PSAT Writing : Correcting Other Phrase, Clause, and Sentence Errors
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Example Questions
Example Question #72 : Correcting Parallel Structure Errors
Alexander held his intelligence in high regard, and so he believed that his grades should be higher than the other students in the class.
should cause his being higher
should be higher than those of
would necessitate being highest among
should be higher
would have to be the highest among
should be higher than those of
The initial sentence contains an illogical comparison. Her grades cannot be higher than the other students. They can only be higher than the grades of the other students. In this sentence, the pronoun those can stand in for grades.
Example Question #81 : Correcting Other Phrase, Clause, And Sentence Errors
Select the best answer from the choices given.
Excited by the prospect of starting a yoga studio, Kim's first decision needed to be where she could rent mats and space.
renting mats and space had to be what Kim's first decision was about.
Kim first had to decide where to rent mats and space.
Kim's first decision needed to be where she could rent mats and space.
Kim first had to decide where it was to rent mats and space.
Kim's first decision had to be regarding renting mats and space and where it would be.
Kim first had to decide where to rent mats and space.
The participle "excited" modifies the subject of the main clause of the sentence, but it's still illogical to say that a decision is excited. The only logical subject is Kim, but "Kim first had to decide where it was to rent mats and space" is awkward and unidiomatic, so the best choice is "Kim first had to decide where to rent mats and space."
Example Question #131 : 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 repeats the underlined portion as it is written.
Most animals have a less impressive sense of vision than humans did.
for humans.
than humans did.
than humans had.
from humans.
than humans.
than humans.
The underlined phrase functions as a comparison in the sentence, between humans and "most animals." Thus, the phrase needs to appropriately compare in the same manner as the other mention of the trait in the sentence. "Than humans" is the correct answer choice. The "did" is an extraneous verb that introduces an error by being in the past tense when the verb that appears prior to it in the sentence, "have," is in the present tense.
Example Question #93 : 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.
Thomas Jefferson was a lawyer in Virginia, a member of the House of Burgesses, and he wrote the Declaration of Independence.
and the writer of the Declaration of Independence.
and he wrote the Declaration of Independence.
and was the writer of the Declaration of Independence.
and writing the Declaration of Independence.
and the one who wrote the Declaration of Independence.
and the writer of the Declaration of Independence.
The correct answer best follows the laws of parallelism. Like “a lawyer” and “a member,” “the writer” is a noun preceded by an article.
Example Question #1101 : Psat Writing Skills
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.
Neither hunting nor a trapped animal ensures a guaranteed succesful trip for an outdoorsman.
Neither hunting nor a trapped animal ensured
Neither hunting or a trapped animal ensures
Neither hunting nor trapping an animal ensures
Neither hunting nor a trapped animal ensures
Either hunting nor a trapped animal ensures
Neither hunting nor trapping an animal ensures
In any "Neither...nor" phrase, each element described must be of a similar nature, so the phrase is describing similar objects. The sentence has two dissimilar objects in the phrase as it is written. The only answer choice that has an appropriate parallel structure is "Neither hunting nor trapping an animal ensures."
Example Question #94 : 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 finer points of military strategy were lost on the general, who much preferred just fighting, charging, and to fire.
just fighting charging and firing.
just fighting charging and to fire.
just fighting, charging, and to fire.
only fighting, charging, and to fire.
just fighting, charging, and firing.
just fighting, charging, and firing.
In any list of verbs, such as the one in the underlined portion, all the verbs need to be in the same form. Additionally, all such lists need to have each item separated by commas. The correct answer, therefore, is "just fighting, charging, and firing."
Example Question #95 : 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.
To alleviate stress, Margaret liked to bake chocolate cakes and swim laps but never to be practicing yoga.
but never to be practicing yoga.
more than to practice yoga.
rather than be practicing yoga.
and not to be practicing yoga.
rather than practice yoga.
rather than practice yoga.
The cleanest and most logical coordinator here is “rather than,” and the verb should be in the same grammatical format as the ones before it.
Example Question #96 : 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.
Our history teacher says that she enjoys teaching our class more than most classes she teaches.
she enjoys teaching our class more than she enjoys teaching other classes
she enjoys teaching our class more than most classes she teaches
she enjoys teaching our class more than she does teaching other classes
she does enjoy teaching our class more so than most classes she teaches
she enjoys teaching our class more than she teaches other classes
she enjoys teaching our class more than she enjoys teaching other classes
As written, we have an unequal comparison; the fact that she enjoys teaching our class is being compared to most classes she teaches. The sentence must compare how much the teacher enjoys teaching one class to how much she enjoys teaching the other classes.
Example Question #101 : 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.
Younger employees often struggle with time management, balancing workloads, and file organization.
with time management, balancing workloads, and file organization.
for time management, balancing workloads, and file organization.
with things like time management, balancing workloads, and file organization.
with time management balancing workloads and file organization.
with time management, workload balancing, and file organization.
with time management, workload balancing, and file organization.
The list in the underlined portion of the sentence, "time management, balancing workloads, and file organization," contains three items which do not describe similar actions with their structure. The three items should match in any list structured like the one in the sentence. The only answer choice that features such a parallel structure is "with time management, workload balancing, and file organization."
Example Question #81 : 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. One of the answer choices reproduces the underlined portion as it is written in the sentence.
The President's speech avoided both the recent scandal and how women were disenfranchised in politics.
the recent scandal, as well as how women were disenfranchised in politics.
both the recent scandal and the disenfranchisement of women in politics.
the recent scandal: how women were disenfranchised in politics.
both the recent scandal and how women were disenfranchised in politics.
the recent scandal of how women were disenfranchised in politics.
both the recent scandal and the disenfranchisement of women in politics.
All elements in a list should be parallel: they should be of the same structure. Choose the answer that keeps elements parallel: "the recent scandal and the disenfranchisement . . ."
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