Discussion
Determine whether or not there is an error in the underlined portion of the sentence above. If there is no error, select answer choice "A".
*This question is included in Nova Press: Set A - Pronoun Errors, question #1
| (A) | Had the President’s Administration not lost the vote on the budget reduction package, his first year in office would have been rated an A. |
| (B) | ... |
| (C) | ... |
| (D) | ... |
| (E) | ... |
| (F) | ... |
The solution is
Posted: 12/08/2011 09:36
From what I know, A possesive pronoun can refer to a possesive noun.
So in this case, "his" can refer to President ( from President's administration ).
If the above logic is correct then Why is answer choice A wrong
So in this case, "his" can refer to President ( from President's administration ).
If the above logic is correct then Why is answer choice A wrong
Posted: 12/09/2011 00:06
Abhi,
The problem with choice (A) is that "his" refers to an "administration."
Here's a paraphrase of choice (A), with the important elements in caps:
The ADMINISTRATION lost the vote, and as a result HIS first year in office was not rated an A.
As you know, an administration is neither a he nor a she. An administration is an "it."
So the issue here is that a singular, masculine pronoun is used to refer to a *group* that has *no* masculine/feminine value.
The problem with choice (A) is that "his" refers to an "administration."
Here's a paraphrase of choice (A), with the important elements in caps:
The ADMINISTRATION lost the vote, and as a result HIS first year in office was not rated an A.
As you know, an administration is neither a he nor a she. An administration is an "it."
So the issue here is that a singular, masculine pronoun is used to refer to a *group* that has *no* masculine/feminine value.
Posted: 08/06/2012 01:56
Since the administration is an it, there should be no unclear pronoun I answer D. Why is it not correct?
Posted: 08/06/2012 19:34
Jessie, answer D has the pronoun "his" in the subordinate clause, which refers to the President. The main clause contains no subject or object that refers to the President.
Posted: 12/20/2012 03:31
I had a hard time selecting an answer to this one because I felt there is a flaw in each choice. I don't agree with answer E because I feel that E had swapped the meaning of the sentence. The cause-effect went from the administration lost the vote causing the President's rating to not be an A to the President lost the vote causing the Administration's rating to not be an A.
Posted: 02/06/2013 04:17
I got it right?unbelievable.....
Posted: 02/24/2015 13:56
+ 1 Quyen Lam
Posted: 05/22/2015 13:38
Yes, I don't think this was the best written question.