Rewrite the sentences below that contain errors in pronoun-antecedent agreement. If a sentence is correct, write "correct."
1. Max is learning skills that you need to be an astronaut.
2. Some of my friends wrote to NASA in his spare time to find out how to become an astronaut.
3. Many astronauts began their careers in the military.
4. Either civilians or military personnel many begin his or her training while in college.
5. Every astronaut spends most of their time on the ground.
6. The space shuttle offers their crew the latest technology.
7. Before a shuttle mission, an astronaut will practice at least one of his or her maneuvers underwater.
8. Either Pam or Sally wants to spend their life flying in space.
9. One of Pam's parents is reluctant to give their support to the decision.
10. Few fathers and mothers would willingly allow his or her daughters to fly into space.
My revisions of these sentences are the following:
1. Max is learning skills that he needs to be an astronaut.
2. Some of my friends wrote to NASA in its spare time to find out how to become an astronaut.
3. Correct
4. Correct
5. Every astronaut spends most of his or her time on the ground.
6. The space shuttle offers its crew the latest technology.
7. Correct
8. Either Pam or Sally wants to spend her life flying in space.
9. One of Pam's parents is reluctant to give his or her support to the decision.
10. Few fathers and mothers would willingly allow their daughters to fly into space.
I disagree with your answers for 2 and 4. The others are correct.
she went on we were able to experience firsthand how people in colonial times lived.
1. Max is learning skills that he needs (To determine the appropriate pronoun, we need to identify the antecedent, which in this case is "Max." Since it refers to a male, the pronoun "he" is used instead of "you.")
2. Some of my friends wrote to NASA in its spare time (The correct pronoun to use here is "its" because "NASA" is a singular entity.)
3. Correct
4. Correct
5. Every astronaut spends most of his or her time on the ground. (To maintain consistency, we use the pronoun "his or her" to refer to "every astronaut.")
6. The space shuttle offers its crew the latest technology. (The pronoun "its" is used as we refer to the space shuttle as a singular entity.)
7. Correct
8. Either Pam or Sally wants to spend her life flying in space. (Since both "Pam" and "Sally" are female, we use the pronoun "her" to match their gender.)
9. One of Pam's parents is reluctant to give his or her support to the decision. (Since we are referring to one parent, we use the pronoun "his or her.")
10. Few fathers and mothers would willingly allow their daughters to fly into space. (To maintain consistency, we use the pronoun "their" to refer to both fathers and mothers.)