Question

A) NO CHANGE B) who C) whose D) whom

Short answer

To determine the correct relative pronoun, follow these steps: 1. Identify the context for the sentence. 2. Understand the differences between the relative pronouns: who (subject), whose (possession), and whom (object). 3. Examine the function of the relative pronoun in the sentence (subject, object, or possession). 4. Choose the correct relative pronoun based on its function in the sentence (A, B, C, or D).

Step-by-step solution

Identify the context for the sentence

Provide the sentence or context in which the question is being asked to choose from A, B, C, or D. Knowing the context will help determine the function of the relative pronoun within the sentence and therefore the correct choice.

Understand the difference between the relative pronouns

In order to choose the correct option, you need to know the differences between who, whose, and whom: - Who: Used for the subject of a clause, and refers to people (e.g., The person who won the prize.) - Whose: Used to show possession, and refers to people or things (e.g., The student whose book is on the table.) - Whom: Used for the object of a verb or preposition, and refers to people (e.g., To whom should I give this letter?)

Examine the function of the relative pronoun in the sentence

Analyze the function of the relative pronoun within the context of the sentence. Determine whether it acts as a subject, object, or shows possession. Remember to consider the verb and any prepositions in the sentence.

Choose the correct relative pronoun

Based on the function of the relative pronoun in the sentence, choose the correct option (A, B, C, or D). If the function determined in Step 3 matches one of the given options, select that option. If the pronoun already in place is correct, choose option A (NO CHANGE). Note: Since the original exercise does not provide a sentence or context, the solution can only be a general guide on how to approach a similar question. Provide the specific sentence or context to receive a more detailed solution.

Key concepts

Relative pronouns

Understanding relative pronouns is an essential part of mastering the SAT grammar practice. These pronouns link a dependent clause to an independent clause, giving additional information about nouns without starting a new sentence.

The most common relative pronouns on the SAT are who, whose, and whom. Who is generally used when referring to the subject of a clause, specifically people. For example, in the sentence 'The teacher who writes on the board is funny,' who relates to and describes the teacher, the subject performing the action of writing.

On the other hand, whose is employed for showing possession and can apply to people as well as things, as in 'The student whose backpack is red sits in the front row,' where whose tells us that the backpack belongs to the student.

Lastly, whom serves as the object of a verb or preposition, such as in 'The student to whom the letter was addressed was surprised,' where whom is the object receiving the action of the letter being addressed.

It's important to analyze the function relative pronouns serve in sentences to select the appropriate word when tackling SAT questions.

SAT Writing Section

The SAT Writing section gauges a student's proficiency in recognizing and correcting grammatical errors. Within this section, questions often focus on usage and mechanics, encompassing aspects such as grammar, punctuation, and sentence structure. The multiple-choice format requires students to read through passages and identify the correct version of an underlined portion, or even improve the overall passage.

When preparing for this section, a solid grasp of English grammar rules is crucial. This includes understanding everything from subject-verb agreement to the appropriate use of relative pronouns. Practice exercises, like identifying correct relative pronoun usage, enhances a student's ability to quickly spot errors and apply grammatical rules under test conditions.

Moreover, it's essential to read a lot and to write regularly, which helps in developing an intuitive grasp of proper sentence construction and grammar usage that the SAT Writing section demands.

Pronoun Antecedent Agreement

Pronoun antecedent agreement is a cornerstone of good grammar and a frequent focus in SAT grammar practice. It pertains to the relationship between a pronoun and its antecedent, the noun that the pronoun replaces. SAT test-takers must ensure that a pronoun matches its antecedent in both number and gender.

For example, in the sentence 'Every student must bring his or her pencil,' the pronouns 'his or her' agree with the singular antecedent 'student.' An incorrect agreement would be 'Every student must bring their pencil,' since 'student' is singular and 'their' is a plural pronoun.

It's important to locate the antecedent and then decide if the pronoun referring to it suits both in singular/plural form and masculine/feminine/neuter gender, if applicable. Frequent reading and SAT practice exercises can help students internalize these rules, making pronoun antecedent agreement an automatic part of their writing skill set.