Identify the error in the following sentence.
Ourselves should not boast of one’s knowledge.
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: C
Explanation
The correct answer is option 3 i.e. Ourselves.
Error concept: Incorrect use of reflexive pronoun as subject + pronoun inconsistency
What is wrong:
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The word “Ourselves” is a reflexive pronoun, which cannot be used as the subject of a sentence.
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Also, “ourselves” does not match with “one’s”, which is a general/impersonal pronoun.
Grammatical concept:
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Reflexive pronouns (like ourselves, myself) must be used with a personal subject (e.g., We hurt ourselves).
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We cannot use a reflexive pronoun as the subject.
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The subject and pronoun reference must match in person and number.
Incorrectness of the concept in context:
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“Ourselves” used as the subject is incorrect.
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The sentence switches from first person plural (“ourselves”) to third person singular (“one’s”), which causes a mismatch.
How to correct: Replace “Ourselves” with “One” for a grammatically consistent and impersonal construction.
Correction: One should not boast
Final sentence: One should not boast of one’s knowledge.
Hence, the chosen option is correct.