Which sentences contain vague pronouns? Check all that apply. A. …

English Questions

Step by Step Solution

English Questions

Which sentences contain vague pronouns? Check all that apply. A. Bernardo reads both fiction and nonfiction; he likes them a lot. B. After the play, Henrique told Isadora that her solo was excellent. C. Hiroto prepared so well for the debate that he crushed the competition. D. Vivian met Laura at the coffee shop where Laura works after school. E. When Mariana and Rahul studied with Lisa and Nico, it helped the group.

Short Answer

Vague pronouns lack clear references, leading to confusion in sentences. Identifying examples and revising them to include specific nouns clarifies the intended meaning for readers.

Step-by-Step Solution

Step 1: Understand Vague Pronouns

A vague pronoun is a type of pronoun that lacks a clear reference to a specific noun or antecedent in the sentence. This can lead to confusion about who or what the pronoun is referring to. For example, the use of “it” or “they” without a defined subject can make the meaning unclear.

Step 2: Identify Examples of Vague Pronouns

Look for sentences where pronouns are used without a specific antecedent. Common examples include:

“It” in a sentence like “It is great,” where “it” is not defined.
“They” in “They went to the park,” leaving the subject unspecified.
“This” in “This is interesting,” which doesn’t indicate what “this” refers to.

Step 3: Clarify Vague References

To improve clarity, revise sentences by replacing vague pronouns with specific nouns. This adjustment helps to ensure that readers understand the intended meaning. For instance:

Change “It helped them” to “The study session helped Mariana and Rahul.”
Modify “They enjoyed it” to “The students enjoyed the new book.”
Revise “This was surprising” to “The result of the experiment was surprising.”

Related Concepts

Vague Pronoun

Defining a pronoun that does not have a clear antecedent in a sentence, leading to ambiguity

Antecedent

A noun or noun phrase that a pronoun refers to, providing specific meaning to the pronoun

Clarity

The quality of being easily understood, especially in communication, which can be improved by specifying vague pronouns.

Table Of Contents

Which sentences contain vague pronouns? Check all that apply. A. Bernardo reads both fiction and nonfiction; he likes them a lot. B. After the play, Henrique told Isadora that her solo was excellent. C. Hiroto prepared so well for the debate that he crushed the competition. D. Vivian met Laura at the coffee shop where Laura works after school. E. When Mariana and Rahul studied with Lisa and Nico, it helped the group.