Pronouns and Possessives: B1 Exercises

Every answer with the reason behind it. Read the explanation for the ones you got right as well — that is where you find out whether you were right for the right reason.

Multiple choice questions — answers

1. That coat is not mine — I think it is ___. → hers

Hers is the possessive pronoun and stands alone; her would need a noun after it.

2. The dog wagged ___ tail furiously. → its

Its is the possessive; it's always means it is or it has.

3. ___ a shame the concert was cancelled. → It's

It's here is the contraction of it is, which is why it takes an apostrophe.

4. She taught ___ to play the guitar. → herself

Subject and object are the same person, so the reflexive is required.

5. My sister and ___ share a flat in Cardiff. → I

The pronoun is part of the subject, so the subject form I is correct.

6. Between you and ___, I think he is mistaken. → me

Between is a preposition, so it takes the object form me, however formal I may sound.

7. The twins write to ___ every week. → each other

Each other is reciprocal: each writes to the other. Themselves would mean each writes to herself.

8. ___ has left their umbrella in the hall. → Someone

Someone takes a singular verb, and their is now standard for an unknown person.

9. Is this bag ___? → yours

Yours is the possessive pronoun; your must be followed by a noun.

10. We painted the whole house ___. → ourselves

The plural reflexive is ourselves, used here to stress that nobody helped.

11. Which sentence is correct? → The cat licked its paws.

No apostrophe on the possessive its — the apostrophe form is only ever it is or it has.

12. Nobody ___ told me about the change of plan. → has

Indefinite pronouns such as nobody, everyone and somebody take singular verbs.

13. The decision is ___ to make, not mine. → yours

Yours stands alone in place of your decision.

14. He blamed ___ for the entire failure. → himself

The subject and the object are the same person, so the reflexive is needed.

15. ___ house is the one with the blue door. → Their

Their is the possessive adjective before a noun; they're means they are.

16. I spoke to the manager ___. → himself

An emphatic reflexive stresses that it was the manager in person and nobody junior.

17. Everybody ___ to bring their own equipment. → needs

Everybody is grammatically singular, however plural the group feels.

18. These seats are ___, so please move along. → ours

Ours replaces our seats entirely.

19. The two countries have long distrusted ___. → each other

Each other expresses a mutual relationship between two parties.

20. Neither of the applicants ___ suitable. → was

Neither is singular in careful written English, so it takes was.

Fill-in-the-blank questions — answers

1. This umbrella is not mine — I think it belongs to ___. → her

After a preposition the object form is required.

2. The company has changed ___ logo three times. → its

The possessive its never takes an apostrophe.

3. ___ raining again, so take a coat. → It's

Here the apostrophe form is correct because it means it is.

4. He cut ___ while chopping onions. → himself

The subject and the object are the same person, so a reflexive is needed.

5. My colleague and ___ are presenting together. → I

The pronoun is part of the subject of the verb.

6. Keep this strictly between you and ___. → me

Between is a preposition and takes the object form.

7. The two sisters phone ___ other every evening. → each

Each other expresses a reciprocal action between two people.

8. Somebody has left ___ laptop in the meeting room. → their

Their is now standard when the owner is unknown.

9. Is this jacket ___ or should I hang it up? → yours

The possessive pronoun stands alone with no noun after it.

10. We built the whole shed ___. → ourselves

The plural reflexive emphasises that nobody else helped.

11. Nobody ___ answered the door yet. → has

Indefinite pronouns take singular verbs.

12. That choice is ___ alone to make. → yours

A possessive pronoun replaces the whole noun phrase.

13. ___ car is parked across the entrance again. → Their

The possessive adjective comes before a noun; they're would mean they are.

14. I met the author ___ at the book launch. → herself

An emphatic reflexive stresses that it was the person in question.

15. Everyone ___ to sign in at reception. → has

Everyone is singular despite referring to many people.

16. These tickets are ___, not theirs. → ours

Ours replaces our tickets without repeating the noun.

17. The two teams congratulated ___ another after the match. → one

One another is the reciprocal form, often preferred for larger groups.

18. Neither of the reports ___ been finished. → has

Neither is grammatically singular in careful writing.

19. She poured ___ a large glass of water. → herself

The reflexive is used when the action returns to the subject.

20. The kitten chased ___ own tail for an hour. → its

The possessive form of it, with no apostrophe.

Sentence structure: word ordering — answers

1. Contrast two possessive pronouns. → That book is hers, not mine.

Contrast two possessive pronouns.

2. Use the possessive with no apostrophe. → The dog buried its bone in the garden.

Use the possessive with no apostrophe.

3. Open with the pronoun that means it is. → It is a pity you cannot come.

Open with the pronoun that means it is.

4. Use a reflexive after a teaching verb. → She taught herself to code last year.

Use a reflexive after a teaching verb.

5. Use the subject form in a compound subject. → My brother and I grew up here.

Use the subject form in a compound subject.

6. Use the object form after a preposition. → Keep this between you and me.

Use the object form after a preposition.

7. Express a mutual action. → The twins help each other with homework.

Express a mutual action.

8. Refer to an unknown person. → Someone has left their coat behind.

Refer to an unknown person.

9. Ask about ownership with two pronouns. → Is this seat yours or his?

Ask about ownership with two pronouns.

10. Stress that nobody helped you. → We decorated the whole flat ourselves.

Stress that nobody helped you.

11. Use a singular verb after an indefinite pronoun. → Nobody has seen him since Tuesday.

Use a singular verb after an indefinite pronoun.

12. Compare using an adjective and a pronoun. → Their house is larger than ours.

Compare using an adjective and a pronoun.

13. Add emphasis with a reflexive. → I spoke to the director himself.

Add emphasis with a reflexive.

14. Use singular agreement with everyone. → Everyone needs to bring a packed lunch.

Use singular agreement with everyone.

15. Contrast two plural possessive pronouns. → These documents are ours, not theirs.

Contrast two plural possessive pronouns.

16. Use the formal reciprocal form. → The two leaders greeted one another warmly.

Use the formal reciprocal form.

17. Use singular agreement after neither. → Neither of them has replied yet.

Use singular agreement after neither.

18. Use a reflexive as an indirect object. → He poured himself another cup of tea.

Use a reflexive as an indirect object.

19. Ask about ownership. → Whose jacket is hanging on my chair?

Ask about ownership.

20. Turn the action back on the subject. → They blamed themselves for the delay.

Turn the action back on the subject.