Which version makes the pronoun 'They' refer to the proper antecedent?

Which version makes the pronoun 'They' refer to the proper antecedent?

• A. The new medical treatment's clinical trial had inconclusive results. They did not see any change in overall health.
• B. The new medical treatment's clinical trial had inconclusive results. The patients and doctors did not see any change in overall health.
• C. The new medical treatment's clinical trial had inconclusive results. The doctors did not see any change in overall health.
• D. The new medical treatment's clinical trial had inconclusive results. The patients did not see any change in overall health.

Answer: (B)

The main idea is pronoun-antecedent agreement and clarity. A plural pronoun like they should refer to a clearly plural antecedent so the sentence isn’t confusing. In the first version, the sentence before the pronoun is about a singular noun—the clinical trial. Using they there would mismatch number and leave readers wondering who “they” refers to. In the second version, the subject is explicitly plural—the patients and doctors. That makes any later pronoun reference clearly point to that plural group, avoiding ambiguity. So this version best supports correct, unambiguous reference of they to the proper antecedent.

The main idea is pronoun-antecedent agreement and clarity. A plural pronoun like they should refer to a clearly plural antecedent so the sentence isn’t confusing. In the first version, the sentence before the pronoun is about a singular noun—the clinical trial. Using they there would mismatch number and leave readers wondering who “they” refers to. In the second version, the subject is explicitly plural—the patients and doctors. That makes any later pronoun reference clearly point to that plural group, avoiding ambiguity. So this version best supports correct, unambiguous reference of they to the proper antecedent.