PSAT Writing : Correcting Other Phrase, Clause, and Sentence Errors
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Example Questions
Example Question #142 : Correcting Phrase, Clause, And Sentence 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. One of the answer choices reproduces the underlined portion as it is written in the sentence.
The new manager came in like a house on fire, changing schedules, switching assignments, and broke old rules.
changing schedules, switching assignments, and breaking old rules.
changing schedule, switching assignment, and broke old rule.
changing schedules, switching assignments, and break old rules.
change schedules, switch assignments, and broke old rules.
changing schedules, switching assignments, and broke old rules.
changing schedules, switching assignments, and breaking old rules.
In any list like the one in the underlined portion of the sentence, all the verbs in the dependent clause need to be in the same form to show the subject is doing similar actions. The only answer choice that appropriately features such parallel structure is "changing schedules, switching assignments, and breaking old rules."
Example Question #143 : Correcting Phrase, Clause, And Sentence 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. One of the answer choices reproduces the underlined portion as it is written in the sentence.
Horses, once trained, take quite well to being harnessed, saddled, and riding.
being harnessed, saddled, and riding.
be harnessed, saddled, and riding.
being harnesing, saddling, and riding.
been harnessed, saddled, and riding.
being harnessed, saddled, and ridden.
being harnessed, saddled, and ridden.
The underlined portion of the sentence is incorrect, as any series needs to have a parallel structure, where all elements of the series are written in the same form. "Being harnessed, saddled, and ridden" is the only answer choice that is both correct grammatically and parallel in structure.
Example Question #91 : Correcting Parallel Structure 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.
The success of the one-handed touchdown catch was more a result of good luck than by skillful play.
good luck than because of skillful play
luck being good than because of play being skillful
good luck than of skillful play
good luck than by skillful play
luck being good than by play being skillful
good luck than of skillful play
This sentence contains an error in parallelism. Specifically, it compares "of good luck" to "by skillful play." The prepositions used in these phrases should match because they are being compared—"more a result of X than by Y" doesn't treat format each item in a consistent manner. The only answer choice that fixes this issue is "good luck than of skillful play," making the corrected sentence "The success of the one-handed touchdown catch was more a result of good luck than of skillful play."
Example Question #92 : Correcting Parallel Structure 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.
Most people, even highly skilled craftsman, are not excellent at designing, building, and maintenance of a house.
designing, building, and maintaining a house.
designing, building, and maintenance of a house.
designing building and maintenance of a house.
designing, build, and maintenance of a house.
designing building and maintaining a house.
designing, building, and maintaining a house.
Any list like the one in the underlined portion of the sentence needs to have a parallel structure in their word forms, which the sentence does not have as written. Each item in such a list also needs to be separated by commas; therefore, the correct answer choice is "designing, building, and maintaining a house."
Example Question #91 : Correcting Other Phrase, Clause, And Sentence 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.
Statistics are not always a reliable source of information, many data are tailored to suit a person’s agenda.
information, many data are
information, many data is
information; many data are
information; many data is
information: many data are
information; many data are
A semicolon is an appropriate punctuation mark to use when separating two full sentences that are closely related, though this separation can also be accomplished with a comma followed by a conjunction. Although the word data does not end in “s,” it is actually plural, so “many data are" is correct.
Example Question #92 : Correcting Other Phrase, Clause, And Sentence 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.
The assassination of Archduke Ferdinand is considered the spark that led to World War I, however, there were many other factors that contributed to the onset of the war.
led to WWI: however, there was many other factors
led to WWI, however, there were many other factors
led to WWI; however, there was many other factors
led to WWI: however, there were many other factors
led to WWI; however, there were many other factors
led to WWI; however, there were many other factors
Only a semicolon can separate two full sentences that are closely related. “There was” is used when to talk about something singular (one factor), but “there were” is for plural ("factors").
Example Question #93 : Correcting Other Phrase, Clause, And Sentence 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.
The problem being that the office staff does not have enough time nor resources to prepare for large events.
The problem is that the office staff is not having
The problem is that the office staff does not have
The problem, being that the office staff does not have
The problem being that the office staff does not have
The problem being that the office staff is not having
The problem is that the office staff does not have
The original sentence is a fragment. Read it out loud, and it will probably sound like it is missing something. To fix this, change the verb “being” to “is.” This is more direct and fixes the fragment issue. The other choices either don’t fix “being” or add unnecessary progressive verbs (i.e. "is not having").
Example Question #1 : Sentence Fragment And Sentence Combination Errors
She liked the finer things in life she always had to have nice clothes and fine food.
She liked the finer things in life, she always had to have nice clothes and fine food.
She liked the finer things in life she always had to have nice clothes and fine food.
She liked the finer things in life, and she always had to have nice clothes and fine food.
She liked the finer things in life, always had to have nice clothes and fine food.
She liked the finer things in life and she always had to have nice clothes and fine food.
She liked the finer things in life, and she always had to have nice clothes and fine food.
The sentence is a compound sentence, or one sentence that contains two complete thoughts joined together to highlight their relationship to each other. All compound sentences must be joined either by a semicolon or a comma and a conjunction. The only answer choice that appropriately does this is "She liked the finer things in life, and she always had to have nice clothes and fine food."
Example Question #1 : Correcting Sentence Fragment And Sentence Combination 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.
Patients were not allowed in many different parts of the clinic they were restricted to staff only.
Patients were not allowed in many different parts of the clinic they were restricted to staff only.
Patients not allowed in many different parts of the clinic were restricted to staff only.
Patients were not allowed in many different parts of the clinic were restricted to staff only.
Patients were not allowed in many different parts of the clinic; they were restricted to staff only.
Patients were not allowed in many different parts of the clinic was restricted to staff only.
Patients were not allowed in many different parts of the clinic; they were restricted to staff only.
The sentence as written is a compound sentence, or two complete sentences joined into one sentence to show the relationship between the two thoughts. All compound sentences need to be joined by either a semicolon or a comma and a conjunction. The only answer choice that appropriately does this is "Patients were not allowed in many different parts of the clinic; they were restricted to staff only."
Example Question #1 : Correcting Sentence Fragment And Sentence Combination 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.
The television show became an overnight success and it quickly became the network's biggest hit.
The television show became an overnight success, it quickly became the network's biggest hit.
The television show became an overnight success and it quickly became the network's biggest hit.
The television show became an overnight success; it quickly became the network's biggest hit.
The television show became an overnight success; and it quickly became the network's biggest hit.
The television show became an overnight success it quickly became the network's biggest hit.
The television show became an overnight success; it quickly became the network's biggest hit.
The sentence is a compound sentence, or two sentences that are joined into one sentence to show their relationship. The two independent clauses that form a compound sentence must be connected by either a semicolon or a comma followed by a conjunction. The only answer choice that appropriately employs either of these ways of joining two independent clauses is "The television show became an overnight success; it quickly became the network's biggest hit."
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