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Difficulty: MediumPronouns and Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement

In the sentence below, a pronoun is needed to fill the blank in accordance with standard formal English rules:

"Everybody who registered for the weekend leadership seminar must present ______ digital entry pass at the security desk."

Which of the following pronouns correctly completes the sentence to maintain proper pronoun-antecedent agreement?

  1. his or herAnswer
  2. B
    their
  3. C
    there
  4. D
    its

Answer

The correct phrase is 'his or her' because the antecedent 'Everybody' is a singular indefinite pronoun referring to people in formal English.
The antecedent 'Everybody' is a singular indefinite pronoun. In formal standard English assessed by JAMB UTME, singular indefinite pronouns require singular possessive pronouns ('his or her') to ensure exact grammatical concord.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the antecedent to which the missing pronoun refers.
The antecedent is the indefinite pronoun 'Everybody'.
Indefinite pronouns ending in '-body' or '-one' are grammatically singular in standard English syntax.
2
Determine the appropriate possessive form that agrees in number and gender.
'His or her' correctly provides singular possessive agreement for human antecedents of unspecified gender.
Plural possessive forms like 'their' break strict singular agreement rules required in formal assessments.

Key Concept

Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement with Singular Indefinite Pronouns
Estimated Time:1m 0s
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Topics

Pronouns and Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement

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