Pronoun Errors - Part 2/2

This section of our course will review those errors most commonly presented in the CPE and teach you what to look for. We will not review here the basic rules of grammar, such as the formation and use of the different tenses and the passive voice, the subjective and objective cases of pronouns, the position of adjectives and adverbs, and the like. We assume that a candidate for the CPE is familiar with basic grammar, and we will concentrate on error recognition based on that knowledge.

4. Errors of possessive pronoun agreement

Check if possessive pronouns agree in person and number.

INCORRECT

If anyone calls, take their name.

CORRECT

If anyone calls, take his name.

INCORRECT

Those of us who care should write to their manager.

CORRECT

Those of us who care should write to our manager.

INCORRECT

Some of you will have to come in their own cars.

CORRECT

Some of you will have to come in your own cars.

5. Errors in pronouns after the verb TO BE

TO BE is an intransitive verb and will always be followed by a subject pronoun.

INCORRECT

It must have been her at the door.

CORRECT

It must have been she at the door.

INCORRECT

I wish I were him!

CORRECT

I wish I were he!

INCORRECT

He didn't know that it was me who did it.

CORRECT

He didn't know that it was I who did it.

6. Errors in position of relative pronouns

A relative pronoun refers to the word preceding it. If the meaning is unclear, the pronoun is in the wrong position.

INCORRECT: He could park right in front of the door, which was very convenient.

Since it was not the door which was convenient, the "which" is illogical in this position. In order to correct the sentence, it is necessary to rewrite it completely:

CORRECT: His being allowed to park right in front of the door was very convenient.

INCORRECT

The traffic was very heavy, which made me late.

CORRECT

I was late because of the heavy traffic.

or

CORRECT

The heavy traffic made me late.

7. Errors in parallelism of impersonal pronouns

In forms using impersonal pronouns, use either "one ... one's" or "you ... your".

INCORRECT

One should take your duties seriously.

CORRECT

One should take one's duties seriously.

or

CORRECT

You should take your duties seriously.

INCORRECT

One should have their teeth checked regularly.

CORRECT

One should have one's teeth checked regularly.

or

CORRECT

You should have your teeth checked regularly.