Vague pronouns pdf files

But you must use them with care because, in some constructions, the antecedents of these pronouns can be vague. A vague pronoun is a pronoun for which its not clear which noun is its antecedent. During recent events, we have been asked to think of the needs of others. A pronoun s antecedent is the word to which the pronoun refers.

The rule a pronoun must refer to a single noun, which acts as its antecedent. Using pronouns correctly eliminates unnecessary noun repetition in your writing. The packet includes a complete lesson, practice examples, 2 worksheets, and answer keys. Also, it must be clear which noun the pronoun is substituting for. Exercise on vague or unclear pronoun reference in the following pairs of sentences, one sentence is correct, and the other sentence contains a vague or ambiguous pronoun reference. I have created many pronoun worksheets, resources, and activities over. Be sure that each pronoun in your sentences has an expressed antecedent, a noun for which it is a substitute, and be sure that each pronoun can refer to the appropriate noun only. Indefinite pronouns do not point to a specific person or thing. Remember that the purpose of all your writing assignments, including the midterm and final exams, is to evaluate that you 1 have done the work and 2 understand the material. Avoiding vague pronoun references practice write your answers on the lines and then print this page. Vague pronoun reference vague college of the mainland. Often they are used incorrectly and create faulty or vague pronoun reference problems. Jun 08, 2018 this video is based on clarify vague pronoun references by joe moxley and licensed by a cc byncnd 3.

Pronoun agreement circle the pronoun that agrees in number with its antecedent the noun to which it refers. End slide includes an activity to practice correcting sentences containing vague pronouns. The highlighted words represent vague pronouns because a reader. You have been taught the basics of sentence construction in order to help you make better sentences that you will be using for the rest of your life. Harry was always late for class, and it drove his teacher crazy. Vague pronouns connors writing center dimond library 329. She, her, hers and he, him, his are the most commonly used pronouns. You may need to revise the sentence to give a bit more information. Improve your language arts knowledge with free questions in identify vague pronoun references and thousands of other language arts skills.

You can improve your writing a lot by taking care not to use vague pronoun references. To repair the faulty pronoun reference this rephrase the sentence to eliminate the pronoun. Words like something, everywhere, anybody and noone are indefinite pronouns. And often, all of this must be done on the fly, while one is speaking. The highlighted words represent vague pronouns because a reader cannot tell which noun the pronoun is referring to in each example.

Gender pronouns like he and hers specifically refer to people that you are talking about. Take all the spoiled meat out of the refrigerator, and move it out of the house. Pronoun worksheets and activities ereading worksheets. Candidate in sociology, uc san diego being too vaguegeneral with course material why avoid it. Whenever there is the possibility that the antecedent of a pronoun may not be immediately and absolutely clear, repeat the appropriate. By definition, pronouns, which take the place of a noun, cannot refer to an idea expressed in an entire sentence or statement. Reflexive and intensive pronouns 7 2020 urricuum ssociates rigts reserve. Vague pronouns, intensive pronouns, standard english, formal english, slang, casual english, and more. Avoid vague pronoun references how might you address the pronoun reference problems that occur throughout your essay. One must learn to avoid using vague pronouns, or pronouns with unclear antecedents. If a pronoun seems to refer to more than one antecedent, either reword the sentence to make the antecedent clear or eliminate the pronoun. When you begin a sentence with it, this, that, or which, make sure that your audience will understand the antecedent of these pronouns. One must learn to identify subjective, objective, and possessive cases.

In these three sentences, the pronouns refer to the idea that harry was always late, but they cant logically refer back to either of the two nouns, harry or class. Vague pronoun reference and pronounantecedent disagreement. A pronoun may be unclear if there is more than one noun to which the pronoun could be referring. Revise the following sentences by correcting the ambiguous reference of pronouns. According to english grammar, personal pronouns, possessive pronouns and reflexive pronouns are coreference pronouns while indefinite pronouns are substitution ones. The cliff dwellings at mesa verde were built by the ancestral pueblo people. Better writing practice fixing ambiguous pronoun references. Vague pronoun reference a pronoun without a specific antecedent. Identify and correct vague pronouns common core standards addressed. Gustavo slowed to the speed limit when he saw the police cruiser in the rearview mirror. This mini unit will train students to identify, eliminate, and replace these vague pronoun references. See more ideas about pronoun activities and teaching language arts. Ambiguous pronoun reference a pronoun with multiple, possible antecedents. A preferred gender pronoun or pgp is the pronoun that a person chooses to use for themself.

Pronouns a pronoun is a word that replaces a noun or noun phrase. If an antecedent is singular, its pronoun must be singular, too. Vague pronoun reference often occurs when pronouns are used at the start of a sentence. Vague pronoun reference and pronounantecedent disagreement definition. A pronoun must refer to a single noun, which acts as its antecedent. Pdf two selfpaced readingtime experiments examined how ambiguous pronouns are. Remind students that this week we will be focusing on the response with evidence steps of the care model. The correct pronoun is her, which refers back to the singular each 1. Pronoun reference is the practice of making pronouns refer clearly to the words they replace. Link pronouns to nouns clearly because pronouns stand in for nouns, be sure your pronouns refer to nouns you have already put in place. It, this, and which are pronouns, and they need to refer back to a specific noun, not to the whole idea of a previous statement. If xenas preferred pronouns are she, her, and hers, you could say xena ate her food because she was hungry. To avoid a vague pronoun reference, make sure that a pronoun cannot possibly refer to more than one antecedent.

Vague pronoun reference and pronoun antecedent disagreement definition. Apr 14, 2016 cate hoppes and maverick wagley present vague pronoun references and a guide on how to revise them. Introduction pronouns help writers to avoid repetition, but when a pronoun is vague, or unclear, readers cant tell what or whom it refers to. Subjective case pronouns are used for the subject of a sentence or for the noun subject. When used by the merely clueless, vague words make an article confusing and possibly make readers misinterpret or even miss important information altogether. You have now reached the end of this selfteaching unit. The great fire a timely fire this selection starts with the beginning of the great fire, and goes back in time to describe the events leading to it. Pronoun reference 2 demonstrative pronouns demonstrative pronounsthis, that, these, thoseare legitimate parts of the english language. But no pronoun may refer to a whole sentence or a whole paragraph. It is not yet clear how the drug raprime affects the body.

Harry was always late for class, and this drove his teacher crazy. Vague and ambiguous pronouns contribute largely to immature writing among middle and high school students. A pronouns antecedent is the word to which the pronoun refers. A pronoun is a word that refers to or takes the place of a noun. The noun which a pronoun substitutes for or refers to. In other words, you cant tell which word the pronoun is replacing. Ixl identify vague pronoun references 6th grade language arts. In the hands of those with more sinister intents, vague words can be used to make articles that are readable enough impart wrong or biased information but confusing enough to prevent. Examples of problematic writing by erica bender, ph.

This means that as students form their responses about annes character, they are. Changing a vague pronoun to a noun is not always enough. Harry was always late for class, which drove his teacher crazy. Those lying between the two poles can be used as either of them in different situations and therefore hard to distinguish. A pronoun is a word that refers to either the people talking like i or you or someone or something that is being talked about like she, it, them, and this. It is easier to catch a faulty reference of pronouns if you read your rough draft aloud.

Better writing avoiding vague and ambiguous pronoun references. As you reread the text, place the events in order on the timeline. Exercise on vague or unclear pronoun reference with answer. For faculty or, how to take important steps in becoming a trans ally. Each sentence below contains a vague pronoun reference a pronoun without a clear noun antecedent. Think about a lesson you have learned by putting yourself in someone elses shoes. Whenever you use a personal pronoun like she, it, or they, you first have to have an antecedent, the word that the pronoun is replacing. Pronoun references as you learned in elementary school, pronouns take the place of nouns. Avoiding vague pronoun references macmillanmcgrawhill. In experiment 1 we show that sentences containing ambiguous pronouns are processed at the. Avoiding vague and ambiguous pronoun references vocabulary antecedent the noun which a pronoun substitutes for or refers to. Our neighbor was a semiprofessionalwho took every spare moment he could to practiceit.