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Chapter 5: Problem 33

We drove around to familiarize ourselves with the new surroundings. A. We drove around to familiarize ourselves with the new surroundings. B. We drove around to familiarize ourselves with our new surroundings. C. We drove around to familiarize ourself with the new surroundings. D. We drove around to familiarize ourselves with their new surroundings. E. We drove around to familiarize oneself with the new surroundings.

Short Answer

Expert verified
B. We drove around to familiarize ourselves with our new surroundings.

Step by step solution

01

Identify the Correct Subject Pronoun Agreement

The subject pronoun 'we' in the sentence indicates that the correct reflexive pronoun should be 'ourselves', not 'ourself', 'oneself', or 'theirself'.
02

Check for Agreement in the Possessive Adjective

Ensure that the possessive adjective ('our' or 'their') matches the subject. Since 'we' is the subject, 'our' should be used.
03

Eliminate Incorrect Choices

Based on the agreement rules, we can eliminate options C, D, and E because they use incorrect reflexive pronouns or possessive adjectives. This leaves us with options A and B.
04

Choose the Most Accurate Possessive Adjective

Between options A and B, consider the context given. Both 'the' and 'our' can be correct in different contexts. However, 'our' provides a clearer, more specific identification of whose surroundings are being familiarized.

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Key Concepts

These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.

Pronoun Agreement
Pronoun agreement is crucial in ensuring that sentences are logical and coherent. In this exercise, the subject pronoun 'we' needs to match the corresponding reflexive pronoun and possessive adjective. To ensure agreement, examine who or what the subject is. Pronouns should reflect the number (singular or plural) and gender (if applicable) of their antecedents. For instance:

  • 'We' requires matching pronouns like 'ourselves' (not 'oneself' or 'ourself').
  • Check if the pronoun correctly reflects the subject in number and person.
Always make sure the pronoun matches its subject in both number and perspective.
Possessive Adjectives
Possessive adjectives show ownership or relation to a specific subject. They need to match the subject of the sentence. In our example, the subject 'we' should be complemented by the possessive adjective 'our', because 'our' indicates possession related to 'we'. Here are some tips for checking possessive adjectives:

  • Ensure the possessive adjective correctly aligns with the subject pronoun in both number (singular/plural) and person (first/second/third).
  • For 'we', use 'our'. For 'he', use 'his'. For 'they', use 'their', and so on.
Using the correct possessive adjective creates a clear and accurate sentence that reflects who owns what.
Reflexive Pronouns
Reflexive pronouns are used when the subject and the object of the sentence are the same. They end in '-self' or '-selves', depending on whether the subject is singular or plural. Examples include 'myself', 'yourself', 'themselves', 'ourselves'. In our GMAT example, the correct reflexive pronoun for 'we' is 'ourselves'. Here’s more:

  • Identify the subject pronoun first (e.g., 'we').
  • Use the matching reflexive pronoun (e.g., 'we' -> 'ourselves').
  • Avoid incorrect forms like 'ourself' or 'theirself'. They do not exist in standard English.
The use of correct reflexive pronouns maintains clarity and proper grammatical structure.
Eliminating Wrong Choices
To confidently answer sentence correction questions, eliminating wrong choices is a useful strategy. Follow these steps:

  • First, focus on pronoun agreement and possessive adjectives. Remove any choices that fail these checks.
  • Scrutinize the remaining options for subtle errors or variances in meaning.
  • In this example, options C, D, and E were eliminated based on incorrect reflexive pronouns or possessive adjectives.
  • Compare the context-specific accuracy of remaining choices, here A and B. B provides a clearer description ('our new surroundings').
By methodically applying these steps, you can effectively narrow down choices and select the most accurate and contextually sound answer.

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