Common mistakes with pronouns

Correct the following sentences.

• Incorrect: One should keep his promises.
• Correct: One should keep one’s promises.
• Correct: A man or woman should keep his / her promises.

One when used in a sentence should be used throughout. Note that in American English, the pronouns he, him and his can be used later in a sentence to refer back to one. This is not possible in British English.

• Incorrect: ‘Is he coming’? ‘Yes, I think.’
• Correct: ‘Is he coming?’ ‘Yes, I think so.’

Here the sentence ‘I think so’ means ‘I think that he is coming.’ So can be used after verbs like say, tell and think instead of repeating information in a that-clause.

• Incorrect: I enjoyed when I went to Venice.
• Correct: I enjoyed myself when I went to Venice.

To talk about having a good time, we normally say enjoy myself / yourself / himself etc.

• Incorrect: The boy who does best he will get the prize.
• Correct: The boy who does best will get the prize.
• Incorrect: The man who stole the bicycle he has been arrested.
• Correct: The man who stole the bicycle has been arrested.

One subject or object in a relative clause is enough. For example, in the clause ‘the boy he will get the prize’ there are two subjects – the boy and he. One of these should be removed.

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