16Hit1600
Standard English ConventionsHardAvoiding an ambiguous pronoun

Standard English Conventions practice question

The manager told the intern that ____ report was due on Friday.

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?

  1. A. the intern'sCorrect
  2. B. her
  3. C. their
  4. D. its

Answer: A. the intern's

With two people in the sentence, only the noun makes clear whose report it is.

Why the other answers are wrong

B. her
'Her' could refer to either person.
C. their
'Their' is ambiguous here.
D. its
'Its' cannot refer to a person.

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