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Example Questions
Example Question #571 : Usage Errors
When she was asked what her favorite activity was, Micaela said sleep.
Choose the answer that best corrects the underlined portion of the sentence. If the underlined portion is correct as written, choose "NO CHANGE."
says "sleep."
says "sleeping."
"slept."
NO CHANGE
said "sleeping."
said "sleeping."
Instead of the noun "sleep," a better choice is the gerund "sleeping". A gerund is a verb that ends in "-ing," like a participle, but acts like a noun (instead of an adjective). In this situation where Micaela is asked about an activity, it's better to use the gerund form because it is more "active" than just the normal noun.
Example Question #4 : Other Verb Usage Errors
Adapted from The Apology by Plato (trans. Jowett)
This inquisition has led to my having many enemies of the worst and most dangerous kind and has given occasion also to many false statements against me. And I am called wise, for my hearers always imagine that I myself possess the wisdom which I find lacking in others. However, O men of Athens, the truth is that god only is wise. By his answer he intends to show that the wisdom of men is worth little or nothing. He is not speaking of Socrates, he is only using my name by way of illustration. It is as though he said, “He, O men, is the wisest, who, like Socrates, knows that his wisdom is in truth worth nothing.” And so, I go about the world, obedient to the god, searching and making enquiry into the wisdom of any one, whether citizen or stranger, who appears to be wise. If he is not wise, then I show him that he is not wise. My occupation quite absorbs me, and I have no time to give either to any public matter of interest or to any concern of my own. Indeed I am in utter poverty by reason of my devotion to the god.
There is another thing. Young men of the richer classes, who have not much to do, come about me of their own accord. They like to hear my examinations of others and often imitate me, and then proceed to examine others. They quickly discover that there is plenty of people, who think that they know something but really know little or nothing. Then, those who are examined by them instead of being angry with themselves become angry with me.
“This confounded Socrates,” they say, “this villainous misleader of youth!” And then, if somebody asks them, “What evil does he practice or teach?” they do not know and cannot tell. However, in order that they may not appear to be at a loss, they repeat the ready-made charges which are used against all philosophers: the teaching things up in the clouds and under the earth, having no gods, and making wrong things appear to be right.
They do not like to confess that their pretence of knowledge has been detected (which is the truth). And as they are numerous and ambitious and energetic, they have filled your ears with they’re loud and inveterate calumnies.
And this, O men of Athens, is the truth and the whole truth. I have concealed nothing; I have dissembled nothing. And yet, I know that my plainness of speech makes them hate me. Still, what is their hatred but a proof that I am speaking the truth? From this have arisen the crowds’ prejudice against me. This is the reason of it, as you will find out either in this or in any future enquiry.
Without altering the sense of the selection, which of the following is an acceptable form for the underlined selection, "my having many enemies"?
will have many enemies
have many enemies
many enemies
NO CHANGE
my many enemies
NO CHANGE
As written, this is a correct use of the gerund "having." The inquisition (inquiry) has led to a situation—namely, the state of the speaker (Socrates) having many enemies. The word "having" is functioning as a noun, having the modifier "my." Therefore "my having" is the object of the main verb expression "led to." Although we don't use gerunds much in spoken English, they are legitimate (and often useful) constructs for writing.
Example Question #5 : Other Verb Usage Errors
I love to cleaning. It’s a good way to unwind at the end of the day, and, I always function better in a clean environment. I once heard someone say, “You’re home is your temple.” I attempt to lived my life by that. My priorities are getting rid of clutter, sweeping the floor, washing the dishes, and cleaning the counter top in our kitchen. I mop the floor extremely, quickly. I don’t mop all that often, but my roommates appreciate it whenever I do!.
Choose the answer that best corrects the underlined portion of the passage. If the underlined portion is correct as written, choose "NO CHANGE."
I love cleaning.
I love when cleaning.
I loved cleaning.
I love when to cleaning.
NO CHANGE
I love cleaning.
The word “cleaning” functions as a gerund in this sentence, so it can be treated like a noun. It is the predicate nominative of the verb “love.”
“I love (blank).”
“I love cleaning.” – The predicate nominative is a gerund.
“I love paper.” – The predicate nominative is a noun.
“I hate reading.” – The predicate nominative is a gerund.
“I hate food.” – The predicate nominative is a noun.
It is grammatically correct to write, "I loved cleaning." However, the author uses the present tense in the rest of the paragraph, so the past tense does not fit here.
Example Question #6 : Other Verb Usage Errors
Adapted from The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde (1890)
As they entered, they saw Dorian Gray who was seated at the piano his back to them, turning over the pages of a volume of Schumann's "Forest Scenes." "You must lend me these, Basil," he cried. "I want to learn them. They are perfectly charming." "That entirely depends on how you sit to-day, Dorian."
"Oh, I am tired of sitting, and I don't want a life-sized portrait of myself," answered the lad, swinging round on the music-stool in a willful, petulant manner. When he caught sight of Lord Henry, a faint blush colored his cheeks for a moment, and he started up. "I beg your pardon, Basil. I did’nt know you had any one with you."
"This is Lord Henry Wotton, Dorian, an old Oxford friend of mine. I have just been telling him what a capital sitter you were, and now you have spoiled everything."
"You have not spoiled my pleasure in meeting you, Mr. Gray," said Lord Henry, stepping forward and extended his hand. "My aunt has often spoken to me about you. You are one of her favorites, and, I am afraid, one of her victims also."
"I am in Lady Agatha's black books at present," answered Dorian with a funny look of penitence. "I promised to go to a club in Whitechapel with her last Tuesday, and I really forgot all about it. We were to have played a duet together: three duets, I believe. I don't know what she will say to me. I am far too frightened to call."
Which of the following is the best form of the underlined selection, "forward and extended his hand"?
forward, and extending his hand
NO CHANGE
forward and having extended his hand
forward and extending his hand
forward and extending his hand
The participial phrase describes the action being done by Lord Henry. He is both "stepping" and "extending." The finite verb "extended" is not appropriate here, as it has no subject assigned in the subordinate clause. Also, since this form is not the conjunction of two independent clauses, there is no need for a comma between the two participles.
Example Question #7 : Other Verb Usage Errors
Paul stood waiting, for the meeting with James. He had arrived early at the little alleyway in northern Bramville, waiting to meet the other man at a pub named the “Pick and the Shovel.” The whole situation was extremely strange, for Paul had never met James. Indeed, nobody whom Paul knew had met him. Hitherto, the mysterious man had been nothing more than a voice on the phone and a conversationalist via e-mail.
The making, of the trip to Bramville, was utterly unexpected, and his companions had encouraged him to reconnoiter the situation, record his thoughts, and communicate them within the coming week. Many peoples’ fates rode on the character of this mysterious man, this James. By stroke of luck, Paul was about to meet him.
Although Paul was quite certain that this was the appropriate course of action, he was still quite unnerved. Thousands of miles from his home, far from any friends, and without a cell phone, he could well be the target of a dangerous man. For this reason, he watched very intently as every person passed by, particularly those men who were alone. Many times, he asked himself, “Is that him”?
Thus, Paul watched and waited, somewhat overcome with fear yet also anxious to meet this mysterious man. It was time for a meeting with this man, upon whose mysterious persona were placed so many hopes. Though Paul was nervous to be the person to meet James, he knew that he was the man to whom this task had been appointed by fate.
Which of the following is the best form of the bolded selection?
To make of the trip to Bramville was
NO CHANGE
The making of the trip to Bramville was
The making, of the trip to Bramville, were
The making of the trip to Bramville was
First, we can eliminate the options that have the extra commas in them. These merely add confusion to the sentence without helping to structure it. The phrase "of the trip to Bramville" helps to clarify the very vague gerund "making." The gerund itself is the subject of the sentence. That is, the "making" is the subject. Thus, the best option for this sentence is one that has no commas and has the singular subject "was." The use of "to make" in the other option really is a confusing and incorrect use of an infinitive as a subject.
Example Question #8 : Other Verb Usage Errors
Adapted from Great Expectations by Charles Dickens (1861)
As she applied herself to set the tea-things, Joe peeped down at me over his leg, as if he was mentally casting me and himself up and calculating what kind of pair we practically should make, under the grievous circumstances foreshadowed. After that, he sat feeling his right-side flaxen curls and whisker, and following Mrs. Joe about with his blue eyes, as his manner always was at squally times.
My sister had a trenchant way of cutting our bread and butter for us, that never varied. First, with her left hand she jammed the loaf hard and fast against her bib, where it sometimes got a pin into it and sometimes a needle, which we afterwards got into our mouths. Then, she took some butter (not too much) on a knife and spread it on the loaf, in an apothecary kind of way, as if she were making a plaster. She used both sides of the knife with a slapping dexterity and trimming and moulding the butter off round the crust. Then, she gave the knife a final smart wipe on the edge of the plaster and then sawed a very thick round off the loaf: which she finally, before separating from the loaf, hewed into two halves, of which Joe got one and I the other.
On the present occasion, though I was hungry, I dared not eat my slice. I felt that I must have something in reserve for my dreadful acquaintance, and his ally the still more dreadful young man. I knew, “Mrs. Joe's housekeeping to be of the strictest kind,” and that my larcenous researches might find nothing available in the safe. Therefore, I resolved to put my hunk of bread and butter down the leg of my trousers.
Which of the following is an acceptable form of the underlined, "herself to set the tea-things"?
her to set the tea-thing
herself to setting the tea-things
oneself to setting the tea-things
herself to sit the tea-things
herself to setting the tea-things
The only acceptable answer is the one that uses the gerund "setting." This describes that to which the subject is applying herself. You need to keep the "herself," which is the reflexive form of the third person pronoun. She is "applying" herself to a task. That task is "the setting of the tea-things." None of the other options are acceptable translations of the general sense of the sentence.
Example Question #9 : Other Verb Usage Errors
Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English.
Had been immersed in the literature since childhood, he maintained an appreciation for it as an adult.
He who had been immersed
Had been immersed
Having been immersed
Immersion happening
Immersion having happened
Having been immersed
The sentence's introductory clause seems to intend to describe the subject "he," but it begins with a verb that doesn't clearly connect to the rest of the sentence and is grammatically incorrect. Introductory clauses can begin with participles, which would make much more sense in this sentence by allowing the start of the sentence to connect clearly to the subject. Of the potential answer choices, only "Having been immersed" omits the incorrect verb and replaces it with a grammatically correct participle. The other answer choices don't make sense: "Immersion having happened" and "Immersion happening" don't clearly connect the first phrase to the subject, and "He who had been immersed" introduces a grammatical error by making the sentence contain two disconnected subjects, "He who had been immersed in the literature since childhood" and "he." The corrected sentence reads, "Having been immersed in the literature since childhood, he maintained an appreciation for it as an adult."
Example Question #802 : Psat Writing Skills
Conflicting desires existing in every single person, and are quite difficult to sort out.
Conflicting desires existing in every single person
Conflicting desires exist in every single person
The existence of conflicting desires in every single person
The existing of conflicting desires in every single person
Conflicting desires existence in every single person
Conflicting desires exist in every single person
The issue in the underlined portion of the sentence is the use of the verb form "existing," which is a participle and not an actual verb. The word needs to be changed into a form that functions as a verb. "Conflicting desires exist in every single person" is the correct choice among the answers.
Example Question #2 : Correcting Other Verb Errors
Hold back tears, the woman was moved deeply by her son's gift.
Holding backing tears
Held back tears
Hold back tears
Hold back of tears
Holding back tears
Holding back tears
The introductory phrase that is highlighted in the sentence describes the condition under which the woman reacted to her son's gift. Therefore, the verb form needs to describe a condition or way of being. Such a form is the present participle, which shows action currently being taken, and the correct answer is "Holding back tears."
Example Question #36 : Correcting Verb Errors
After a large lunch, the whole group did not want eating for a few hours.
did not wanting eating for a few hours.
did not want to eat for a few hours.
did not want eating over a few hours.
did not want eating for a few hours.
did not wanting to eat for a few hours.
did not want to eat for a few hours.
The underlined portion of the sentence has a problem with the verb form "eating." The gerund form, used here, is inappropriate, as it is actually a verb that functions as a noun; therefore, the correct answer is "did not want to eat for a few hours."