In this exercise, you are asked to identify the antecedent for each underlined pronoun in the given sentences. The antecedent of a pronoun is the word or phrase that the pronoun refers to. Let's go through each sentence to find the antecedent for the underlined pronouns:
1. The earliest computers were used to calculate numbers. They were used in the 1890's to total the U.S. Census.
- Antecedent for "they": computers
2. International Business Machines Company (IBM) was founded in 1924. The electromechanical calculator was its invention.
- Antecedent for "its": International Business Machines Company (IBM)
3. The first general-purpose computer in America was called the Electrical Numerical Integrator and Computer (ENIAC). It was completed in 1945.
- Antecedent for "it": the first general-purpose computer in America
4. One of its inventors was John P. Eckert. He and John W. Mauchly later built the first computer for commercial use.
- Antecedent for "he": John P. Eckert
5. The explosion of word-processing technology occurred in the 1970's. It gave us the ability to compose documents on computers.
- Antecedent for "it": word-processing technology
By identifying the antecedents in each sentence, you can understand which noun or noun phrase the pronoun is referring to. This exercise helps you practice recognizing and connecting pronouns to their antecedents for clearer communication and understanding in writing.
