whomever quite simply. If it appears at the beginning of a sentence, use who/whoever; if it appears at the end of a sentence, use whom/whomever.

true
false

35. Writers often use that or which indiscriminately to introduce a dependent clause, not knowing the rule governing which one should be used in which circumstance.

true
false

36. It is only recently that we have stopped using the word "Eskimo," in recognition of its offensive nature to Inuit people.

true
false

37. The automatic use of the male form of the pronoun, he, constitutes the same form of usage error as in applying she automatically as the pronoun to replace nurse.

true
false

38. The best solution whenever you have a choice between a male and a female form of a pronoun is to include one the first time and the other the next time.

true
false

39. The comparative form of an adjective or adverb is only used to compare two persons or things.

true
false

40. You should know that the passive voice should be used for Social Sciences papers, the active voice for History papers.

true
false