Choose whether the pronoun reference in each of the following sentences is CORRECT or INCORRECT/CONFUSING.
Example: Mr. Collins told Jim that he had to stop taking such long lunch breaks.
answer: INCORRECT (It is unclear whether the "he" refers to Mr. Collins or Jim.)
1. After putting the laptop on the table, Mary cleaned it.
That's right! Well done!Sorry, that is incorrect. Please try again.
2. After buying the water, Peter drank about half of it.
That's right! Well done!Sorry, that is incorrect. Please try again.
3. If Diane hadn't met Paula earlier in the day, she would not have found out about the concert.
That's right! Well done!Sorry, that is incorrect. Please try again.
4. Maria texted the station, but they didn't respond to her message.
That's right! Well done!Sorry, that is incorrect. Please try again.
5. Although Mr. Smith was poor, he had a lot of style.
That's right! Well done!Sorry, that is incorrect. Please try again.
6. After you take my cellphone out of the bag, put it on the table.
That's right! Well done!Sorry, that is incorrect. Please try again.
7. Mary fell asleep, but her sister was awake. I touched her hand.
That's right! Well done!Sorry, that is incorrect. Please try again.
8. Take the ring I bought and give it to my grandmother.
That's right! Well done!Sorry, that is incorrect. Please try again.
9. Sarah told Mary that she would get promoted.
That's right! Well done!Sorry, that is incorrect. Please try again.
10. Mr. Johnson told the committee that he was sorry for what he had done.
That's right! Well done!Sorry, that is incorrect. Please try again.
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Grammar reviewExercise 2 covers the subtler reference errors, the ones that advanced writers still make under exam pressure.
Beyond simple ambiguity, pronoun reference errors include using this, that, or it to refer vaguely to a whole idea rather than a specific noun ( The report was delayed after the server failed, and the team missed its deadline. This caused problems. What does this refer to exactly?). These broad-reference errors are common in IELTS Task 2 and TOEFL writing, and they pull down Coherence & Cohesion scores even when the ideas themselves are good.
Cambridge C2 Proficiency writing tasks expect zero ambiguity in reference. This exercise targets the specific constructions where reference breaks down most often at advanced level.