All PSAT Writing Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #201 : Comma 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.
In many thrilling mystery novels the good guy, actually turns out to be the bad guy.
mystery novels the good guy actually, turns out
mystery novels the good guy, actually turns out
mystery novels, the good guy actually turns out
mystery, novels the good guy actually turns out
mystery novels, the good guy actually turns out
Use a comma to separate the introductory phrase "In many thrilling mystery novels" from the independent clause that in this case makes up the rest of the sentence, "the good guy actually turns out to be the bad guy."
Example Question #31 : Correcting Punctuation 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 coach always careful with his words intentionally avoided saying anything that a reporter could quote in the newspaper.
The coach always careful with his words, intentionally avoided
The coach always careful, with his words, intentionally avoided
The coach always careful with his words intentionally avoided
The coach, always careful with his words intentionally avoided
The coach, always careful with his words, intentionally avoided
The coach, always careful with his words, intentionally avoided
The phrase "always careful with his words" is an interrupting phrase, one that adds information to the sentence, but remains apart from its structure. All interrupting phrases must be set apart from the rest of the sentence by commas. "The coach, always careful with his words, intentionally avoided" is the only answer choice to appropriately use commas around the interrupting phrase.
Example Question #2 : Correcting Punctuation Errors: Commas For Introductory Or Interrupting Phrases
The group's leader, a long time activist urged the group to take political action.
leader, a long time activist urges
leader a long time activist urged
leader, the long time activist urged
leader, a long time activist, urged
leader a long time activist, urged
leader, a long time activist, urged
The words "a long time activist" are an interrupting phrase, that is a phrase which interrupts the sentence and is not necessary for proper sentence construction, but does provide information. Such phrases must be set off by commas on either end, so "leader, a long time activist, urged" is the best choice among the answers.
Example Question #1 : Correcting Punctuation Errors: Commas For Introductory Or Interrupting Phrases
The teacher annoyed with her class got emotional when she was asked about her day.
The teacher, annoyed with her class, got emotional
The teacher annoying with her class got emotional
The teacher annoys her class got emotional
The teacher annoyed with her class got emotional
The teacher annoyed with her class gets emotional
The teacher, annoyed with her class, got emotional
The phrase "annoyed with her class" is what is known as an interrupting phrase. An interrupting phrase provides information, but is not necessary to the construction of the sentence. All interrupting phrases need to be set apart by commas, making "The teacher, annoyed with her class, got emotional" is the correct answer.
Example Question #1 : Correcting Punctuation Errors: Commas For Introductory Or Interrupting Phrases
The conclusion, reached through faulty logic proved unsatisfactory to a majority of the report's readers.
The conclusion, reached through faulty logic, proved
The conclusion, reached through faulty logic proved
The conclusion, reached, through faulty logic proved
The conclusion reached through faulty logic proved
The conclusion reached through faulty logic, proved
The conclusion, reached through faulty logic, proved
The phrase "reached through faulty logic" is an interrupting phrase, or one that gives crucial information to the meaning of the sentence, but is not necessary to the sentence's construction. All interrupting phrases must be set apart from the rest of the sentence by commas, making "The conclusion, reached through faulty logic, proved" the correct answer choice.
Example Question #1 : Correcting Punctuation Errors: Commas For Introductory Or Interrupting Phrases
The new manager a former player for the team commented that he was excited to be back in a familiar space.
The new manager, a former player for the team commented
The new manager a former player for the team commented
The new manager the former player for the team commented
The new manager a former player for the team, commented
The new manager, a former player for the team, commented
The new manager, a former player for the team, commented
The phrase "a former player for the team" is an interrupting phrase, a phrase that provides extra information, but is apart from the structure of the sentence. All interrupting phrases must be separated from the rest of the sentence by commas, making "The new manager, a former player for the team, commented" the correct answer choice.
Example Question #1 : Correcting Punctuation Errors: Commas For Introductory Or Interrupting Phrases
The executive worn out from his travels, barely made it through his speech at the conference before falling asleep.
The executive worn out from his travels, barely
The executive, worn out from his travels, barely
The executive worn out from his travels barely
The executive being worn out from his travels, barely
The executive worn out from his travels, bare
The executive, worn out from his travels, barely
The phrase "worn out from his travels" is an interrupting phrase, or a phrase that provides additional meaning to the sentence, but stands apart from its essential structure. To show this, all interrupting phrases must be set off by commas on each end. This makes "The executive, worn out from his travels, barely" the correct answer choice.
Example Question #32 : Correcting Punctuation Errors
The advisor, a close confidante for years gave strict warnings about what the minister could and could not do.
The advisor as a close confidante for years gave
The advisor, a close confidante for years gave
The advisor a close confidante for years, gave
The advisor, a close confidante for years, gave
The advisor a close confidante for years gave
The advisor, a close confidante for years, gave
The phrase "a close confidante for years" is an interrupting phrase, or a phrase that gives additional information without being crucial to the structure of the sentence. All such phrases need to be separated by commas, making "The advisor, a close confidante for years, gave" the correct answer choice.
Example Question #41 : Correcting Punctuation Errors
The debaters all still in high school showed a maturity beyond their years.
The debaters all still in high school, showed a maturity beyond their years.
The debaters, all still in high school showed a maturity beyond their years.
The debaters all still in high school showed a maturity beyond their years.
The debaters all still in high school showed a maturity beyond there years.
The debaters, all still in high school, showed a maturity beyond their years.
The debaters, all still in high school, showed a maturity beyond their years.
The phrase "all still in high school" is an interrupting phrase, one that provides extra information to the sentence but is not a part of the sentence's main structure. Because of this separation, all interrupting phrase should be surrounded by commas; therefore, the correct answer choice is "The debaters, all still in high school, showed a maturity beyond their years."
Example Question #1 : Correcting Punctuation Errors: Commas For Introductory Or Interrupting Phrases
Select the answer that produces the most effective sentence, one that is clear and exact, without awkwardness or ambiguity.
The Americans unaware of their countries tense foreign relationship with the small island, were surprised when they heard of the protests.
The Americans are unaware of their country's tense foreign relationship
Unaware of their country's tense foreign relationship the Americans
The Americans, unaware of their country's tense foreign relationship
Unaware of the American's tense foreign relationship
The Americans, having been unaware of their countries tense foreign relationship
The Americans, unaware of their country's tense foreign relationship
When additional elements are put after or before the subject (in this case, "unaware of their country's") it should be separated by commas. Also look for the answer where "country" is in its proper possessive state: "their country's tense foreign relationship."
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