Why it matters on the HSPT
Pronoun errors are the other half of the usage items, alongside subject-verb agreement, and they also drive composition questions that ask which sentence is clearest. The test plants three kinds: the wrong case, as in me and him went; the wrong number, as in each student turned in their essay; and the unclear reference, where a sentence has two people and a pronoun that could mean either. All three sound natural in conversation, which is why they are on the test.
The rules
Subject pronouns do the action: I, you, he, she, it, we, they. Object pronouns receive it or follow a preposition: me, you, him, her, it, us, them. She called him. He waited for us.
The drop-the-other-person test. When a pronoun is paired with a name, take the name away and the right form is obvious. Jordan and I went, because I went. Between you and me, because between me. The test's favorite error is me and my friend as a subject, and the second favorite is and I after a preposition, as in a gift for my brother and I, which should be me.
After than or as. Finish the comparison in your head. She is taller than I, because she is taller than I am. Nobody works harder than he, because he does. The test accepts the formal form.
Agreement in number. A pronoun matches the noun it stands for. Each, everyone, anybody, nobody, either, and neither are singular, so the pronoun that refers back is singular: each of the boys brought his glove. Both, few, many, and several are plural. A pronoun for a company or a team as a unit is it.
Agreement in person. Do not switch from one person to another mid-sentence. If a student studies, he or she will improve, not you will improve.
Who and whom. Who is a subject, whom is an object. Substitute he or him: who is coming, because he is coming; whom did you see, because you saw him. Whose is the possessive; who's is who is.
Clear reference. A pronoun must point to exactly one noun. When Maya met Lena, she was late is unclear because she could be either. Fix by repeating the name. Also avoid this and it standing for a whole idea with no noun: the roof leaked, which upset everyone, is fine only if which clearly means the leak.
Reflexives. Myself, yourself, himself, herself, and themselves refer back to the subject: she taught herself. They are not fancy substitutes for me or I. Give the form to Ana or me, not Ana or myself. There is no such word as hisself or theirselves.
Worked examples
Example 1
Which sentence contains an error in usage?
A. Marcus and I finished the puzzle.
B. The teacher gave the prize to Lena and I.
C. Between you and me, the movie was too long.
D. No mistakes.
- A.A
- B.B
- C.C
- D.D
Show answer
Answer: B: B
Drop Lena and the sentence reads the teacher gave the prize to I, which is wrong; the object form is me. Sentence A is correct because I finished. Sentence C correctly uses me after the preposition between.
Example 2
Which sentence contains an error in usage?
A. Each of the players must bring their own water.
B. Both of the girls finished their essays.
C. The company moved its office downtown.
D. No mistakes.
- A.A
- B.B
- C.C
- D.D
Show answer
Answer: A: A
Each is singular, so the pronoun must be his or her, not their. Sentence B is correct because both is plural. Sentence C correctly treats the company as a single unit with its.
Example 3
Which sentence contains an error in usage?
A. Who left the door open?
B. Whom should I thank for the gift?
C. She is the one who I trust most.
D. No mistakes.
- A.A
- B.B
- C.C
- D.D
Show answer
Answer: C: C
In sentence C the pronoun is the object of trust, since I trust her, so it must be whom. Sentence A is a subject, and sentence B is the object of thank, both correct.
Example 4
Which sentence contains an error in usage?
A. Nobody can run faster than she.
B. My cousin built the shed hisself.
C. We taught ourselves to juggle.
D. No mistakes.
- A.A
- B.B
- C.C
- D.D
Show answer
Answer: B: B
Hisself is not a word; the reflexive is himself. Sentence A is correct because the comparison finishes as faster than she can. Sentence C uses a reflexive that refers back to the subject, correct.
Example 5
Which sentence contains an error in usage?
A. Me and Tara are going to the game.
B. The coach picked Tara and me for the relay.
C. Tara and I practiced after school.
D. No mistakes.
- A.A
- B.B
- C.C
- D.D
Show answer
Answer: A: A
The subject needs the subject form: Tara and I are going. Sentence B correctly uses me as the object of picked, and sentence C correctly uses I as a subject.
Example 6
Which sentence is clearest?
A. When Carlos called Nate, he was already asleep.
B. When Carlos called Nate, Nate was already asleep.
C. Carlos called Nate, and he was asleep.
D. He was asleep when Carlos called Nate.
- A.A
- B.B
- C.C
- D.D
Show answer
Answer: B: B
Only sentence B tells you who was asleep. In the others, he could refer to either boy. Repeating the name is the standard fix for an unclear pronoun.
Example 7
Which sentence contains an error in usage?
A. If a student wants to join, they should see Mr. Cole.
B. If students want to join, they should see Mr. Cole.
C. A student who wants to join should see Mr. Cole.
D. No mistakes.
- A.A
- B.B
- C.C
- D.D
Show answer
Answer: A: A
A student is singular, so they does not match; the formal fix is he or she, or the rewrite in sentence C. Sentence B makes the noun plural so they agrees, which is correct.
Common mistakes
- Choosing the pronoun by how the pair sounds. Drop the other person and listen to the pronoun alone.
- Using I after a preposition. To, for, with, and between take me.
- Using their for a singular word. Each, everyone, and nobody are singular on the test.
- Using myself as a polite me. Reflexives only refer back to the subject.
- Leaving a pronoun that could mean two people. Repeat the name.
Practice
Pronoun rules decide a large share of usage and grammar items and the clarity questions in composition. The subject-verb agreement lesson covers the singular and plural words this page shares.