Question

Fill in the blank with the most appropriate word.
Do you want those shoes? I don't want _________ .

• A. them
• B. they
• C. him
• D. its

Answer 1

The correct option is A them

A word that can function as a noun phrase used by itself and that refers either to the participants in the discourse or to someone or something mentioned elsewhere in the discourse. In the first half of the sentence, the noun is the "the shoes" and thus in the second sentence to refer to this noun a pronoun needs to be used. The noun is neutral thus pronoun used should not be gender specific. This eliminates "him". Shoes are always present in pairs. "its" can be used when the noun is present singly. It is wrong.

They is used to refer to the subject of a clause. In other words, it usually represents the ‘doers’ of the action described by the verb, and usually refers back to two or more people or things that were mentioned earlier. It is the wrong option

Them is used to refer to the object of a clause. In other words, it usually represents the group of people or things that have ‘experienced’ the action described by the verb, and refers back to two or more people or things that were mentioned earlier. This is the right option.