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Difficulty: MediumPronoun-Antecedent Agreement and Case

Although the newly established consortium of independent software developers has faced numerous technical challenges and scheduling delays during the initial phases of creating the open-source operating system, the group has reassured its financial investors that ______ will deliver the completed software by the revised deadline. By consolidating resources and streamlining the software testing process, the organization hopes to establish itself as a leader in the industry.

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?

  1. A
    they
  2. itAnswer
  3. C
    their
  4. D
    themselves

Answer

The singular pronoun 'it'
The singular pronoun 'it' correctly agrees in number with the singular collective noun 'group,' which is the antecedent. Furthermore, 'it' is in the subject case, which is required to function as the subject of the verb phrase 'will deliver.'

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the antecedent of the pronoun needed for the blank.
The antecedent is the collective noun 'group.'
The pronoun in the blank must refer back to this noun to indicate who will deliver the completed software.
2
Determine the grammatical number of the antecedent.
The collective noun 'group' is singular.
Collective nouns representing a single unified entity are treated as singular in Standard English.
3
Select the correct pronoun case and number to fill the blank.
The singular subject pronoun 'it' is the correct choice.
It agrees in number with the singular antecedent 'group' and correctly functions as the subject of the verb 'will deliver.'

Key Concept

Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement in Number
Estimated Time:1m 0s
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Topics

Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement and Case

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