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Pronouns with no antecedents

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willacethis
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Pronouns with no antecedents [#permalink] New post   03 Apr 2020, 04:55
Hi guys

In some official questions, I have come across sentences such as:-

There has been a growth in number of.....
It is assumed that...

Now, I don't remember the exact sentences but the pronouns "there" and "it" in the above sentences do not have any antecedents, but we often use sentences like those mentioned above in our regular writing and conversations.

My question is that does GMAT have any kind of bias against these sentence structures?

Would be great if you could establish the point with an official question.

Thanks a lot! :)
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Pronouns with no antecedents [#permalink] New post   05 Apr 2020, 23:09
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willacethis wrote:
My question is that does GMAT have any kind of bias against these sentence structures?

No bias against such sentences at all!

By the way, in the sentence:

It is assumed that...

It actually does have an antecedent; just that the antecedent is used after the pronoun. It refers to that.....

For example:

It is assumed that hard work is good.

The sentence is equivalent to:

(that hard work is good) is assumed .

Hence, it refers to that hard work is good.

By the way, many indefinite pronouns (such as no one, everyone etc.) will not have any antecedents and that's fine.

p.s. Our book EducationAisle Sentence Correction Nirvana discusses the cases where Pronouns are used before the antecedent, their application and examples in significant detail. If you or someone is interested, PM me your email-id; I can mail the corresponding section.
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Pronouns with no antecedents [#permalink] New post   05 Apr 2020, 23:45
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Hi EducationAisle

Thanks for responding!

Could you please shed some light on the sentence structure and the use of "it" in the part "makes it likely to miss signs of incipient trouble or misinterpret them when they do appear" of Option A of the below-mentioned question?

https://gmatclub.com/forum/heavy-commit ... 10136.html

Thanks!
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Pronouns with no antecedents [#permalink] New post   06 Apr 2020, 00:28
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The problem with A in the above sentence is that it is not at all clear who is likely to miss signs of incipient trouble.

So, the sentence should have been:

....makes it an executive likely to miss signs of incipient trouble

Now it is clear that an executive is likely to miss signs of incipient trouble.

p.s. Note that it cannot refer to an executive, since it can only refer to non-persons.
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Re: Pronouns with no antecedents [#permalink] New post   21 Feb 2023, 10:14
EducationAisle wrote:
willacethis wrote:
My question is that does GMAT have any kind of bias against these sentence structures?

No bias against such sentences at all!

By the way, in the sentence:

It is assumed that...

It actually does have an antecedent; just that the antecedent is used after the pronoun. It refers to that.....

For example:

It is assumed that hard work is good.

The sentence is equivalent to:

(that hard work is good) is assumed .

Hence, it refers to that hard work is good.

By the way, many indefinite pronouns (such as no one, everyone etc.) will not have any antecedents and that's fine.

p.s. Our book EducationAisle Sentence Correction Nirvana discusses the cases where Pronouns are used before the antecedent, their application and examples in significant detail. If you or someone is interested, PM me your email-id; I can mail the corresponding section.



I have a doubt--

In many official sentences there is no antecedent for pronouns used. For ex-- personal pronouns ( we, you, etc).

How to decide whether antecedent is required or NOT?
Ex: scientists declared that we need pure environment. ( In this "we" does not have any antecedent).

Due regards.

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Pronouns with no antecedents [#permalink] New post   21 Feb 2023, 10:32
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himanshu0077 wrote:
I have a doubt--

In many official sentences there is no antecedent for pronouns used. For ex-- personal pronouns ( we, you, etc).

Hi Himanshu, there are almost zero chances that you will get a sentence on GMAT that uses a pronoun such as we, you etc. Sentences on GMAT are almost exclusively in third person (they, them, it, he, she etc.).

So, if you can cite an official sentence, it will make the discussion more contextual.

himanshu0077 wrote:
Ex: scientists declared that we need pure environment. ( In this "we" does not have any antecedent).

So, the correct sentence would be:

Scientists declared that they needed a pure environment.

Here, they would refer to scientists.

If the intent is to refer to general public, then the sentence would be:

Scientists declared that people needed a pure environment.

In any case, I don't see a role for we here.
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Re: Pronouns with no antecedents [#permalink] New post   21 Feb 2023, 10:48
EducationAisle wrote:
himanshu0077 wrote:
I have a doubt--

In many official sentences there is no antecedent for pronouns used. For ex-- personal pronouns ( we, you, etc).

Hi Himanshu, there are almost zero chances that you will get a sentence on GMAT that uses a pronoun such as we, you etc. Sentences on GMAT are almost exclusively in third person (they, them, it, he, she etc.).

So, if you can cite an official sentence, it will make the discussion more contextual.

himanshu0077 wrote:
Ex: scientists declared that we need pure environment. ( In this "we" does not have any antecedent).

So, the correct sentence would be:

Scientists declared that they needed a pure environment.

Here, they would refer to scientists.

If the intent is to refer to general public, then the sentence would be:

Scientists declared that people needed a pure environment.

In any case, I don't see a role for we here.


For ex - Aristotle SC:

Menlo university's range of graduate programmes has been developed to fulfil your needs whether you intend to pursue a career in industry, business, govt, NGOs or academia, and whatever your background.

In above ex: there is no antecedent for "you".

I am not able to remember where I have seen the official question.

Due regards

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Re: Pronouns with no antecedents [#permalink] New post   21 Feb 2023, 10:50
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Yeah, would prefer a discussion on an official question Himanshu.
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Re: Pronouns with no antecedents [#permalink] New post   21 Feb 2023, 10:53
EducationAisle wrote:
Yeah, would prefer a discussion on an official question Himanshu.


Ok. I will try to find it out.

Thanks a lot.

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Re: Pronouns with no antecedents [#permalink] New post   21 Feb 2023, 14:26
Quote:
Ok. I will try to find it out.

Thanks a lot.


This Official Question may be a type you're looking for:

https://gmatclub.com/forum/although-she ... 08881.html
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Re: Pronouns with no antecedents [#permalink] New post   21 Feb 2023, 18:11
GmatTutorKnight wrote:
Quote:
Ok. I will try to find it out.

Thanks a lot.


This Official Question may be a type you're looking for:

https://gmatclub.com/forum/although-she ... 08881.html


In this clear antecedent is there. ( Name is given).
(And as mentioned in above replies, it is in third person too).

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Re: Pronouns with no antecedents [#permalink]
21 Feb 2023, 18:11
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