Advanced pronouns. 45 questions on pronoun agreement, indefinite pronouns, and complex relative clauses.
What this test covers
- Indefinite Pronouns
- Agreement
- Complex Relative Clauses
Answer the 45 questions below. Each answer is checked straight away, with an explanation. Press Submit at the end to get your score and save it to your dashboard. Answers are not kept if you leave before submitting.
All 45 questions with answers
Pick an answer for each question to see if you are right, with the explanation. Submit when you are done; you can submit before answering them all.
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Q1Everyone in the office ___ to submit their reports by Friday.
Answer: D. has
The indefinite pronoun 'everyone' is grammatically singular and requires the singular verb 'has'. While 'their' is used here as 'singular they'—a gender-neutral pronoun that refers back to a singular person—the main verb must still agree with the singular grammatical number of 'everyone'. Plural forms like 'have' and 'are having' result in a subject-verb agreement error. 'Were having' is also plural and suggests a past continuous action that does not fit the deadline context.
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Q2Identify the grammatically correct sentence:
Answer: D. Neither of the participants was prepared.
In formal grammar, 'neither' is a singular distributive pronoun meaning 'not one and not the other.' It requires the singular verb 'was'. The other options suffer from 'attraction'—the error where the verb incorrectly agrees with the nearest noun ('participants') rather than the actual subject ('neither'). While plural agreement is common in casual speech, formal writing maintains the singular form. 'Are', 'were', and 'have been' are all plural and thus technically incorrect in this prescriptive context.
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Q3Somebody ___ calling from the front desk, but I cannot tell who it is.
Answer: C. is
The indefinite pronoun 'somebody' is singular, requiring the singular verb 'is'. In English, indefinite pronouns ending in -body, -one, or -thing are treated as singular units for agreement, regardless of how many people are actually involved. 'Are', 'were', and 'have been' are plural forms that would only be used with plural subjects like 'Some people'.
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Q4___ of the two candidates is qualified for the position.
Answer: A. Neither
'Neither' is used to indicate 'not one and not the other' specifically within a set of two. It is grammatically singular, which matches the verb 'is'. 'Both' and 'many' are inherently plural and would require the verb 'are'. While 'all' can be singular with non-count nouns, it requires a plural verb ('all of the candidates are') when referring to countable people.
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Q5Each of the students ___ received a copy of the syllabus.
Answer: A. has
'Each' is a distributive pronoun that singles out individual members of a group. As a singular subject, it requires the singular auxiliary verb 'has'. The plural forms 'have', 'are', and 'were' are incorrect because the subject is not 'students' (the object of the prepositional phrase), but the singular pronoun 'each'.
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Q6Identify the grammatically correct sentence:
Answer: B. Everyone has their own opinion.
The subject 'everyone' is singular and must agree with the singular verb 'has'. The use of 'their' as a gender-neutral singular pronoun ('singular they') is standard in modern English to refer back to indefinite subjects without assuming gender. 'Everyone have' and 'Everyone are having' are incorrect because they use plural verbs for a singular subject.
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Q7___ of the five applicants has the necessary qualifications for this senior role.
Answer: D. None
In formal registers, 'none' (traditionally meaning 'not one') is often treated as singular, making it compatible with the singular verb 'has'. 'Neither' and 'both' are restricted to sets of exactly two items, so they cannot refer to 'five applicants'. 'All' is a collective quantifier that requires the plural verb 'have' when referring to countable people.
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Q8Somebody ___ left their umbrella in the hallway.
Answer: D. has
The singular indefinite pronoun 'somebody' requires the singular auxiliary 'has'. The use of the plural possessive 'their' as a gender-neutral singular pronoun is standard and does not change the singular nature of the subject. 'Have', 'are', and 'were' are plural and fail to maintain subject-verb agreement.
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Q9Nobody ___ what the final outcome of the negotiation will be.
Answer: A. knows
The pronoun 'nobody' is singular and requires the singular verb 'knows'. Verbs describing a state (state-describing verbs) like 'know' are rarely used in the continuous aspect ('are knowing'), making those options unnatural. 'Know' is a plural form and is incorrect for the singular subject 'nobody'.
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Q10Either of the proposed solutions ___ acceptable to the board.
Answer: D. is
As a distributive pronoun, 'either' refers to one of two options and is grammatically singular. It requires the singular verb 'is'. Plural verbs such as 'are', 'were', and 'have been' are incorrect, even though the noun following the preposition ('solutions') is plural.
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Q11___ did you invite to the conference yesterday?
Answer: D. Who
In modern English, 'who' is the standard interrogative pronoun used even in the object position of a question. 'Whomever' and 'whoever' are nominal relative pronouns—pronouns that introduce clauses acting as nouns—and are not used for simple direct objects in interrogative sentences. 'Whose' denotes possession and requires a noun to modify.
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Q12The person to ___ I spoke on the phone was very helpful.
Answer: D. whom
The relative pronoun 'whom' is required because it functions as the object of the preposition 'to'. In formal English, 'pied-piping'—where the preposition moves to the front along with the pronoun—demands the objective case 'whom' for people. 'Who' is the subject form, 'which' is for objects/animals, and 'whose' is possessive.
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Q13___ do you think will win the election?
Answer: D. Who
The pronoun 'who' is the subject of the verb 'will win'. The phrase 'do you think' is an intervening parenthetical clause that does not change the pronoun's role. 'Whom' would be incorrect because it is an object form, and 'whose' or 'which' would be semantically incorrect for identifying a person in a general field.
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Q14To ___ should I address this formal complaint?
Answer: B. whom
When following a preposition in formal style, the objective case 'whom' is mandatory. 'Who' is the subject (nominative) form. 'Whoever' and 'whomever' are nominal relative pronouns (used for 'anyone who/whom') rather than simple interrogatives used to ask about a specific person.
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Q15I am not sure ___ suggested this strategy, but it is brilliant.
Answer: B. who
'Who' is the correct relative pronoun because it serves as the subject of the verb 'suggested'. 'Whom' is the objective form and cannot function as a subject. 'Which' usually refers to non-humans or a selection from a specific set, and 'whose' requires a head noun to show possession.
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Q16___ you choose to lead the project is entirely your decision.
Answer: B. Whomever
The clause '___ you choose to lead the project' functions as the subject of the sentence. This requires a fused (nominal) relative pronoun with no antecedent noun. Since the blank is the object of the verb 'choose', the objective case 'whomever' is required — not the subject form 'whoever'. 'Whom' is a relative pronoun used after an explicit antecedent noun ('the person whom you choose') and cannot independently open a nominal relative clause. 'Whose' is a possessive form, and 'what' refers to things rather than people.
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Q17The candidate for ___ the panel voted has extensive experience.
Answer: B. whom
In this relative clause, the pronoun follows the preposition 'for', requiring the objective form 'whom'. 'Who' is a subject form and cannot follow a preposition in this position. 'Whose' shows possession, and 'which' is used for things rather than people (the 'candidate').
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Q18___ is responsible for these errors in the report?
Answer: B. Who
'Who' is the subject form (nominative) required to act as the subject of the verb 'is'. 'Whom' is used for objects, 'whose' for possession, and 'which' for choosing between specific options.
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Q19He is a person ___ I believe is capable of managing the team.
Answer: C. who
'Who' is the subject of the clause 'is capable'. The insertion of 'I believe' is a parenthetical matrix clause and does not turn 'who' into an object. Using 'whom' here is a 'hypercorrection'—incorrectly applying a rule where it does not belong. 'Whose' is possessive, and 'which' is for non-humans.
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Q20There is no one with ___ I would rather work than you.
Answer: B. whom
The relative pronoun is the object of the preposition 'with', requiring the objective case 'whom' in formal writing. 'Who' is the subject form, 'whose' is possessive, and 'which' refers to non-human entities.
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Q21Between you and ___, I think this project is doomed.
Answer: B. me
The preposition 'between' requires its objects to be in the objective case. Therefore, 'me' is correct. The use of 'I' is a common mistake called hypercorrection. 'Myself' is a reflexive pronoun and is only used when the subject of the sentence is also 'I' (e.g., 'I did it myself').
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Q22She is much more experienced than ___.
Answer: A. I
In formal grammar, 'than' is a conjunction introducing an incomplete (elliptical) clause: 'than I (am)'. Therefore, the subject form 'I' is required. While 'me' is common in casual speech, formal registers prefer 'I'. 'Myself' requires a previous 'I' as an antecedent (the word it refers back to).
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Q23The manager gave the task to Sarah and ___.
Answer: A. me
The pronoun is part of a compound object of the preposition 'to', requiring the objective case 'me'. 'I' is a subject form and cannot be the object of a preposition. 'Myself' is reflexive and should only be used if the person performing the action was also 'I'.
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Q24They were taller than ___ when we were children.
Answer: A. he
Formal usage treats 'than' as a conjunction followed by an implied clause ('than he was'), requiring the subject form 'he'. Using 'him' treats 'than' as a preposition; while standard in conversation, it is less preferred in high-level writing. 'Himself' is reflexive and 'his' shows possession.
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Q25It is not for ___ to decide the outcome.
Answer: C. me
The pronoun is the object of the preposition 'for', which requires the objective case 'me'. 'I' is a subject form, 'my' is a determiner that needs a noun, and 'mine' is a possessive pronoun, none of which can function as the object here.
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Q26No one knows the truth better than ___.
Answer: B. he
In formal English, 'than' acts as a conjunction introducing a shortened clause ('than he knows'). This requires the subject form 'he'. 'Him' is the object form and is considered informal in this context. 'Himself' is reflexive and requires a subject to refer back to.
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Q27The award was presented to John and ___.
Answer: C. me
The pronoun is part of a compound object following the preposition 'to', requiring the objective form 'me'. Using 'I' here is a hypercorrection (applying a rule incorrectly). 'Myself' is only used for emphasis or when the subject is also 'I'.
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Q28I suspect that you are more prepared than ___.
Answer: D. we
The conjunction 'than' introduces an elliptical (shortened) clause: 'than we (are)'. This requires the subject pronoun 'we'. While 'us' is common in informal speech, formal writing prefers the subject form. 'Our' and 'ours' are possessive forms.
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Q29This secret is strictly between you and ___.
Answer: D. me
Objects of prepositions like 'between' must be in the objective case, so 'me' is the correct choice. 'I' is a subject pronoun and is incorrect here. 'Myself' is a reflexive pronoun used when the subject and object are the same person, which is not the case here.
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Q30She is as tall as ___.
Answer: C. I
In formal grammar, the second 'as' in a comparison is a conjunction leading into a shortened clause ('as I am'), requiring the subject form 'I'. While 'me' is standard in speech, 'I' is the formal choice. 'Myself' is reflexive and 'my' is a possessive determiner.
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Q31The three brothers always help ___ with their studies.
Answer: C. one another
Traditional grammar distinguishes between reciprocal pronouns: 'each other' for two people and 'one another' for three or more. Since there are 'three brothers', 'one another' is the most precise choice. 'Each others' is missing a necessary apostrophe, and 'them' does not convey the mutual (reciprocal) nature of the help.
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Q32The two business partners respect ___ deeply.
Answer: A. each other
'Each other' is the reciprocal pronoun used for two people. 'One another' is traditionally used for three or more. 'Them' is a simple object pronoun and lacks the sense of 'back and forth' respect. 'Each' is a distributive pronoun, not a reciprocal one.
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Q33The members of the choir looked at ___ in confusion.
Answer: C. one another
For groups of more than two people, 'one another' is the standard reciprocal pronoun. 'Each other' is also common, but 'one another' is preferred for larger groups. 'Them' would mean they looked at a different group of people, and 'each others' is a misspelled possessive form.
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Q34The twins are always talking to ___.
Answer: B. each other
Because 'twins' refers to exactly two people, the reciprocal pronoun 'each other' is the most appropriate. 'One another' is used for groups larger than two. 'Them' would imply they are talking to other people, not to each other.
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Q35The members of the committee congratulated ___ on the success.
Answer: D. one another
'One another' is the reciprocal pronoun used when more than two people perform an action toward one another. 'Each other' is also acceptable but traditionally reserved for pairs. 'Them' is a standard object pronoun that does not indicate mutual action.
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Q36Which sentence avoids pronoun ambiguity?
Answer: C. John told Peter that Peter was late.
Ambiguity arises when a pronoun like 'he' could refer to more than one person (John or Peter). Replacing 'he' with the specific name 'Peter' clarifies the meaning. 'John told to Peter' is also ungrammatical, as 'tell' takes a direct object without the preposition 'to'.
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Q37The vase fell off the shelf and it broke. This is ambiguous because:
Answer: B. 'it' could refer to the vase or the shelf.
Pronoun ambiguity (specifically 'anaphoric ambiguity') happens when a pronoun like 'it' has multiple possible nouns to refer back to. Here, 'it' could logically refer to the 'vase' (which broke on impact) or the 'shelf' (which broke under pressure).
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Q38Sarah met Jane at her house. To clarify that the house belongs to Sarah, one should say:
Answer: C. Sarah met Jane at Sarah's house.
The possessive pronoun 'her' is ambiguous because it could refer to Sarah or Jane. Using the specific name 'Sarah's house' is the only way to ensure the reader knows who the owner is. 'The house of hers' remains ambiguous.
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Q39Choose the most unambiguous sentence:
Answer: D. The manager and the assistant discussed the manager's promotion.
The pronoun 'his' is ambiguous because it could belong to the manager or the assistant. Using the specific possessive noun 'the manager's' eliminates this confusion. 'They discussed the promotion' is also vague as the owner of the promotion is never identified.
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Q40The dog chased the cat until it ran away. To clarify the cat ran away, write:
Answer: A. The dog chased the cat until the cat ran away.
Replacing the ambiguous pronoun 'it' with the specific noun 'the cat' clarifies who performed the action. Without this, 'it' could refer to either the dog or the cat. While 'The cat ran away from the dog' is clear, it changes the structure entirely; 'The dog chased the cat until the...' fixes the original sentence.
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Q41___ of the students in the class were absent today.
Answer: A. Many
'Many' is used with plural countable nouns like 'students'. 'Each' and 'every' are distributive quantifiers that focus on individuals and require a singular verb ('Each of the students was...'). 'Much' is used only with uncountable nouns like 'water' or 'information'.
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Q42___ information regarding the event is available on the website.
Answer: A. Much
'Information' is an uncountable noun. In formal or negative sentences, it requires the quantifier 'much'. 'Many' and 'few' are only used with plural countable nouns. 'Each' must be followed by a singular countable noun.
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Q43Either of the cars ___ in good condition.
Answer: C. is
The pronoun 'either' is grammatically singular, referring to 'one of the two.' It requires the singular verb 'is'. Even though 'cars' is plural, it is the object of the preposition, not the subject. 'Are', 'were', and 'have been' are plural forms.
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Q44She is the only person to ___ I have entrusted this secret.
Answer: B. whom
The relative pronoun is the object of the preposition 'to', requiring the objective form 'whom'. 'Who' is the subject form, 'whose' is possessive, and 'which' is for inanimate objects.
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Q45Everything ___ been prepared for the upcoming event.
Answer: C. has
The indefinite pronoun 'everything' is always singular in English and requires the singular auxiliary verb 'has'. Although it refers to a group of items collectively, it follows singular agreement rules. 'Have', 'are', and 'were' are plural verbs and are incorrect here.
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