Question

We often use pronouns to make links between sentences and to avoid
repetition.

Read the following extract from the story 'The Two Gentlemen of Verona'.

"Of course, everything is so difficult now, food so scarce and dear, we could not keep going unless we charged a fee. But every week, Lucia's brothers have made their payment." She added simply, "I do not know what they do, I do not ask. Work is scarce in Verona. But whatever it is, I know they do it well."

Work with your partner and answer these questions.

1. In the first line 'everything' refers to?

___________________________
2. The phrase 'their payment' (line 3) refers to?

___________________________
3. 'They' in the third line refers to?

___________________________
4. The speaker says, 'I do not ask'. What does the speaker not ask? Whom?

___________________________
5. 'Whatever it is.' (line 4)Here 'it' refers to?

___________________________
6. Who do the pronouns 'I' and 'She' refer to?

___________________________

Answer 1

1. In the first line ‘everything’ refers to ‘the things that are to be bought’.
2. The phrase ‘their payment’ refers to ‘the payment due to Lucia’s brothers.’
3. ‘They’ refers to ‘Lucia’s brothers.
4. The speaker does not ask Lucia’s brothers what they do to earn the money.
5. ‘It’ refers to the work Lucia’s brothers do.
6. Both T and ‘She’ refer to the speaker.