BREAKING: Target Test Prep releases Brand New 2026 On Demand GMAT prep course

Redeem

Target Test Prep · GMAT

Choose how you want to prepare

Learn live with an expert or move at your own pace. Every option includes the complete TTP study system.

★★★★★5.0559 reviews
Vote for Target Test Prep, Newsweek Readers’ Choice Awards 2026
NEWSWEEK READERS’ CHOICE 2026

BIG NEWS! Target Test Prep has been nominated, and they’d love your vote!

TTP has worked incredibly hard to build the best test prep experience possible, and winning Newsweek’s 2026 Readers’ Choice Award for Best Test Prep would mean a lot to them. If TTP has helped you, they’d be incredibly grateful for your vote. You can vote once each day through September 9.

Vote for TTP
GMATLiveTeach 7 seats left
Chris Peckover
NEXT LIVE COHORT

Oct 13 to Jan 7, 2027

with Chris Peckover

Schedule
Tue, Thu · 8:00 to 10:00 PM ET
Included
40 live hours + 6 months of GMAT OnDemand
  • Live instruction and real-time questions
  • Class recordings and assigned practice
View class & enroll
Limited cohort · enrollment openTarget Test Prep
EALiveTeach 5 seats left
Logan Thompson
EXECUTIVE ASSESSMENT

Sep 6 to Dec 6, 2026

with Logan Thompson

Schedule
Sun · 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM ET
Included
Live EA class + 6 months of EA OnDemand
  • Expert-led weekly online sessions
  • EA Masterclass access between classes
View EA class & enroll
Limited cohort · enrollment openTarget Test Prep
GMATOnDemand Start anytime
SELF-PACED MASTERCLASS

Target Test Prep GMAT OnDemand

Complete access from day one. Study on your schedule.

715+ score guarantee
$0to start then $127/mo
  • Personalized study plan and analytics
  • Thousands of lessons and practice questions
Start free 5-day trial
Read 559 reviewsTarget Test Prep

Compare the format, schedule, and included access before enrolling. Prices and seat counts shown reflect the supplied offer details.

Pronouns-Possessive Poison

Expert replies
Post new topic Locked
Previous Topic Next Topic
User avatar
Junior | Next Rank: 30 Posts
Posts: 12
Joined: Sun Feb 21, 2010 6:52 pm
Location: San Diego
Thanked: 2 times
by moatazyousif » Sun Feb 21, 2010 6:54 pm
In Manhattan GMAT (SC), Chapter 4, page 55

- "Jose's room is so messy that HIS mother calls HIM a pig" is incorrect
- "Jose's room is so messy that his mother calls Jose a pig" is correct

Because subject and object pronouns may NOT refer back to possessive nouns. Therefore the object pronoun "him" is used incorrectly because it may not refer back to Jose's.

In Problem Set, page 69, sentence number 15

- "Obstinate and surly, the manager's attitude prevented his staff from befriending him" is incorrect
- "The manager's obstinate and surly attitude prevented his staff from befriending him" is correct

why did we keep "him" in the first case, althought it had been replaced by the subject "Jose" in the second case?
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY
Source: — Sentence Correction |
User avatar
Legendary Member
Posts: 1132
Joined: Mon Jul 20, 2009 3:38 amFollowed by: 6 members
Location: India
Thanked: 64 times
GMAT Score:760

by harsh.champ » Sun Feb 21, 2010 6:59 pm
moatazyousif wrote:In Manhattan GMAT (SC), Chapter 4, page 55

- "Jose's room is so messy that HIS mother calls HIM a pig" is incorrect -Since over here,"him" can also denote the room.
- "Jose's room is so messy that his mother calls Jose a pig" is correct-Correct usage-Jose is a pig,not the room

Because subject and object pronouns may NOT refer back to possessive nouns. Therefore the object pronoun "him" is used incorrectly because it may not refer back to Jose's.

In Problem Set, page 69, sentence number 15

- "Obstinate and surly, the manager's attitude prevented his staff from befriending him" is incorrect-Not clear what "Obstinate and surly" denotes over here-hence incorrect.
- "The manager's obstinate and surly attitude prevented his staff from befriending him" is correct-Staff is plural,attitude is a quality,hence use of "him " for the manager is appropriate/

why did we keep "him" in the first case, althought it had been replaced by the subject "Jose" in the second case?
Hope it is clear now.
It takes time and effort to explain, so if my comment helped you please press Thanks button :)



Just because something is hard doesn't mean you shouldn't try,it means you should just try harder.

"Keep Walking" - Johnny Walker :P
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY
User avatar
Junior | Next Rank: 30 Posts
Posts: 12
Joined: Sun Feb 21, 2010 6:52 pm
Location: San Diego
Thanked: 2 times

by moatazyousif » Sun Feb 21, 2010 9:06 pm
Hello,
Thanks for your reply, but this didn't answer the question.

It has been mentioned in Manhattan GMAT that Possessive pronouns (his) can refer back to possessive nouns (Jose's or manager's ). However, subject and object pronouns (him) may NOT refer back to possessive nouns. Therefore the object pronoun (him) is used incorrectly because it may not refer back to Jose's.

Subject and object pronouns (him) may only refer back to subject and object nouns (Jose or manager).

but this is not what happened in the case#2.

I hope you got my point.
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY
User avatar
Legendary Member
Posts: 537
Joined: Sun Jul 19, 2009 7:15 amFollowed by: 1 member
Location: Nagpur , India
Thanked: 41 times

by rockeyb » Sun Feb 21, 2010 11:11 pm
moatazyousif wrote:In Manhattan GMAT (SC), Chapter 4, page 55

- "Jose's room is so messy that HIS mother calls HIM a pig" is incorrect
- "Jose's room is so messy that his mother calls Jose a pig" is correct

Because subject and object pronouns may NOT refer back to possessive nouns. Therefore the object pronoun "him" is used incorrectly because it may not refer back to Jose's.

In Problem Set, page 69, sentence number 15

- "Obstinate and surly, the manager's attitude prevented his staff from befriending him" is incorrect
- "The manager's obstinate and surly attitude prevented his staff from befriending him" is correct

why did we keep "him" in the first case, although it had been replaced by the subject "Jose" in the second case?
I agree with you and the apparent confusion , and it seems even Manhattan GMAT too is not much confident about this .

I say it because the example that you have put in is from Manhattan SC 2003 Edition and in later edition that is 2009 Edition they have removed both the examples .

So I would say the example in 2003 edition is controversial and would you to follow the latest edition.

But if any one has an explanation I would love to hear .
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY
Post new topic Locked
• Page 1 of 1