Examkin

Pronouns and Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement

89 questions

All types89Multiple choice45Fill in the blank44
Question 1Question →

Fill in the blank with the correct possessive pronoun that agrees with its antecedent in the sentence below.

Fill in the blanks below

The city council decided to revise municipal budget during the executive session.
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Answer

The correct pronoun is 'its'.
The singular possessive pronoun 'its' correctly agrees with the collective noun antecedent 'city council', which functions as a single unified unit in this context.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the antecedent in the sentence.
The antecedent is the noun phrase 'The city council'.
The missing word is a possessive pronoun referring back to the body making the decision.
2
Determine the grammatical number and person of the antecedent.
'City council' is a singular collective noun functioning as a single acting entity.
When a collective noun acts as a single unified body, it takes a singular neuter pronoun.
3
Select the possessive pronoun that matches the antecedent in number and gender.
The third-person singular neuter possessive pronoun is 'its'.
Proper pronoun-antecedent agreement requires a singular pronoun ('its') to agree with the singular collective antecedent ('city council').

Key Concept

Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement with Collective Nouns
Question 2Question →

Select the option that correctly completes the sentence below.

Neither the senior delegates nor the committee chairman was willing to compromise on ________ stance during the plenary session.

Which of the following pronouns grammatically completes the sentence?

Show answer & explanation

Answer: his

Answer

The correct pronoun is 'his' because in a correlative conjunction construction using 'neither...nor', the pronoun must agree in person, number, and gender with the nearer antecedent ('the committee chairman').
The sentence uses the correlative conjunction 'neither...nor'. According to standard grammatical rules, when subject elements of different numbers or genders are linked by 'neither...nor', the pronoun must agree with the antecedent closest to it. Here, 'the committee chairman' is singular and masculine, so the singular possessive pronoun 'his' is grammatically correct.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the grammatical structure of the subject.
The subject consists of compound antecedents joined by the correlative conjunction 'neither...nor': 'the senior delegates' (plural) and 'the committee chairman' (singular).
Correlative conjunctions dictate specific proximity agreement rules for pronouns and verbs.
2
Apply the rule of proximity for pronoun-antecedent agreement.
The pronoun slot is positioned after the second antecedent, 'the committee chairman'.
When a singular and a plural noun are connected by 'neither...nor', the pronoun agrees with the closer noun.
3
Determine the required number and gender of the pronoun.
The closer antecedent 'the committee chairman' is singular and masculine/third-person, requiring the singular possessive pronoun 'his'.
Using 'their' creates a number disagreement error with the singular noun closest to the pronoun.

Key Concept

Pronoun Agreement with Correlative Conjunctions (Neither...Nor)
Estimated Time:1m 30s
Question 3Question →

Read the sentence below carefully:

"Every one of the senior analysts who reviewed the complex financial statements maintained that _____ analysis was completely accurate."

Which pronoun correctly completes the sentence in strict accordance with standard formal rules of pronoun-antecedent agreement?

Show answer & explanation

Answer: his

Answer

The possessive pronoun 'his' correctly completes the sentence by maintaining singular grammatical agreement with the antecedent 'Every one'.
The sentence requires a singular possessive pronoun because the grammatical antecedent is the singular indefinite expression 'Every one'. In formal written English assessed by JAMB, singular indefinite antecedents take singular possessive pronouns regardless of intervening plural modifiers.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the true subject/antecedent of the main clause.
The core antecedent is the indefinite pronoun phrase 'Every one', which is grammatically singular.
Intervening prepositional phrases like 'of the senior analysts' and relative clauses like 'who reviewed...' modify the head noun but do not change its singular grammatical number.
2
Determine the required grammatical case and number for the pronoun slot.
The slot modifies the noun 'analysis', requiring a singular possessive determiner.
A possessive pronoun is needed to indicate ownership of the noun 'analysis'.
3
Select the option that satisfies formal singular possessive agreement.
The word 'his' is the standard formal singular possessive pronoun.
Formal JAMB English requires singular pronouns ('his' or 'his or her') to agree with singular indefinite antecedents such as 'every one', 'each', or 'everyone'.

Key Concept

Indefinite Pronoun Concord with Intervening Prepositional Modifiers
Question 4Question →

Which of the following pronouns correctly completes the sentence below?

"Neither the senior board members nor the managing director has submitted _____ financial report for the fourth quarter."

Show answer & explanation

Answer: his

Answer

The correct pronoun is 'his'.
When compound antecedents are joined by 'neither... nor', the pronoun must agree in number with the antecedent closest to the blank. In this sentence, 'the managing director' is singular and is closest to the position of the pronoun, requiring the singular possessive pronoun 'his'.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the antecedents and the connecting correlative conjunction.
The antecedents are 'the senior board members' (plural) and 'the managing director' (singular), connected by 'neither... nor'.
Correlative conjunctions dictate specific proximity agreement rules for pronouns.
2
Apply the rule of proximity for pronoun-antecedent agreement.
The pronoun must agree with 'the managing director', which is the antecedent closer to the blank space.
When singular and plural antecedents are joined by 'neither... nor', standard formal English requires the pronoun to agree in number with the nearer antecedent.
3
Select the appropriate singular possessive determiner.
'his' correctly modifies 'financial report' while maintaining agreement with the singular noun 'managing director'.
A singular possessive pronoun is necessary to achieve correct grammatical concord.

Key Concept

Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement with Correlative Conjunctions (Neither... Nor)
Question 5Question →

Which pronoun best completes the sentence below in accordance with formal rules of pronoun-antecedent agreement?

"The editorial board unanimously agreed that _______ primary obligation was to safeguard the journal's academic standards."

Show answer & explanation

Answer: its

Answer

The correct pronoun is 'its' because the collective noun 'editorial board' acts as a single, unified entity.
The antecedent 'editorial board' is a collective noun acting as a single, unified body (as confirmed by the modifier 'unanimously'). Consequently, it requires the singular neuter possessive pronoun 'its' to modify 'primary obligation'.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the antecedent in the sentence.
The antecedent is 'The editorial board', which is a collective noun.
Determining the antecedent is necessary to establish correct grammatical agreement in number, person, and gender.
2
Determine whether the collective noun acts as a single unit or as individual members.
The context word 'unanimously' shows that the board members acted together as a single body.
When a collective noun functions as a single entity, it takes a singular verb and a singular pronoun.
3
Select the appropriate singular possessive pronoun form.
The neuter singular possessive determiner 'its' correctly modifies 'primary obligation'.
'Its' indicates possession without an apostrophe and matches the singular neuter antecedent.

Key Concept

Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement with Collective Nouns
Estimated Time:45s
Question 6Question →

Which pronoun grammatically completes the sentence below while adhering strictly to standard rules of pronoun-antecedent agreement?

Fill in the blanks below

The principal female archivist, together with the assistant curators, refused to release restricted historical document without written authorization.
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Answer

The correct pronoun is 'her'.
The singular feminine possessive pronoun 'her' accurately agrees in number and gender with the singular head noun 'principal female archivist'. Prepositional phrases such as 'together with the assistant curators' function as intervening parenthetical modifiers and do not render the grammatical subject plural.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the primary grammatical antecedent (head noun) in the sentence.
The head noun is 'The principal female archivist', which is singular and feminine.
Phrases introduced by expressions like 'together with' form parenthetical modifiers, not compound subjects.
2
Analyze the intervening modifier to determine if it alters the grammatical number of the subject.
The phrase 'together with the assistant curators' is a prepositional modifier and does not make the subject plural.
In standard English grammar, subject-pronoun concord is governed strictly by the main head noun, disregarding prepositional adjuncts.
3
Select the possessive pronoun that matches the singular feminine antecedent in person, number, and gender.
The singular feminine possessive pronoun 'her' is required.
Using 'her' maintains accurate pronoun-antecedent agreement with 'principal female archivist'.

Key Concept

Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement with Intervening Parenthetical Expressions
Estimated Time:1m 30s
Question 7Question →

Which pronoun correctly completes the sentence below to maintain proper pronoun-antecedent agreement in standard formal English?

Fill in the blanks below

Every environmental analyst attending the summit was instructed to submit preliminary findings directly to the secretariat.
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Answer

The singular possessive phrase 'his or her' (or singular possessive pronoun 'his' / 'her') correctly agrees in grammatical number with the singular antecedent 'Every environmental analyst'.
In standard formal English, the quantifier 'every' makes the noun phrase 'Every environmental analyst' grammatically singular. Therefore, the possessive pronoun referring back to this antecedent must also be singular ('his or her', 'his', or 'her').

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the antecedent of the missing pronoun in the sentence.
The antecedent is the noun phrase 'Every environmental analyst'.
The pronoun filling the blank must refer back to the analysts who are submitting their findings.
2
Determine the grammatical number of the antecedent.
The quantifier 'Every' restricts the noun phrase 'Every environmental analyst' to grammatically singular.
In formal English, words qualified by 'every' or 'each' take singular verb forms and require singular pronoun agreement.
3
Select a pronoun that maintains singular agreement and appropriate gender reference for human antecedents.
The singular possessive forms 'his or her', 'his', or 'her' properly complete the blank.
Using plural pronouns such as 'their' creates a number mismatch with the singular antecedent in formal examination standards.

Key Concept

Singular Indefinite Pronoun Concord
Estimated Time:45s
Question 8Question →

Which of the following pronouns correctly completes the sentence below?

"Neither the senior curator nor the museum archivists have submitted _______ cataloging reports for the upcoming exhibition."

Show answer & explanation

Answer: their

Answer

The pronoun 'their' correctly completes the sentence to maintain proper grammatical agreement.
In formal standard English, when two antecedents are joined by correlative conjunctions such as 'neither... nor...', the pronoun agrees with the antecedent closest to it. Since 'museum archivists' is plural and directly precedes the pronoun blank, the plural possessive pronoun 'their' is required.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the compound antecedent and the connecting conjunctions.
The subject consists of two elements: 'the senior curator' (singular) and 'the museum archivists' (plural), linked by 'neither... nor...'.
Analyzing the antecedent structure is required to determine which agreement rule applies.
2
Apply the rule of proximity governing correlative conjunctions.
When antecedents are connected by 'neither... nor...', the pronoun must agree with the antecedent nearer to the blank ('museum archivists').
Formal English grammar specifies proximity-based agreement in disjunctive compound structures.
3
Select the pronoun matching the plural nearer antecedent.
'their' is the third-person plural possessive pronoun required.
'their' properly aligns with the plural noun 'archivists'.

Key Concept

Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement with Correlative Conjunctions
Question 9Question →

Complete the sentence below by filling in the blank with the grammatically appropriate pronoun that maintains correct pronoun-antecedent agreement in standard English.

Fill in the blanks below

Neither of the two newly enacted statutes has lost legal force despite the recent constitutional amendments.
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Answer

its
The sentence requires the singular possessive pronoun 'its' to agree with the singular antecedent 'Neither'. Although the prepositional phrase contains the plural noun 'statutes', the head of the noun phrase remains the singular indefinite pronoun 'Neither'.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the true grammatical antecedent of the missing pronoun.
The antecedent is the singular indefinite pronoun 'Neither', not the plural noun 'statutes'.
The phrase 'of the two newly enacted statutes' is a prepositional modifier, and its object cannot serve as the subject or head antecedent of the sentence.
2
Determine the number, person, and gender required for the pronoun.
The pronoun must be third-person singular and neuter because 'Neither' refers here to inanimate entities (statutes).
Indefinite pronouns like 'neither', 'either', and 'each' take singular agreement in formal English.
3
Select the correct possessive form.
The correct possessive form is 'its'.
'its' indicates singular possession without an apostrophe, whereas 'their' is plural and 'it's' is a contraction.

Key Concept

Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement with Singular Indefinite Pronouns
Question 10Question →

The editorial board, along with the senior investigative reporters, published _____ comprehensive report on the municipal financial crisis. Which of the following pronouns correctly completes the sentence in standard formal English?

Show answer & explanation

Answer: its

Answer

its
The head noun of the subject clause is the singular collective noun 'editorial board'. Intervening phrases introduced by 'along with' do not make a singular subject plural. Therefore, the singular possessive pronoun 'its' is required for correct pronoun-antecedent agreement.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the true grammatical antecedent of the pronoun slot.
The subject head noun is 'The editorial board', which is a singular collective noun.
Phrases introduced by quasi-conjunctions like 'along with', 'as well as', or 'together with' are parenthetical and do not alter the grammatical number of the main subject.
2
Determine the required number and gender for the pronoun.
A third-person singular neuter possessive pronoun ('its') is required.
The entity is acting as a single unified organization.

Key Concept

Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement with Parenthetical Expressions
Question 11Question →

Dr. Adeleke is one of those dedicated surgeons who sacrifice ________ personal time for community outreach programmes. Which pronoun correctly completes the sentence in standard English?

Show answer & explanation

Answer: their

Answer

The correct pronoun is 'their'.
In sentences structured as 'one of those [plural noun] who...', the relative pronoun refers to the plural noun ('surgeons'), not 'one'. Therefore, the plural possessive determiner 'their' is required to maintain proper pronoun-antecedent agreement.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the antecedent of the relative pronoun 'who'.
In the construction 'one of those dedicated surgeons who...', the relative pronoun 'who' refers back to the plural noun 'surgeons', not to the singular subject 'one'.
Relative clauses following 'one of those [plural noun]' modify the plural noun.
2
Determine the required pronoun agreement for the plural antecedent.
Since 'surgeons' is plural, the possessive pronoun inside the relative clause modifying 'personal time' must also be plural.
A pronoun must match its antecedent in number and person.
3
Select the appropriate grammatical form.
The possessive determiner 'their' fits grammatically before 'personal time'.
'Their' is the third-person plural possessive determiner corresponding to 'surgeons'.

Key Concept

Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement in 'One of those... who' constructions
Question 12Question →

Which pronoun correctly completes the sentence below to maintain proper grammatical agreement between the pronoun and its antecedent?

'Every female candidate who completed the rigorous entrance examination was instructed to submit _______ credentials to the administrative officer.'

Show answer & explanation

Answer: her

Answer

The possessive pronoun 'her' is correct because the antecedent 'female candidate' is singular.
The word 'Every' modifies the noun phrase 'female candidate', making the grammatical antecedent singular. Because the candidate is explicitly identified as female, the singular possessive pronoun 'her' properly agrees with the antecedent in number, gender, and case.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the antecedent and its grammatical number and gender.
The subject noun phrase is 'Every female candidate'. The modifier 'Every' specifies a singular antecedent, and 'female' establishes the feminine gender.
Indefinite pronouns or nouns modified by 'every' take singular pronoun references.
2
Determine the required case of the pronoun for the blank slot.
The blank modifies the noun 'credentials', necessitating a possessive determinative pronoun.
A noun headword following a pronoun slot requires a possessive modifier rather than an objective or independent possessive form.
3
Select the pronoun form that matches in number, gender, and case.
The singular, feminine, possessive determinative pronoun is 'her'.
Matching gender (female), number (singular), and case (possessive) satisfies grammatical agreement rules in formal standard English.

Key Concept

Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement with Singular Indefinite Modifiers
Question 13Question →

Neither of the two solar power plants has operated at _____ full capacity since the recent grid failure. Which pronoun correctly completes the sentence to maintain proper grammatical agreement with its antecedent?

Show answer & explanation

Answer: its

Answer

The possessive pronoun 'its' correctly completes the sentence because the head antecedent is the singular indefinite pronoun 'Neither'.
The sentence requires a singular possessive pronoun to agree with the subject antecedent 'Neither', which is grammatically singular. The word 'its' properly modifies 'full capacity' and maintains singular agreement.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the head grammatical subject and antecedent of the missing pronoun.
The head antecedent is the indefinite pronoun 'Neither', not the plural noun 'plants' inside the prepositional phrase 'of the two solar power plants'.
Nouns inside prepositional phrases modifying a subject do not change the grammatical number of the head antecedent.
2
Determine the grammatical number and person required for the pronoun.
The pronoun must be third-person singular and neuter possessive.
'Neither' is a singular indefinite pronoun when referring to two non-human entities (power plants).
3
Select the pronoun form that fulfills these agreement constraints.
'its' is the correct singular possessive form.
'its' modifies 'full capacity' while establishing exact agreement with 'Neither'.

Key Concept

Indefinite Pronoun Concord with Prepositional Modifiers
Question 14Question →

Which possessive pronoun correctly completes the sentence below in accordance with standard rules of pronoun-antecedent agreement?

Fill in the blanks below

The department heads each expressed willingness to implement the new administrative guidelines.
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Answer

their
The correct pronoun is 'their' because the syntactic antecedent is the plural noun phrase 'The department heads'. When 'each' appears after a plural subject in apposition, the subject retains its plural number, requiring a plural possessive pronoun to maintain proper pronoun-antecedent agreement.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the grammatical antecedent of the pronoun.
The subject of the sentence is the plural noun phrase 'The department heads'.
The possessive pronoun must agree in number and person with its antecedent.
2
Determine the syntactic position and function of the word 'each'.
'Each' is positioned in post-modifier apposition immediately following the plural subject.
When 'each' follows a plural noun phrase rather than preceding it, it functions appositively and does not make the grammatical subject singular.
3
Select the possessive pronoun that matches the plural antecedent.
The plural possessive pronoun 'their' correctly agrees with 'The department heads'.
Singular pronouns such as 'his' or 'his or her' are grammatically incorrect because the subject remains plural.

Key Concept

Pronoun-antecedent agreement with appositive 'each'
Estimated Time:1m 0s
Question 15Question →

Which of the following pronouns correctly completes the sentence below in accordance with standard rules of pronoun-antecedent agreement?

"Neither the chief medical officer nor the attending nurses could conceal ______ exhaustion after the thirty-hour emergency shift."

Show answer & explanation

Answer: their

Answer

The correct pronoun is 'their' because when subjects are joined by 'neither... nor', the pronoun agrees with the nearer antecedent, which is the plural noun 'nurses'.
When compound antecedents are connected by the correlative conjunction 'neither... nor', standard formal English syntax dictates that the pronoun agrees in number with the antecedent closest to it. In this sentence, 'attending nurses' is plural and immediately precedes the blank, requiring the plural possessive pronoun 'their'.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the antecedent structure in the sentence
The sentence features compound subjects joined by 'neither... nor': 'the chief medical officer' (singular) and 'the attending nurses' (plural).
Determining the conjunction structure dictates the grammatical rule for pronoun alignment.
2
Apply the proximity rule for compound antecedents linked by 'neither... nor'
The pronoun must agree in gender and number with the closer antecedent ('attending nurses').
In correlative structures like 'neither... nor', agreement is governed by the noun phrase nearest to the pronoun slot.
3
Select the pronoun form matching the plural noun 'attending nurses'
'their' is the third-person plural possessive pronoun required.
'attending nurses' is plural, so a plural possessive pronoun is mandatory.

Key Concept

Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement with Correlative Conjunctions (Neither... Nor)
Question 16Question →

Which of the following pronouns correctly completes the sentence below?

'One of the major telecommunication companies operating in the country has lost _____ operational license following a regulatory audit.'

Show answer & explanation

Answer: its

Answer

The correct option is 'its' because the singular subject 'One' requires a singular possessive pronoun.
The sentence specifies 'One' as the singular head antecedent. Therefore, the possessive pronoun modifying 'operational license' must be singular and neuter ('its').

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the true grammatical antecedent in the subject clause.
The head of the subject phrase is the singular indefinite pronoun 'One', not the plural noun 'companies' within the prepositional modifier 'of the major telecommunication companies'.
Modifiers inside prepositional phrases do not change the number of the core head antecedent.
2
Determine the gender and number of the required pronoun.
The antecedent refers to a single corporate entity, requiring a 3rd-person singular neuter possessive determiner ('its').
Pronouns must agree in number, person, and gender with their grammatical antecedent.

Key Concept

Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement with Indefinite Head Nouns
Question 17Question →

Complete the following sentence by providing the grammatically correct possessive pronoun in the blank to maintain formal pronoun-antecedent agreement.

Fill in the blanks below

Neither of the female executives who attended the international summit had submitted report before the deadline.
Show answer & explanation

Answer

her
In formal Standard English, the distributive indefinite pronoun 'neither' is singular and serves as the true grammatical head of the subject. The intervening prepositional phrase 'of the female executives' specifies the gender (female) but does not change the singular number of the subject. Therefore, the singular feminine possessive pronoun 'her' is required for formal pronoun-antecedent agreement.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the grammatical antecedent of the blank.
The subject noun phrase is 'Neither of the female executives'. The head word of this noun phrase is the indefinite pronoun 'Neither'.
Pronouns must agree in number and gender with their syntactic antecedent, not with the noun inside the intervening prepositional phrase.
2
Determine the grammatical number and gender of the antecedent.
'Neither' is grammatically singular in formal Standard English. The modifier 'female executives' establishes female gender.
Indefinite pronouns such as 'neither', 'either', 'each', and 'every' take singular agreement in formal examination contexts like JAMB UTME.
3
Select the appropriate singular possessive pronoun.
The singular feminine possessive pronoun 'her' correctly corresponds to the singular female antecedent.
Using plural pronouns like 'their' violates formal indefinite pronoun concord rules.

Key Concept

Indefinite Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement with Intervening Phrases
Question 18Question →

Complete the sentence below by providing the grammatically correct possessive pronoun in each blank to ensure proper pronoun-antecedent agreement.

Fill in the blanks below

Although the committee was unanimous in evaluation of the proposal, the jury were divided in opinions regarding the defendant's guilt.
Show answer & explanation

Answer

The first blank requires the singular possessive pronoun 'its' to agree with the collective noun 'committee' acting as a unified entity. The second blank requires the plural possessive pronoun 'their' to agree with the collective noun 'jury' acting as separate individuals.
In formal English grammar, collective nouns require singular pronouns when the group acts as a single, unified body, and plural pronouns when the individuals within the group act separately. In the first clause, the singular verb 'was' and 'unanimous' establish that the 'committee' acted as one unit, necessitating the singular possessive pronoun 'its'. In the second clause, the plural verb 'were' and the word 'divided' show that the members of the 'jury' acted as separate individuals, necessitating the plural possessive pronoun 'their'.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the antecedent and context for the first blank.
The antecedent is 'committee'. The singular verb 'was' and the adjective 'unanimous' indicate that the committee is acting as a single, collective unit.
When a collective noun operates as a single entity, it takes a singular pronoun ('its').
2
Analyze the antecedent and context for the second blank.
The antecedent is 'jury'. The plural verb 'were' and the adjective 'divided' demonstrate that the members of the jury are acting individually with differing views.
When members of a collective noun act individually or are in disagreement, the collective noun takes a plural pronoun ('their').

Key Concept

Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement with Collective Nouns
Estimated Time:1m 30s
Question 19Question →

Which of the following options correctly completes the sentence below in accordance with formal rules of pronoun-antecedent agreement?

'Many a seasoned diplomat has insisted that _____ delegation should adhere strictly to the protocols laid down by the assembly.'

Show answer & explanation

Answer: his or her

Answer

The option containing 'his or her' is correct because the expression 'many a' takes a singular noun and requires a singular third-person pronoun to maintain grammatical agreement.
The phrase 'his or her' correctly agrees in number with the antecedent 'Many a seasoned diplomat'. In formal English grammar, the construction 'many a' is followed by a singular countable noun and singular verb, requiring a corresponding singular pronoun.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the antecedent and its grammatical number.
The subject structure 'Many a seasoned diplomat' is grammatically singular despite its plural meaning.
The distributive quantifier 'many a' explicitly conditions the head noun ('diplomat') and verb ('has insisted') to be singular.
2
Determine the appropriate pronoun required for agreement.
A singular third-person possessive pronoun ('his or her') is required.
Pronouns must agree in number, gender, and person with their antecedents in formal English grammar.
3
Evaluate the choices to select the syntactically correct form.
Selecting 'his or her' maintains strict singular antecedent agreement.
Plural forms like 'their' violate formal singular agreement rules in standard assessment contexts.

Key Concept

Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement with Distributive Quantifiers ('Many a')
Question 20Question →

Complete the sentence below by filling in each blank with the grammatically correct pronoun to ensure strict formal pronoun-antecedent agreement.

Fill in the blanks below

Neither the lead surgeon nor the female anesthesiologists brought specialized equipment to the operating room before the hospital board issued official directive.
Show answer & explanation

Answer

The first blank requires the plural possessive pronoun 'their' to agree with the nearer antecedent 'female anesthesiologists', while the second blank requires the singular possessive pronoun 'its' to agree with the collective noun 'hospital board' acting as a unified entity.
Formal English grammatical concord specifies that when subject elements are joined by correlative conjunctions such as 'neither... nor', the pronoun agrees with the nearest noun ('female anesthesiologists' -> 'their'). Additionally, a collective noun ('hospital board') taking unified action requires a singular pronoun ('its').

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the antecedent structure for the first blank
The compound antecedent is joined by the disjunctive correlative 'neither... nor' ('the lead surgeon nor the female anesthesiologists'). Under formal rule of proximity, the pronoun must agree in number with the nearer antecedent, 'female anesthesiologists', which is plural.
When antecedents are connected by 'neither... nor', pronoun agreement is governed by the noun closest to the pronoun position.
2
Determine the correct pronoun for the first blank
Select the third-person plural possessive pronoun 'their'.
The plural noun phrase 'female anesthesiologists' requires the plural possessive pronoun 'their'.
3
Analyze the antecedent structure for the second blank
The antecedent is 'the hospital board', a collective noun functioning as a single, unified entity issuing a single official directive.
Collective nouns take singular pronouns when the group acts as a collective unit rather than as separate individuals.
4
Determine the correct pronoun for the second blank
Select the third-person singular neuter possessive pronoun 'its'.
The singular collective body 'hospital board' requires the singular possessive pronoun 'its'.

Key Concept

Pronoun-antecedent agreement governed by the rule of proximity with correlative conjunctions and collective noun unity.
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