23 GRAMMAR RULES YOU

MUST KNOW FOR THE

TOEFL TEST
TOEFL PREP COURSE
OK APRENDE INGLÉS
Why You Need This Class
If you are about to take the TOEFL test soon, then you must review your grammar, especially the
principles that are most commonly used in the TOEFL.
Did you know that your overall TOEFL score is weighed based on your grammar accuracy and
use?
If you look at the scoring criteria that the TOEFL evaluators use, you will see an element which
covers at how well you use the different grammar principles and how accurate you use them.
So, apart from learning how to develop high scoring answers in the writing and speaking
sections and understanding the correct strategies for answering the reading and listening
questions, you MUST correct your grammar to ensure you achieve a high score.
This class has been especially designed to help you review, understand and correct the most
common grammar rules used in the TOEFL exam.
 So, if you are about to
take the TOEFL exam
For each TOEFL soon, you MUST NOT
grammar rule, you FORGET to review your
will learn: grammar, because it could
• The fundamental use of mean the difference
the rule between achieving the
score you need or not!
• How to use it (with
simple examples and
explanations)
• When to use it
• Signaling words
• Important tips
 TOEFL Grammar Rule No . 1 -Simple
Present
However, Irregular verbs do NOT follow this pattern. For
Description: example, the verb 'to be’:
Simple present is a tense that is used to express an idea that Subject Conjugated Verb
occurs 'usually' or is repeated continuously. Some examples I Am
are daily events, a habit or something that often happens. You Are
How to Use It: She/He/It Is
We Are
VERB + s/es (in the third person) You (plural) Are
For example > "She speaks English", "l like salad", "They don't They Are
like fish"
When to Use It:
The Simple present is easy to conjugate with Regular verbs Here are the 4 ways to use it
because they all finish in the same form. For example, the verb
'to eat': • Repeated actions > "l go to the gym on Monday and
Subject Conjugated Verb Thursday"
I Eat
• Permanent states > "The Sun rises in the morning”
You Eat
She/He/It Eats
• Scheduled events in the near future > "The plane leaves
at 6am tomorrow"
We Eat
You (plural) Eat
• Now (non-continuous) > "l am here now"
They Eat
Signal Words:
Frequency Adverbs: Always, never, sometimes,
Once/Twice a week/month etc.

Important Tips:
Many people make the mistake of combining
the present continuous with the simple
present.
These forms are INCORRECT:
"She running fast"
"l am go to the mountains"
These forms are CORRECT:
"She is running fast"
"l am going to the mountains"
 TOEFL Grammar Rule No . 2 -Simple Past
Description: When to Use It:
Simple past expresses an action that started and finished at a Here are the 5 ways to use it
specific time in the past. The action must be completely
finished in the past. • Completed action in the past > "Last
year, she travelled to Japan"
How to Use It:
• A series of completed actions > "We
VERB + ed (regular verbs), or other forms for irregular verbs talked on the phone, then met for
Below it is shown how the verb changes for a Regular verb
coffee and later went to the movies'
and an Irregular verb: • Duration in the past > "They lived in
Regular Verb (Simple Past) Brazil for 5 years"
Positive Negative Question • Habits in the past > "l never played
I talked I did not talk Did I talk? the piano"
Irregular Verb (Simple Past) • Past facts or generalizations > "l was a
Positive Negative Question shy child"
I spoke I did not Did I speak?
speak
Signaling Words:
Yesterday, 2 minutes ago, in 1990, the other day, last Friday, etc.

Important Tips:
Words ending in "ed" are often pronounced incorrectly, simply because people aren't aware of the rules.
• Rule 1) All words that have the last consonant before "ed" as a "t" or "d" must be pronounced with the
"ed" as a separate syllable. For example: (Pronunciation with syllables)
• Translated - (Trans - la - ted)
• Needed - (Nee - ded)
• Deposited - (De - pos - i - ted)
• Rule 2) All other words that have the last consonant before "ed" other than "t" or "d" must be
pronounced without the "e", and the "d" is combined with the previous syllable. for example:
(Pronunciation with syllables)
• Looked - (Lookd)
• Watched - (Watchd)
• Liked - (Likd)

TIP: For all words that end in sounds different to "t" or "d", It Is easier to think of a "t" sound. Example,
talked - /talkt/
Note: see how the "e" is not pronounced.
 TOEFL Grammar Rule No . 3 –Present Perfect
The Basic Structure
Description: Affirmative Negative Question
The present perfect has three main uses: I have been to I have never/not Have you been to
Spain. been to Spain Spain?
 To express an action which started at some point in the past and
it is not finished yet. She has driven a She has never/not Has she driven a
 To describe actions that occurred in the past and their result is car driven a car car?
evident in the present. It expresses a process.
 To describe an action that occurred at an unspecified moment
in the past. When to Use It:

How to Use It:

Here are the two forms of when to use the present perfect:
1 . An unspecified time before now.
Have/has + past participle of the main verb
For example: l have seen that movie twenty times.
Time expressions, like; yesterday, one year ago, last week, when I 2. Duration from the past until now (non-continuous verbs)
was a child, when I lived in Australia, at the moment, that day, etc.,
are not used in the present perfect. For example: Mary has loved chocolate since she was a little girl.
Common time expressions for the present perfect are; ever, never,
once, many times, several times, before, already, etc.
Signal Words:
• Ever: Since you were born until right now.
• Just: A few minutes ago. The action has
completed recently.
• Already: Is completed and now I’m doing
something else.
• For: Used to express a period of time
(duration).
• Since: Used to refer to the specific moment
an action began.
 TOEFL Grammar Rule No . 4 –Subject Verb
Agreement
Description:
How to Use It:
Subject-verb agreement means there needs to be a balance To make sure you use the correct verb form with the
between the subject and verb. For example, a singular subject subject, use the following steps:
must have a singular verb and a plural subject must have a 1. Identify what the subject is
plural verb.
2. Decide if the subject is singular or plural
Singular Plural 3. Identify which verb goes with the subject
The employee goes to work The employees go to work 4. Check that the verb form matches the subject
The employee is going to work The employees are going to work
Let's first look at the Subject within a sentence.
The employee has gone to work The employees have gone to work
Subjects
The employee went to work The employees went to work The subject of a sentence is usually a noun or pronoun.
Singular and Plural Noun forms:
The plural form for most nouns is made by adding -s or es.
However, some are irregular and don't have these endings,
for example; man > men.
 Regular Nouns
Singular Plural
Table Tables
Car Cars When to Use It:
Plant Plants You use the Subject-Verb agreement in just about every
sentence you use. This is because just about every sentence
has a subject and most times you are using verbs to provide
Irregular Nouns information about the noun, which means the verb must
agree with the noun.
Singular Plural
Here are some examples with explanations:
Man Men He _____ his desk yesterday.
Child Children (A) cleaned
Criterion Criteria (B) cleans
(C) clean
Verbs:
(D) cleaner
Knowing whether the verb is in its singular or plural form Since 'He' is a singular subject, a singular verb is
shows which form the subject must be in. The singular present necessary. (A) and (B) are both singular verbs,
tense of many verbs Is formed by adding -s or -es. nevertheless (A) is the only correct answer
Again however, irregular verb forms do not follow this rule. because the word 'yesterday' shows that the
action is in the past therefore the verb must also
be in the past tense.
 Important Tips:
• Numbers as a collective noun can be singular or
plural. When 'a' comes before number, it is
always plural. When 'the' comes before a
number, it is always singular. (The group agrees
that action is needed.)
• A compound subject, two or more subjects
The new president and his CEO ____ in an hour. joined by 'and', takes a plural verb. (Coffee and
tea are served hot.)
(A) arrives • A collective noun, which names a group of
people or things, although looks plural is
(B) arrived actually considered to be one unit, a whole, so
it's singular. (The group agrees that action is
(C) has arrived needed.)
• When parts of a subject are joined by 'or' or
(D) arrive 'nor', the verb agrees with the part closest to it.
If the closest part is singular, the verb is singular.
The subject is two people so the verb has to be If the closest part is plural, the verb is plural.
(Neither the secretary nor the receptionist
plural. knows the phone number.) (Either he or they
are early.)
Therefore the correct answer is (D). • These words are always singular (Indefinite
Pronouns): anyone, anything, no one, nothing,
neither, either, what, whatever, whoever,
somebody, something, someone, each,
everyone, everything, and everybody
 TOEFL Grammar Rule No . 5 -Negatives
Tense Negative Element Examples
Description: + Contracted
Forms
Negatives are used to change the meaning of the verb from
positive to negative, or state that something is not true or Simple Present Do + not = don't I do not play
incorrect. Does + not = doesn't He doesn't play
How to Use It: Simple Past Did + not = didn't They didn't play
Present Am + not I am not playing
Whenever you make a negative statement, the word 'NOT'
Continuous Is + not - Isn't She isn't playing
needs to be added after the first auxiliary verb which will vary
according to the verb tense being used. Are + not - aren't We aren't playing

Past Was + not = wasn't I wasn't playing

Note: When an auxiliary verb (including modals) is used, the
main verb is not conjugated (no 'S' or 'ED' ending), meaning Continuous Were + not = weren't They weren't playing
the verb remains in infinitive. The verb 'TO BE' uses a different Present Perfect Have + never I have never played
negation pattern.
Have + not = haven't I haven't played
When to Use It: Has + never
She has never played
Has + not = hasn't
You use the 'negative' form whenever you need to change the She hasn't played
meaning to show that it is not true or incorrect. Future Will + not = won’t I won't play
'to be' + going to I am not going to play
 TOEFL Grammar Rule No . 6 –Verb “To
Be” (Present/ Past/ Future)
Pronoun 'to be' form Other
Description:
Affirmative I am a student
Verb "to be" can be used as the main verb of a sentence or as the Negative He Is + not = isn’t a student
auxiliary verb. As a main verb it is used to express that something
Question
or someone exists or is located at a specific place.
(Pronoun & Are they students?
“to be” swap)
It is important to remember that the verb "to be" is an Irregular
verb.
How to Use It:
Pronoun + "to be" form + subject
The main verb is always the bare infinitive (infinitive without "to")
When to Use It:
“To be” can be used in the present, past and future; however the
form changes based on the tense.
TOEFL Grammar Rule No . 7 –Verb 'Can'
(Present / Past / Future)
Description: When to Use It:
Can is used in the present, past and future; however the form
The verb "Can" is one of the most commonly used modal/auxiliary changes based on the tense.
verbs in English. Its main use is used to express ability, however it
can also be used to show opportunity, possibility or impossibility • Can / be able to (present)
and to request or give permission
• Could (past)
How to Use It: • Will be able to (future)
Subject + can + main verb

The main verb is always the bare infinitive (infinitive without "to")

Important Tip:
The main verb is ALWAYS the bare infinitive.
This is INCORRECT: “I can to play tennis."
 TOEFL Grammar Rule No . 8 – Adverbs
Description: Important Tips:
There are different types of Adverbs in the English language. If the adjective ends In 'y', change 'y' to 'l'. Then
The most common are those which modify verbs by telling us
'how' something is done. add 'ly'
How to Use It: • For example: Happy > happily
Adjective + ly If the adjective ends in 'le', the adverb ends in
‘ly'.
• For example: terrible > terribly
If the adjective ends in 'e', then add ‘ly'
• For example: Safe > safely
When to Use It:
Here is when you use adverbs:
Adverbs of manner
• Quickly
• Kindly
Adverbs of degree
• Very
• Rather
Adverbs of frequency
• Often
• Sometimes
Adverbs of time
• Now
• Today
Adverbs of place
• Nowhere
 TOEFL Grammar Rule No . 9 – Adverbs of
Frequency
Description: Adverbs of Indefinite Frequency
Adverbs of frequency aim to describe when or how often something is done. Adverbs of indefinite frequency are more ambiguous since
The two types are: adverbs of definite frequency and adverbs of indefinite they do not determine the number of times an action happens
frequency. in a given period of time.
How to Use It: Common examples are: *always *usually *never *often
*very often *rarely *sometimes *seldom *once in a while
Adverbs of Definite Frequency *repeatedly *typically *hardly ever *occasionally
Adverbs of definite frequency are placed at the beginning or the end of a Adverbs of Indefinite frequency are placed In the middle of the
sentence and show the exact number of times that an action happens in a sentence. The exact location depends on the type of verbs in
given time period. the sentence.
Common examples are: *hourly *daily *weekly *monthly *yearly *once a There are three possible locations:
month *every month *every other month
1. Between the subject and the main verb UNLESS the verb
Examples of Adverbs of Definite Frequency: Is a form of 'be': is, am, are, was, were.
Every day, some employees go out for lunch. Examples:
Some employees go out for lunch every Friday. • She often takes her vacation in winter.
Payroll must be done every two weeks. • The employees always work until seven.
• The manager usually arrives first at the staff meetings.
2. After the verb form when it is the main verb.
Examples
She is often ill in winter.
The employees are always working until seven.
The manager Is usually the first person to arrive.
3. Between the helping verb and the main verb. This is always true,
even when the main verb is a verb form of be.
Examples
She has often gone on vacation in winter.
The employees can always work until seven.
The manager will usually arrive first at the staff meetings.
Incorrect: The owners have been rarely unreasonable.
Correct: The owners have rarely been unreasonable. (Have is
the helping verb, been is the be verb form)
When to Use Them:
You use adverbs of frequency when you need to provide more
information about the verb you are using. Adverbs of frequency,
when used correctly in speaking and writing and answered
correctly in reading and listening, always help to increase your
score.
 TOEFL Grammar Rule No . 10 – This /
That / These / Those (Demonstratives)
Description: When to Use It:
Demonstratives are used to explain how close the speaker is
from other people, things, situations and experiences. In other
words; the distance from the speaker.
How to Use It:
Adverbs of Definite Frequency
THIS is used for singular nouns that are close to the speaker.
THAT is used for singular nouns that are far from the speaker.
THESE is used for plural nouns that are close to the speaker.
THOSE is used for plural nouns that are far from the speaker.
 TOEFL Grammar Rule No . 11 – Countable
& Uncountable Nouns
Description:
Nouns can be classified as countable or uncountable.
Countable nouns can be given a number and take both
singular and plural forms.
Uncountable nouns on the other hand, can only take the
singular form since they cannot be counted and therefore
cannot be plural.
How to Use It:
Countable - Use a/an or a number in front of a singular
countable noun
Uncountable - There is no a/an or number in front of an
uncountable noun
 You can make most uncountable nouns countable by
putting a countable expression in front of the noun.
For example:
• A piece of information
• 2 glasses of water
•1 0 litres of coffee

When to Use It:

In other words, countable nouns are used when you can
count the object and uncountable nouns are used when
you can't.
Words you can use with Countable and Uncountable
nouns:
 TOEFL Grammar Rule No . 12 –
COMPARISONS
Description:
Comparisons are used to compare the differences or
similarities between 2 or more objects.
To do this we can use adjectives in their comparative
forms.
How to Use It:
In order to use a comparison, you must take an adjective
and change it based on a set of specific rules.
For example:
Here are some exceptions to the rule:

Comparatives - are used when you want to

compare 2 or more objects.

For example: She is taller than him.

 TOEFL Grammar Rule No . 13 –
INDEFINITE PRONOUNS
Description:
Indefinite Pronouns refer to unspecified people, things or
amounts. Given that they are 'not definite' they usually take
the third person form.
Most Indefinite Pronouns are either singular or plural.
However, some of them can be singular in one context and
plural in another.
How to Use It:
You simply replace the pronoun with the correct indefinite
pronoun.
For example: 'Peter is driving the car.' > 'Someone is driving
the car.'
When to Use it:
You use Indefinite Pronouns when you either don't know
who or what the object is or it is not necessary to state
who or what the object is.
Important Tip:
In English there can NEVER be two negatives in a sentence.
For example: 'There isn't nobody.' (INCORRECT) > 'There
isn't anybody.' (CORRECT)
 TOEFL Grammar Rule No . 14 –
CONDITIONAL
When to Use It:
Description:
Here are examples of each conditional:
There are three conditionals in English and each one has a
specific use and form. They are used to talk about possible or First conditional - "If I find her address, I will send her an
imaginary situations. A 'condition' is a situation or invitation."
circumstance.
Second conditional - "If I found her address, I would send her
How to Use It: an invitation."
• First conditional - It is possible and also very likely that the Third conditional - "If I had found her address, I would have
condition will be fulfilled. sent her an invitation."
If + present simple, … future simple (Will) The conditional that you will most likely use and therefore
need to know and understand is the Second Conditional. This
• Second conditional - It is possible but very unlikely, that the is because the Second Conditional is the ONLY conditional
condition will be fulfilled. used in TOEFL questions.
If + past simple, ... would/could + infinitive TOEFL example writing question:
• Third conditional - It is impossible that the condition will be "If you were given a gift of money, what would you do with the
fulfilled because it refers to the past. money and why?."
If + past perfect, ... would + have + past participle
 TOEFL Grammar Rule No . 15 – REPORTED
SPEECH
Description:
When we repeat a message that has been said by
someone else, we use reported speech. We do this by
using the speaker's words but changing the tense in order
to show the message was said in the past, this is why the
verbs have to be in the past.
How to Use It:
When you report something someone has said, you must
go back a tense.
How to Use it:
When you report something someone has said, you must
go back a tense.
 TOEFL Grammar Rule No . 16 – USED TO
Description:
When we want to express that something was an old habit
that has stopped in the present, we use the phrase Used
to. This indicates that an action was often repeated in the
past, but it is not usually done now.
How to Use It:
Below explains the difference between 'used' and 'use'.
 When there is 'did' in the sentence, we say 'use to’
(without 'd')
When there is no 'did' in the sentence, we say 'used to
(with 'd')
When to Use It:
There are two uses for 'used to’.
1. Habit in the past
• "Jerry used to study English." (He doesn't do it anymore)
• "Sam and Mary used to go to Mexico in the summer." (They
don't do it anymore)
• "I used to start work at 9 0'clock." (l don't do it anymore)
2. Past facts and generalizations
• "l used to live in Paris."
• "Sarah used to be fat, but now she is thin."
• "George used to be the best students in class, but now Lena
is the best."
 TOEFL Grammar Rule No . 17 – EITHER /
NEITHER / BOTH
Description:
How To Use It:
Either and Neither are used in almost the same way as "so" and
"too", but they are used with negative verbs. Both are used to Both = this AND that
explain that two subjects something in common. •Used with the word 'and'
How to Use It:
Either = this OR that
•Goes at the end of the sentence after the negative helping
verb

Neither = NOT this and NOT that

•Goes after the conjugation, the helping verb, and then the
subject
•Neither has a negative connotation and therefore the
sentence must not have another negative word
•Used with the word 'nor'
When to Use It:
Here are examples of when to use each form:
Both
•"Emma and Megan both went to the party."
Either
• " Do you want either chocolate or chips?"
Neither
•"l like neither cats nor dogs."
 TOEFL Grammar Rule No . 18 –
TRANSITION PHRASES OR WORDS
Description:
Here Is a paragraph with transition phrases:
Transition phrases allow your ideas and paragraphs to flow
together. Without these transition phrases it is difficult to connect "Even though Australia is a country with many places to visit, it can
your ideas throughout your TOEFL writing and speaking answers. be very hot in the summer. However, this does not stop many
people from coming to Australia to enjoy its attractions.
How To Use It:
As you can see above, the two transition phrases are used to help
Transition phrases are generally used at the beginning of a the reader and direct them with what the following sentence is
sentence, but can also be used in the middle of a sentence about and helping connect the information together easier.
depending on the type.

In order to use them correctly you need to think about 'connection'

between your sentences. When to Use Them:

Here is a paragraph without transition phrases: In order to achieve a high score on the TOEFL, you MUST use
transition phrases. Here are examples of phrases to use for
"Australia is a country with many places to visit but can be very hot different purposes:
in the summer time. This does not stop many people from coming
to enjoy its attractions."
Introduction 'And' Group

• “Firstly…” • "Too (end of sentences)" "As well as..."

• “Secondly…” • "Furthermore... "

• "In my opinion..." • "Both... and..."

• "There are two reasons why…”

Supporting points But' Group

• "On the other hand.. • "Through..

• "For example.. • "Although.

• "In contrast..." 'However..." • Nevertheless...

• "In fact.. • On the other hand..

• "In addition...“

'So' Group
Conclusion • "As a result...
• "Therefore...”
• "Therefore...
• "As a result...”
• "Consequently..
• "In conclusion..."
 TOEFL Grammar Rule No . 19 – OTHER /
ANOTHER
Description: Other + plural or uncountable nonspecific noun
Another and Other are two commonly used words in the English For example:
language but can easily be confused.
• 'Other people have problems, too." [people = plural noun]
 Another - is used with singular nouns.
 Other - is used for both singular and plural or uncountable • "This book has other information." [Information uncountable
nouns. noun]

How To Use It: Note: Other refers to all people or things that are not the particular
one being mentioned.
Another + singular nonspecific countable noun
Note: 'Others is not the plural form of 'Other'. 'Other' can be an
For example: adjective or a pronoun, while 'others' is always a pronoun.
• "Let's meet another day." [day = countable, singular] • "Susan was at the meeting with three other teachers.“ [adjective]
• "Can I have another apple." [apple = countable, singular] • "Some students are better than others." [pronoun]
Note: Another is used for an additional person or thing of the same When to Use Them:
kind.
When to Use It:

Another - when you want the same of one thing.

Other - when you are talking about nonspecific things

singular or plural things different to the one being
mentioned.
 TOEFL Grammar Rule No . 20 – PASSIVE
VOICE
Description: When to Use Them:
The Passive voice is a highly recommended form to use in the You must use the passive voice in your writing and speaking
TOEFL as it is seen by the evaluators as a better level of English. answers in the TOEFL.

The Passive voice is used when the focus is on the action, rather This is because the passive voice is seen by TOEFL evaluators as a
than who or what is performing the action. more formal form of presenting the information, whereas the
Active voice is seen as a simpler form, hence the Passive voice will
How To Use It: attract a higher TOEFL score.

Who/What receiving action + be + past participle of verb + by +

Who/What doing action
 TOEFL Grammar Rule No . 21 –
PREPOSITIONS

Description:

Prepositions are a complex and unique part of the English language

due to their number and varied uses. These short words express
time and place. They can also be used together with verbs forming
phrasal verbs.

Prepositions can be difficult because one preposition in your native

language may have a different meaning in English.

How To Use Them:

Prepositions are split into Time and Place (position and direction).
 TOEFL Grammar Rule No . 22 –
PARALLELISM
Description:

Parallelism is the balance of grammar structures within a sentence. This

means that the elements used in a sentence need to match each other for
the sentence to be balanced. Parallelism aims to prevent the sentence from
being awkward or incoherent and increases clarity for the reader.

How To Use It:

There needs to be balance between the elements of a sentence, whether

they are nouns, verb tenses, prepositional phrases, comparisons or
conjunctions.

Nouns

Nouns need to be balanced with nouns. In the sentence, "l enjoy soccer
more than playing rugby,' "soccer" is a noun, but "playing rugby" is a phrase.

Verb Tense

Verb tenses also need to be balanced. There is something incorrect with this
sentence: "Yesterday, I went to class, cooked and was listening to music."

The last element used, has a different verb tense than the first two; all verb
tenses need to be the same. "Yesterday, i went to class, cooked and listened
to music.'
Prepositional Phrases

Pair prepositional phrases with prepositional phrases. In the

sentence: "Next month we can go to the movies or riding
motorcycles in the mountains," the prepositional phrase "to the
movies" is not parallel with the verb "riding." The corrected
sentence looks like this: "Next month we can go to the movies or
to the mountains to ride motorcycles.“

Comparing

 When comparing two things using words like; "than" or "as,"

make sure the items on each side are parallel. This sentence is
incorrect: "Driving to town is as fast as the bus." This sentence is
correct: 'Driving to town is as fast as taking the bus."

Conjunctions

When using correlative conjunctions such as "both...and,"

"either...or" or "rather...than," the items being Joined must be
parallel. This sentence Is incorrect: "Mary wants both fame and
wealthy." This sentence is correct: "Mary wants both fame and
wealth."

When To Use It:

You must use parallelism when you are developing sentences

using the above contexts.
 TOEFL Grammar Rule No . 23 – PRONOUN
REFERENCE
Description: Error No. I - Too many antecedents

For example:
Pronoun Reference occurs when a pronoun takes the place of a
noun. Whenever this happens, the pronoun must clearly refer to "The student's father felt upset when he failed History. "In this case, "he" is
the noun that comes right before its antecedent. The relationship replacing either "father" or "the student". However, it is not clear which noun
between the pronoun and the noun being replaced must be clear Is being replaced since both can be a singular masculine noun.
in order to avoid confusion to the reader.
Solution: Do not use a pronoun; instead repeat the noun. "The student's
father felt upset when the student failed History."
How To Use It:
Error No. 2 - No antecedent
When replacing a word by a pronoun, make sure there is a
coherent relationship between them, this refers to: gender, For example:
number etc. If the pronoun does not have a clear antecedent, the "The victim called the police station, but they didn't answer.' In this case,
reader can become confused. "they" does not have a noun antecedent which it refers to.

The following are common errors people make when using Solution: Use the noun or insert an antecedent that clearly refers to the
pronoun.
Pronoun Reference:
"The victim called the police station, but the police officers didn't answer."

Or

"The victim called the police officers, but they didn't answer."