MTEL Communication Literacy Skills : Writing Practice Test

What should be removed to determine the correct pronoun when connected by "and"?

1. Only the first pronoun

2. Only the second pronoun

3. Both "and" and the other pronoun or noun

4. Only the conjunction "and"

The correct answer is: Both "and" and the other pronoun or noun

To determine the correct pronoun when two subjects are connected by "and," it is effective to remove both the conjunction "and" and one of the pronouns or nouns in the phrase. This approach simplifies the sentence, allowing you to focus on the correct pronoun usage. For example, if you were trying to decide between "he" and "they" in the phrase "he and they went to the store," by removing "and they," you can easily see that "he went to the store" is grammatically correct. This practice helps clarify the subject and ensures that the grammatical structure aligns appropriately with singular or plural references. Removing both the conjunction and the other pronoun or noun gives you a clear context to identify the correct form. This method is particularly useful, as the presence of multiple pronouns can often lead to confusion regarding singular versus plural usage, clarity of reference, and overall sentence agreement.