Completing Sentences with Correct Pronoun Agreement

The question asks us to complete the sentence "One cannot be too careful of ________" by choosing the best option from the given choices. This involves understanding pronoun agreement, specifically with the indefinite pronoun "one".

When the subject of a sentence is the pronoun "one", the possessive pronoun used to refer back to "one" should typically be "one's". This ensures grammatical consistency and formality.

Analyzing the Options

Let's examine each option:

1. his good name: "his" is a possessive pronoun referring to a male person. While "one" can sometimes refer to a person, "his" does not generally agree with "one" in formal English where "one" is used to mean 'anyone' or 'a person in general'.
2. their good name: "their" is a possessive pronoun that is plural or sometimes used as a singular gender-neutral pronoun. However, in formal contexts when referring back to the indefinite pronoun "one", "their" is usually considered incorrect.
3. whether good name: "whether" is a conjunction used to introduce an alternative or a doubt. It is grammatically incorrect in this position as it does not function as a possessive pronoun.
4. one's good name: "one's" is the possessive form of the indefinite pronoun "one". It directly corresponds to "one" and maintains the formal tone of the sentence. This option provides the correct pronoun agreement.

Applying Pronoun Agreement Rules

The rule of pronoun agreement states that a pronoun should agree in number and gender (where applicable) with the noun or pronoun it refers to (its antecedent). In this case, the antecedent is "one". The possessive form that agrees with "one" is "one's".

Therefore, the sentence should be completed with "one's good name".

The completed sentence is: "One cannot be too careful of one's good name."

Revision Table: Understanding Pronoun Agreement

Additional Information: Formal vs. Informal Usage

While "one's" is the formally correct possessive form for "one", in more informal contexts, particularly in American English, it is becoming increasingly common to use "his or her" or even "their" after "one". However, in standard or formal writing and grammar exercises like this, "one's" is the expected and correct answer.

• Formal: One must do one's best.
• Less Formal (sometimes heard): One must do his or her best.
• Less Formal (sometimes heard): One must do their best.

For completing this sentence correctly according to standard grammar rules, "one's good name" is the appropriate choice to maintain agreement with the subject "One".