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Difficulty: EasyPronoun-Antecedent Agreement and Case

Although the team of marine biologists faced numerous equipment failures that threatened to disrupt the deep-sea expedition, ______ managed to collect several previously unknown specimens of bioluminescent jellyfish from the ocean floor.

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

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

Answer

The correct option is the pronoun 'it' because it is a singular pronoun that agrees in number with the singular collective noun antecedent 'team.'
The pronoun in the blank refers back to the singular collective noun antecedent 'team.' The pronoun 'it' is singular and subjective, making it grammatically correct as the subject of the verb 'managed' and in agreement with 'team.'

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the antecedent of the pronoun needed in the blank.
The antecedent is the singular collective noun 'team' in the phrase 'the team of marine biologists.'
Determining the antecedent is necessary to establish the correct number (singular or plural) for the pronoun.
2
Identify the grammatical function of the pronoun in the blank.
The blank serves as the subject of the main clause's verb 'managed.' Therefore, the pronoun must be in the subjective case.
Identifying the pronoun's role in the clause determines whether it should be in the subjective, objective, or possessive case.
3
Select the pronoun that is both singular and subjective.
The pronoun 'it' is singular and in the subjective case, matching the requirements of the sentence.
Choosing a singular, subjective pronoun ensures correct pronoun-antecedent agreement and sentence structure.

Key Concept

Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement and Case
Estimated Time:45s
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Topics

Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement and Case

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