WREN & MARTIN's English grammar-distributive pronouns-MCQs

 

DISTRIBUTIVE PRONOUNS — MCQs for Competitive Examinations

(Based on Wren & Martin's English Grammar)

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Average Standard

1. ________ of the two candidates was found suitable for the post after the interview.

• A) All
• B) Both
• C) Either
• D) Every

2. ________ student in the class must complete his or her project before Friday.

• A) All
• B) Both
• C) Some
• D) Each

3. ________ of the two sisters has her own way of looking at problems in life.

• A) All
• B) Both
• C) Each
• D) Every

4. I have read both the novels but ________ of them impressed me greatly.

• A) each
• B) every
• C) neither
• D) none

5. ________ player in the team was given a medal by the chief guest at the function.

• A) All
• B) Both
• C) Some
• D) Every

6. ________ of the two roads leads to the railway station — you may take any one.

• A) Each
• B) All
• C) None
• D) Some

7. Choose the correct sentence:

• A) Each of the girls have submitted their forms.
• B) Either of the boys are coming to the programme.
• C) Neither of the two answers are correct.
• D) Each of the girls has submitted her form.

8. The teacher distributed books and gave ________ student a separate copy for practice.

• A) all
• B) both
• C) some
• D) each

9. Identify the error in the following sentence: "Either of the three brothers are responsible for the mismanagement of the family business."

• A) Either of
• B) the three brothers
• C) are responsible
• D) the mismanagement
• E) No error

10. ________ of her two answers was correct — she got full marks for both of them.

• A) Neither
• B) None
• C) Each
• D) All

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Answers

1. C) Either "Either" is a distributive pronoun used to refer to one or the other of exactly two persons or things. Wren & Martin states that "either" refers to each of two, taken one at a time. Since the sentence refers to exactly "two candidates," "either" is the correct distributive pronoun. "All" and "both" refer to the entire group together and do not distribute individually.

2. D) Each "Each" is a distributive pronoun that refers to every individual member of a group, considered separately one by one. Wren & Martin: "each" is used to refer to every one of a number of persons or things, taken individually. It always takes a singular noun and a singular verb. "All" refers to the group as a whole and does not emphasise individual distribution.

3. C) Each "Each" is used here because it refers to every one of the two sisters considered individually and separately. Wren & Martin distinguishes "each" from "both" — "both" groups them together while "each" separates them individually. "Each of the two sisters has her own way" correctly stresses individual difference. Note that "each" takes the singular possessive pronoun "her."

4. C) neither "Neither" is a distributive pronoun used to denote not one and not the other of exactly two things. Wren & Martin: "neither" is used for two persons or things and means "not one and not the other." Since exactly two novels are mentioned and neither impressed the reader, "neither" is the correct choice. "None" is used for more than two.

5. D) Every "Every" is a distributive pronoun/adjective that refers to all members of a group individually without exception. Wren & Martin states that "every" is used to refer to each one of a group, emphasising that no member is left out. "Every player" stresses that each and every player — without exception — received a medal. It always takes a singular noun.

6. A) Each "Each" is used here to refer to the two roads individually — stressing that either road, taken separately, leads to the station. Wren & Martin: "each" is used when referring to two or more things considered one at a time. This is different from "all" which would group the roads together. "Each of the two roads leads" correctly takes the singular verb "leads."

7. D) Each of the girls has submitted her form. Wren & Martin clearly states that distributive pronouns "each," "either," and "neither" are always singular and must be followed by a singular verb and singular pronoun. Option A uses plural verb "have" — wrong. Option B uses plural verb "are" with "either" — wrong. Option C uses plural verb "are" with "neither" — wrong. Only option D correctly uses the singular verb "has" and singular pronoun "her."

8. D) each "Each" is the correct distributive pronoun here because the teacher distributed books to every student individually, one at a time. Wren & Martin: "each" emphasises individual distribution — giving something to every single member separately. "All" would mean the books were given to the group together, which does not correctly reflect the meaning of individual distribution intended in the sentence.

9. A) Either of / C) are responsible There are two errors in this sentence. First, "either" is a distributive pronoun used strictly for two persons or things — "the three brothers" refers to more than two, so "either" is incorrect; "any one" should be used instead. Second, "either" always takes a singular verb — "are" is incorrect and must be replaced by "is." Wren & Martin strictly states that "either" and "neither" are singular and refer to only two persons or things. Correct sentence: "Any one of the three brothers is responsible for the mismanagement of the family business."

10. C) Each "Each" is used here to refer to the two answers individually — stressing that every single one of them was correct. Wren & Martin: "each" distributes the reference individually across all members. "Neither" would mean none was correct — contradicting the second part of the sentence. "None" is used for more than two. "Each of her two answers was correct" correctly uses the singular verb "was" in agreement with the singular distributive pronoun "each."