16Hit1600
Standard English ConventionsEasy–MediumPronoun agreement with a plural antecedent

Standard English Conventions practice question

The volunteers who sorted the donated coats set aside any with torn linings so that ____ could be mended first.

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

  1. A. thoseCorrect
  2. B. it
  3. C. this
  4. D. that

Answer: A. those

The antecedent is the plural 'any [coats] with torn linings', so 'those' is needed.

Why the other answers are wrong

B. it
'It' is singular; several coats are meant.
C. this
'This' is singular.
D. that
'That' is singular.

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