Examkin

Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement

50 questions

All types50Multiple choice26Fill in the blank24
Question 21Question →

In the sentence below, a pronoun is missing. Which pronoun correctly completes the sentence to ensure proper pronoun-antecedent agreement?

Fill in the blanks below

Although the association of pediatricians initially hesitated to endorse the new treatment guidelines, eventually voted to publish the recommendations.
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Answer

it
The correct pronoun is 'it' because the antecedent is the singular collective noun 'association'. A singular neuter noun requires the singular neuter pronoun 'it' when acting as the subject of the clause.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the antecedent that the missing pronoun replaces.
The antecedent is the singular collective noun 'association' (modified by the prepositional phrase 'of pediatricians').
To ensure correct pronoun-antecedent agreement, the true noun that is being replaced must be identified.
2
Determine the number and gender of the antecedent.
The noun 'association' is singular and neuter.
Pronouns must match their antecedents in grammatical number (singular or plural) and gender.
3
Select the matching subjective pronoun to fill the blank.
The pronoun 'it' is singular and neuter, and serves as the subject of the clause.
The pronoun 'it' aligns with the singular collective noun 'association' and functions grammatically as the subject.

Key Concept

Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement with Collective Nouns
Question 22Question →

A pronoun is missing from the sentence below. Which pronoun correctly completes the sentence to ensure proper pronoun-antecedent agreement?

Fill in the blanks below

Neither the main thrusters nor the auxiliary engine has lost power source during the simulated launch.
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Answer

The correct pronoun to fill the blank is 'its'.
The correct pronoun is 'its' because it agrees in number (singular) and gender (neuter) with the closer antecedent, 'auxiliary engine'. Under standard English conventions, when singular and plural antecedents are joined by 'neither... nor', the pronoun agrees with the closer antecedent.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the antecedents joined by the correlative conjunctions 'neither... nor'.
The two antecedents are 'the main thrusters' (plural) and 'the auxiliary engine' (singular).
This step determines the nouns that could potentially determine the pronoun's number.
2
Apply the proximity rule for pronoun-antecedent agreement with correlative conjunctions.
The pronoun must agree in number and gender with the closer antecedent, which is 'the auxiliary engine'.
When compound antecedents are joined by 'or' or 'nor', the pronoun agrees with the noun closest to it.
3
Determine the correct possessive pronoun for the singular, inanimate noun 'engine'.
The singular possessive pronoun is 'its'.
The pronoun must be singular to match 'engine' and possessive to modify 'power source'.

Key Concept

Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement with Correlative Conjunctions
Question 23Question →

The local committee of master gardeners decided to publish their annual report on urban composting.

Which of the following choices is the best replacement for the underlined word?

Show answer & explanation

Answer: its

Answer

its
The antecedent is the collective noun 'committee'. Because the committee acts as a single, unified group, it is treated as a singular noun. Therefore, it requires the singular possessive pronoun 'its' to agree with it.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the antecedent of the underlined pronoun.
The antecedent is the collective noun 'committee'.
Pronoun-antecedent agreement requires locating the specific noun to which the pronoun refers.
2
Determine the number of the antecedent in this context.
The collective noun 'committee' refers to a single group acting in unison, making it singular.
Establishing the singular or plural status of the antecedent dictates the correct form of the pronoun.
3
Select the grammatically correct singular possessive pronoun.
The pronoun 'its' is singular and shows possession of the annual report.
Only a singular possessive pronoun establishes proper agreement and meaning in this sentence.

Key Concept

Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement
Estimated Time:45s
Question 24Question →

During the late Renaissance, a guild of master weavers in Florence guarded the secrets of silk production so fiercely that their monopoly on the trade remained unchallenged for over a century.

Which of the following choices best maintains pronoun-antecedent agreement in the sentence?

Show answer & explanation

Answer: its

Answer

The correct answer is the singular possessive pronoun 'its', which agrees with the singular collective noun 'guild'.
The correct option is the singular possessive pronoun 'its' because it correctly agrees in number with the singular collective noun antecedent 'guild'. The plural noun 'weavers' is part of an intervening prepositional phrase and does not act as the antecedent.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the pronoun being tested and locate its antecedent in the sentence.
The pronoun is the possessive pronoun 'their', and its antecedent is the collective noun 'guild'.
To ensure proper pronoun-antecedent agreement, we must find the noun that the pronoun replaced.
2
Determine the grammatical number (singular or plural) of the antecedent.
The collective noun 'guild' is singular, even though it is followed by the intervening prepositional phrase 'of master weavers'.
Intervening prepositional phrases containing plural nouns do not change the singular nature of the collective noun antecedent.
3
Select the correct singular possessive pronoun that matches the antecedent and fits the context.
The singular possessive pronoun 'its' is the correct choice, whereas 'it's' is a contraction and 'its'' is incorrect punctuation.
The possessive pronoun 'its' correctly agrees with the singular noun 'guild' and shows possession of the monopoly.

Key Concept

Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement
Question 25Question →

The coalition of renewable energy developers, which lobbying groups had pressured to endorse the municipal sustainability plan, finalized their proposal before the legislative deadline.

Which of the following choices, if substituted for the underlined portion, makes the sentence grammatically correct?

Show answer & explanation

Answer: its

Answer

its
The correct answer is the singular possessive pronoun 'its'. The antecedent of the pronoun is 'coalition,' which is a singular collective noun. Although the plural phrase 'of renewable energy developers' and the relative clause intervene, the pronoun must agree with the singular noun 'coalition.' Therefore, the singular possessive pronoun 'its' is grammatically correct.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the antecedent that the underlined possessive pronoun refers to.
The antecedent is the collective noun 'coalition'.
To ensure proper pronoun-antecedent agreement, we must first locate the noun that the pronoun replaces or refers to.
2
Determine the grammatical number of the antecedent.
The noun 'coalition' is singular, despite being followed by the plural prepositional phrase 'of renewable energy developers'.
Agreement must be made with the head noun of the subject phrase ('coalition'), which is singular.
3
Select the possessive pronoun that matches the singular number of the antecedent.
The singular possessive pronoun is 'its'.
A singular antecedent requires a singular possessive pronoun to maintain grammatical agreement.

Key Concept

Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement
Question 26Question →

The sentence below has a missing pronoun. Which pronoun correctly completes the sentence to ensure proper pronoun-antecedent agreement?

Fill in the blanks below

Both the project manager and the lead designer presented findings to the executive board.
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Answer

their
The compound antecedent 'Both the project manager and the lead designer' is plural, requiring the plural possessive pronoun 'their' to achieve correct agreement.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the antecedent of the missing pronoun in the sentence.
The antecedent is the compound subject 'Both the project manager and the lead designer'.
The pronoun must agree with this antecedent in number, person, and gender.
2
Determine the number of the compound antecedent.
Two singular nouns joined by 'and' form a plural compound antecedent.
A compound subject joined by 'and' is grammatically plural.
3
Select the correct pronoun that matches the plural antecedent.
The plural possessive pronoun 'their' is correct.
Singular possessive pronouns like 'his', 'her', or 'its' do not agree with a plural antecedent.

Key Concept

A compound antecedent joined by 'and' is plural and requires a plural pronoun for agreement.
Estimated Time:45s
Question 27Question →

Which pronoun correctly completes the sentence below to ensure proper pronoun-antecedent agreement?

Fill in the blanks below

Each of the candidate countries, in order to comply with the new environmental treaty, must submit national carbon emissions report by the end of the fiscal year.
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Answer

its
The correct pronoun is 'its'. Under standard written English rules, the indefinite pronoun 'Each' is singular and requires a singular pronoun for agreement. The plural noun 'countries' in the prepositional phrase 'of the candidate countries' does not change the singular nature of the subject. Because countries are non-human entities, the singular, gender-neutral possessive pronoun 'its' is correct.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the true grammatical antecedent of the missing pronoun.
The antecedent is the singular indefinite pronoun 'Each'.
The prepositional phrase 'of the candidate countries' is an intervening modifier and does not affect the grammatical number of the subject 'Each'.
2
Select the pronoun that agrees in number and gender with the antecedent.
Use the singular, gender-neutral possessive pronoun 'its'.
Since the antecedent 'Each' is singular and refers to nations (neuter/inanimate entities), it requires the singular pronoun 'its' to ensure grammatical agreement.

Key Concept

Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement
Question 28Question →

Which pronoun correctly completes the sentence to ensure proper pronoun-antecedent agreement?

Fill in the blanks below

Before embarking on the international tour, the symphony orchestra, which had recently hired a new conductor, rehearsed final program for three consecutive days.
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Answer

its
The singular collective noun 'symphony orchestra' acts as a single unit in this context, so it requires the singular possessive pronoun 'its' to achieve proper agreement.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the antecedent of the pronoun.
The antecedent is 'the symphony orchestra'.
The pronoun represents the owner of the final program rehearsed by the orchestra.
2
Determine the grammatical number of the antecedent.
The noun phrase 'the symphony orchestra' is a singular collective noun.
It refers to a single collective organization acting as a single unit.
3
Determine the proper pronoun case and form.
A possessive pronoun is needed to modify the noun 'program'.
The pronoun indicates ownership of the final program.
4
Select the correct singular possessive pronoun.
The pronoun 'its' is singular and possessive.
It agrees with 'symphony orchestra' in number and demonstrates ownership.

Key Concept

Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement
Estimated Time:45s
Question 29Question →

During the annual migration, the herd of wild wildebeests travels hundreds of miles across the Serengeti to find fresh grass for their survival.

Which of the following options is the best replacement for the underlined pronoun?

Show answer & explanation

Answer: its

Answer

its
The singular possessive pronoun 'its' correctly matches the singular collective noun antecedent 'herd'. Even though the herd contains multiple wildebeests, the noun itself is grammatically singular and requires a singular pronoun.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the antecedent of the underlined pronoun.
The antecedent is the collective noun 'herd'.
To ensure correct agreement, we must first locate the noun that the pronoun is replacing or referring to.
2
Determine the grammatical number (singular or plural) of the antecedent.
The collective noun 'herd' is singular.
Although the herd consists of many wildebeests, the noun 'herd' itself functions as a single, singular unit.
3
Choose the possessive pronoun that is singular and matches the neuter gender of 'herd'.
The singular possessive pronoun is 'its'.
The pronoun must agree in number and gender with its antecedent. The plural possessive 'their' and the contraction 'they're' are incorrect, and 'its'' is not a valid word.

Key Concept

Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement
Estimated Time:45s
Question 30Question →

Although the board of directors debated the corporate restructuring proposal for hours, neither of the executive factions was willing to compromise on their demands.

Which of the following choices is the grammatically correct replacement for the underlined portion of the sentence?

Show answer & explanation

Answer: its

Answer

The correct option is the singular possessive pronoun 'its,' which properly agrees with the singular antecedent 'neither' and serves as the possessive modifier for 'demands.'
The singular indefinite pronoun 'neither' is the true grammatical antecedent in this sentence. Even though it is followed by the plural phrase 'of the executive factions,' the pronoun must remain singular. The word 'its' is the correct singular possessive pronoun needed to modify the noun 'demands.'

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Locate the pronoun being tested and identify its antecedent in the sentence.
The underlined pronoun refers back to the subject phrase 'neither of the executive factions.' The head of this phrase is the indefinite pronoun 'neither.'
Pronouns must agree in number, gender, and person with their grammatical antecedents.
2
Determine the grammatical number of the antecedent.
The indefinite pronoun 'neither' is singular. The plural noun 'factions' is part of an intervening prepositional phrase ('of the executive factions') and does not dictate the number of the pronoun.
Identifying the true singular antecedent prevents agreement errors caused by intervening plural nouns.
3
Eliminate grammatically incorrect options based on number and word function.
Eliminate the plural possessive pronoun 'their' (represented by NO CHANGE) and the plural contraction 'they're.' Next, differentiate between the singular possessive pronoun 'its' and the contraction 'it's' (it is). The sentence requires a possessive modifier for 'demands,' making 'its' the correct choice.
Choosing the correct form requires recognizing both agreement rules and homophone distinctions.

Key Concept

Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement with Singular Indefinite Pronouns
Estimated Time:45s
Question 31Question →

The panel of judicial experts, which had been assembled to review the controversial trial, was scheduled to announce their final ruling on Friday morning.

Which of the following options is the best replacement for the underlined portion?

Show answer & explanation

Answer: its

Answer

The singular possessive pronoun 'its' is the correct replacement because it agrees in number with the singular collective noun antecedent 'panel'.
The singular possessive pronoun 'its' matches the singular collective noun antecedent 'panel'. Although the phrase 'of judicial experts' contains a plural noun directly preceding the pronoun, the pronoun must agree with the head of the noun phrase, which is the singular 'panel'.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Locate the antecedent that the underlined pronoun refers to.
The pronoun refers to 'the panel of judicial experts'. The true antecedent is the collective noun 'panel', which acts as a singular unit in this context.
Pronouns must agree in number (singular vs. plural) with the nouns they replace.
2
Simplify the sentence by temporarily removing intervening clauses and prepositional phrases.
The simplified sentence reads: 'The panel... was scheduled to announce its/their final ruling.'
The plural noun 'experts' and the relative clause 'which had been assembled...' act as distractors that separate the true subject from the pronoun.
3
Determine the correct form of the singular possessive pronoun.
'its' is possessive and singular. The option 'it's' is a contraction of 'it is', and the options containing 'their' or 'they're' are plural.
Only 'its' maintains both the singular number agreement and the possessive case required to modify 'final ruling'.

Key Concept

Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement with Collective Nouns
Question 32Question →

A modern technology company has recently launched a new product. To complete the sentence with grammatically correct pronoun-antecedent agreement, which pronoun should you write in the blank?

Fill in the blanks below

The newly formed tech company, despite facing several setbacks in the first quarter, successfully released first software update to the public.
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Answer

its
The possessive pronoun 'its' correctly agrees in number with the singular antecedent 'company'.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the antecedent of the missing pronoun.
The antecedent is 'company'.
The pronoun refers back to the entity that released the software update, which is 'the newly formed tech company'.
2
Determine the grammatical number and person of the antecedent.
The noun 'company' is singular and third-person.
A single corporate entity acts as a singular unit in standard written English.
3
Choose the possessive pronoun that matches these properties.
The correct pronoun is 'its'.
The pronoun must be singular, third-person, and possessive to show ownership of the 'first software update'.

Key Concept

Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement
Question 33Question →

Read the sentence below. Which pronoun correctly completes the sentence to ensure proper pronoun-antecedent agreement? Write only the correct pronoun in the blank.

Fill in the blanks below

Neither of the international airlines has updated flight schedules to reflect the new safety regulations.
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Answer

its
The correct pronoun is 'its' because it correctly agrees in number with the singular indefinite pronoun antecedent 'Neither'. The intervening prepositional phrase 'of the international airlines' contains a plural noun, but it does not change the singular nature of the true antecedent.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the true antecedent of the missing pronoun.
The antecedent is 'Neither', which is a singular indefinite pronoun.
Although the prepositional phrase 'of the international airlines' contains the plural noun 'airlines', the subject and antecedent of the sentence is the pronoun 'Neither'.
2
Select the appropriate pronoun that matches the antecedent in number and gender.
The singular possessive pronoun 'its' must be used because 'Neither' is singular and refers to inanimate corporate entities.
A pronoun must agree in number with its antecedent. Using the plural possessive pronoun 'their' would create a pronoun-antecedent agreement error.

Key Concept

Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement with Singular Indefinite Pronouns
Question 34Question →

The following sentence contains a blank where a pronoun has been omitted. Identify the pronoun that agrees in number and person with its noun antecedent to logically complete the sentence.

Fill in the blanks below

The consortium of research universities, which had spent years securing federal funding for the deep-space telescope, finally launched primary satellite.
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Answer

its
The correct pronoun is the singular possessive 'its' because the antecedent 'consortium' is a singular collective noun.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the antecedent that the missing pronoun refers to.
The pronoun refers back to the subject phrase 'The consortium of research universities', where the head noun is the collective noun 'consortium'.
A pronoun must agree in number (singular or plural) with the noun or noun phrase it replaces.
2
Determine the grammatical number of the antecedent.
The head noun 'consortium' is a singular collective noun representing a single unified organization.
Although the consortium consists of multiple member universities, the group operates as a single entity in this context.
3
Select the singular possessive pronoun that matches the neuter, singular noun.
The singular possessive pronoun is 'its'.
'Its' is singular and neutral, which properly aligns with the singular collective noun 'consortium'.

Key Concept

Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement
Question 35Question →

The ancient library of Alexandria, which once housed hundreds of thousands of papyrus scrolls, was renowned in the ancient world for their unparalleled collection of knowledge.

Which of the following choices is the grammatically correct replacement for the underlined word?

Show answer & explanation

Answer: its

Answer

its
The correct answer is the singular possessive pronoun 'its'. The antecedent of the pronoun is the singular, neuter noun 'library'. An intervening descriptive clause ('which once housed...') separates the antecedent from the pronoun, but the pronoun must still agree with the singular noun 'library'. Therefore, the singular possessive pronoun 'its' is the grammatically correct choice.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the antecedent of the underlined pronoun.
The antecedent is 'library', which is a singular, neuter noun.
Pronouns must agree in number (singular or plural) and gender with the noun they replace or refer to.
2
Determine the necessary grammatical form of the pronoun.
The sentence requires a singular possessive pronoun to describe the collection belonging to the library.
The pronoun must indicate possession and match the singular quantity of the antecedent.
3
Evaluate the choices to select the grammatically correct form.
'its' is the correct singular possessive pronoun. The original 'their' is plural, while 'it's' and 'they're' are contractions.
This step eliminates incorrect plural pronouns and contractions that do not show possession.

Key Concept

Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement
Estimated Time:45s
Question 36Question →

A pronoun has been omitted from the sentence below. Which pronoun must be inserted in the blank to ensure correct pronoun-antecedent agreement?

Fill in the blanks below

The coalition of local businesses, which has lobbied for tax reforms for over a decade, is preparing to launch new advertising campaign next month.
Show answer & explanation

Answer

its
The correct pronoun is 'its' because it agrees in number with the singular collective noun 'coalition'. The prepositional phrase 'of local businesses' contains a plural noun, but it does not change the singular nature of the main antecedent.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the antecedent of the pronoun.
The noun phrase 'of local businesses' is a prepositional modifier, making the singular collective noun 'coalition' the true grammatical antecedent.
Correct pronoun agreement requires identifying the head noun that the pronoun replaces rather than nouns in intervening phrases.
2
Determine the grammatical number of the antecedent.
The collective noun 'coalition' is singular and acts as a single cohesive unit.
Knowing whether the antecedent is singular or plural determines the number of the pronoun.
3
Select the correct singular possessive pronoun.
The singular, gender-neutral possessive pronoun is 'its'.
The pronoun must agree in number and gender with its antecedent.

Key Concept

Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement
Question 37Question →

Neither the principal investigator nor the research assistants were able to complete its designated tasks before the laboratory's funding cycle ended.

Which of the following is the correct replacement for the underlined word?

Show answer & explanation

Answer: their

Answer

The correct answer is 'their'.
The correct option is the plural possessive pronoun 'their'. In the sentence, the singular noun phrase 'the principal investigator' and the plural noun phrase 'the research assistants' are joined by the correlative conjunctions 'neither... nor...'. When a singular and a plural antecedent are joined this way, the pronoun must agree in number with the closer antecedent. Since 'the research assistants' (plural) is closer to the pronoun, the pronoun must be plural ('their').

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the compound subject joined by 'neither... nor...' and locate the pronoun that refers to it.
The antecedents are 'the principal investigator' (singular) and 'the research assistants' (plural).
Finding the antecedent is the first step in resolving pronoun-antecedent agreement.
2
Apply the rule for pronoun-antecedent agreement with compound subjects joined by 'neither... nor...'.
The pronoun must agree in number with the closer antecedent, which is the plural noun phrase 'the research assistants'.
Correlative conjunctions require the pronoun to match the closer noun.
3
Select the correct plural possessive pronoun and eliminate incorrect alternatives.
'their' is the correct plural possessive pronoun. The original 'its' and the alternative 'his or her' are singular, while 'they're' is a contraction.
The possessive pronoun must be plural and correctly spelled as 'their' to match the antecedent.

Key Concept

Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement with Correlative Conjunctions
Estimated Time:1m 0s
Question 38Question →

The sentence below contains a blank where a pronoun is missing. What pronoun correctly completes the sentence to ensure proper pronoun-antecedent agreement?

Fill in the blanks below

While the engineers monitored the telemetry data, each of the spacecraft's main propulsion engines reached maximum thrust capacity during the static fire test.
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Answer

its
The correct answer is the singular possessive pronoun 'its'. The antecedent of the pronoun is the singular indefinite pronoun 'each'. The plural noun 'engines' in the intervening prepositional phrase does not change the grammatical number of the subject 'each', which requires a singular pronoun.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the pronoun's antecedent in the sentence.
The antecedent is the indefinite pronoun 'each'.
The pronoun refers back to the subject of the clause, which is 'each of the spacecraft's main propulsion engines'. In this structure, the singular indefinite pronoun 'each' acts as the true antecedent, while the prepositional phrase 'of the spacecraft's main propulsion engines' serves only to modify it.
2
Determine the number and gender/animacy of the antecedent.
The antecedent 'each' is singular and refers to inanimate objects (engines).
Indefinite pronouns like 'each', 'every', 'neither', and 'either' are grammatically singular, even when followed by a prepositional phrase containing a plural noun like 'engines'.
3
Select the possessive pronoun that matches the singular, inanimate antecedent.
The correct possessive pronoun is 'its'.
To maintain proper pronoun-antecedent agreement, a singular, third-person neuter possessive pronoun ('its') must be used.

Key Concept

Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement with Indefinite Pronouns
Estimated Time:1m 0s
Question 39Question →

The design committee faced a major setback when the municipal budget was suddenly reduced. Neither the project managers nor the lead architect was willing to change their design plans for the civic center, leaving the city council with no clear path forward.

Which choice best replaces the underlined portion of the sentence to ensure correct grammatical construction?

Show answer & explanation

Answer: his or her

Answer

The correct answer is the phrase 'his or her' because it is a singular possessive pronoun that correctly agrees with the singular antecedent 'lead architect' and modifies the noun phrase 'design plans'.
The correct option is the phrase 'his or her' because the sentence features a compound subject joined by 'neither... nor...'. Under standard grammatical rules, the pronoun must agree in number with the closer antecedent, which is the singular noun 'lead architect'. Since the pronoun modifies the noun phrase 'design plans', it must be in the possessive case. Therefore, 'his or her' is grammatically correct and agrees in both number and case.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the antecedent of the pronoun.
The antecedent is the compound subject 'Neither the project managers nor the lead architect'.
Determining the subject that the pronoun replaces or refers to is the first step in ensuring agreement.
2
Apply the proximity rule for compound subjects joined by 'neither... nor...'.
Since 'lead architect' is singular and is the closer subject to the pronoun, the pronoun must be singular.
When compound subjects are joined by 'or' or 'nor', the pronoun agrees in number with the closer antecedent.
3
Determine the correct pronoun case.
The pronoun modifies the noun 'design plans', meaning it must be in the possessive case ('his or her').
Using the correct grammatical case ensures the pronoun functions properly as a modifier in the sentence.

Key Concept

Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement with Compound Antecedents
Question 40Question →

Determine the pronoun that correctly completes the sentence below. Type the pronoun in the blank to ensure correct pronoun-antecedent agreement.

Fill in the blanks below

When the board of trustees finally published the long-awaited financial report, the university administration quickly realized that the document had failed to address primary concerns.
Show answer & explanation

Answer

its
The pronoun must agree in number and gender with its antecedent. The antecedent 'university administration' is a singular collective noun acting as a single entity, requiring the singular possessive pronoun 'its' to modify 'primary concerns'.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the antecedent that the missing pronoun refers to.
The antecedent is 'university administration'.
A pronoun must agree in number, person, and gender with the noun it replaces or refers to.
2
Determine the grammatical number (singular or plural) of the antecedent.
The antecedent 'university administration' is a singular collective noun.
Collective nouns that operate as a single unit are grammatically singular.
3
Select the grammatically correct possessive pronoun.
The singular possessive pronoun is 'its'.
'Its' matches the singular, gender-neutral antecedent 'university administration', and functions as a possessive modifier for 'primary concerns'.

Key Concept

Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement with Collective Nouns
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