Choose the correct option for the underlined word(s)

Question Answer
1

Choose the correct option for the underlined word(s).

  1. The teacher always gives the students homework.
    A) their
    B) them
    C) they
  2. I am reading a book to my little sister.
    A) her
    B) hers
    C) herself
  3. The boys are riding their bikes.
    A) it
    C) themselves
  4. My father is writing a letter to John.
    A) him
    B) his
    C) he
  5. I don’t know the answer.
    B) its
    C) itself
    Choose the correct subject pronouns, object pronouns, possessive pronouns, possessive adjectives to complete the

Choose the correct option for the underlined word(s).
Choose the correct option for the underlined word(s).1024×768 187 KB

2

English Grammar: Object Pronouns Replacement

:light_bulb: KEY FORMULA / RULE: Object pronouns (me, you, him, her, it, us, them) replace nouns that receive the action of a transitive verb or follow a preposition. Subject pronouns (I, he, she, they) perform the action, while possessive adjectives/pronouns show ownership.

:brain: SOLUTION & OPTION ANALYSIS

  • 1. “The teacher always gives the students homework.”

    • The students is a plural noun acting as the indirect object of the verb gives.
    • a. their: Incorrect (possessive adjective, requires a following noun).
    • b. them: Correct (plural third-person object pronoun).
    • c. they: Incorrect (subject pronoun).

  • 2. “I am reading a book to my little sister.”

    • My little sister is a singular female noun acting as the object of the preposition to.
    • a. her: Correct (singular female object pronoun).
    • b. hers: Incorrect (absolute possessive pronoun).
    • c. herself: Incorrect (reflexive pronoun, used when the subject and object are the same person).

  • 3. “The boys are riding their bikes.”

    • Their bikes is a plural noun phrase functioning as the direct object of are riding.
    • a. it: Incorrect (used only for singular things).
    • b. them: Correct (plural object pronoun used for both people and things).
    • c. themselves: Incorrect (reflexive pronoun).

  • 4. “My father is writing a letter to John.”

    • John is a singular male noun functioning as the object of the preposition to.
    • a. him: Correct (singular masculine object pronoun).
    • b. his: Incorrect (possessive adjective/pronoun).
    • c. he: Incorrect (subject pronoun).

  • 5. “I don’t know the answer.”

    • The answer is a singular non-human noun functioning as the direct object of know.
    • a. it: Correct (singular neuter object pronoun).
    • b. its: Incorrect (possessive adjective).
    • c. itself: Incorrect (reflexive pronoun).

:white_check_mark: FINAL ANSWER:

  1. b) them
  2. a) her
  3. b) them
  4. a) him
  5. a) it

:warning: EXAM INSIGHT / PITFALL: Remember that them is the plural pronoun for both people (the students \rightarrow them) and objects (the bikes \rightarrow them). Never use “it” for plural inanimate objects.