WRONG USAGE OF PRONOUNS IELTS EXAM
- When a Pronoun is used as the complement of the Verb ‘to be’, it should be in the nominative case.
Example
Incorrect- If I were him, I would not do it.
Correct- If I were he, I would not do it.
- When the Pronoun is used as the object of a Verb or of a Preposition, it should be in the objective case.
Example
- Incorrect- Let you and I do it.
Correct- Let you and me do it.
- Incorrect- These presents are for you and I.
Correct- These presents are for you and me.
3. Emphatic Pronouns cannot stand alone as Subjects.
Example
Incorrect- Himself did it.
Correct- He himself did it.
4. The Indefinite Pronoun ‘one’ should be used throughout if used at all.
Example
Incorrect- One must not boast of his own success.
Correct- One must not boast of one’s own success.
- ‘Either’ or ‘neither’ is used only in speaking of two persons or things; ‘any’,’no one’ and ‘none’ is used in speaking of more than two.
Example
- Incorrect- Anyone of these two roads leads to the railway station.
Correct- Either of these two roads leads to the railway station.
- Incorrect- Neither of these three boys did his homework.
Correct- No one of these three boys did his homework.
6. ‘Each other’ is used in speaking of two persons or things; ‘one another’ is used in speaking of more than two.
Example
Incorrect- The two brothers loved one another.
Correct- The two brothers loved each other.
7. A Noun or Pronoun governing a Gerund should be put in the possessive case.
Example
Incorrect- Please excuse me being late.
Correct- Please excuse my being late.
- A Pronoun must agree with its antecedent in person, number and gender.
Example
Incorrect- Each of these boys has done their homework.
Correct- Each of these boys has done his homework.
- When two or more Singular Nouns are joined by ‘and’, the Pronoun used for them must be in Plural.
Example
Incorrect- Both Raja and Ravi have done his homework.
Correct- Both Raja and Ravi have done their homework.
- When two or more Singular Nouns joined by ‘and’ refer to the same person or thing, a Pronoun used for them must be in the singular.
Example
Incorrect- The collector and District Magistrate is not negligent in their duty.
Correct- The collector and District Magistrate is not negligent in his duty.
11. When two or more singular nouns joined by ‘or’ or ‘nor’, ‘either, or’, ‘neither …. ‘nor’, the Pronoun used for them should be in the singular.
Example
Incorrect – Neither Ravi nor Raja has done their homework.
Correct- Neither Ravi nor Raja has done his homework.
- When two or more singular Pronouns of different persons come together, the Pronoun of second person singular (you) comes first, the pronoun of the first person singular (I) comes last and the pronoun of the third person singular (he) comes in between.
Example
Incorrect- I, You and he must work together.
Correct- You, he and I must work together.
- When two or more plural Pro-nouns of different persons come together first person plural (we) comes first, then second person plural (you) and last of all third person plural (they).
Example
Incorrect- You, they and we must work together.
Correct- We, you and they must work together.
- The Relative Pronoun who is in subjective case, whereas whom is in objective case. Therefore, for who there must be a Finite Verb in the sentence. Or otherwise, when whom (Object) is used in the sentence and there is more Finite Verb’s than the number of Subjects in the sentence, then whom should be changed into who (Subject).
Example
Incorrect- The doctor whom came here was Ram’s brother.
Correct- The doctor who came here was Ram’s brother.
- With Superlative Degree Adjective, only, none, all etc., as Relative Pronoun we use that and not which or who.
Example
Incorrect- All which glitters is not gold.
Correct- All that glitters is not gold.
- After let, if a Pronoun is used, that Pronoun must be in the Objective Case.
Example
Incorrect- Let he go there.
Correct- Let him go there.
WRONG USAGE OF PRONOUNS IELTS EXAM WRONG USAGE OF PRONOUNS IELTS EXAM WRONG USAGE OF PRONOUNS IELTS EXAM WRONG USAGE OF PRONOUNS IELTS EXAM WRONG USAGE OF PRONOUNS IELTS EXAM