All PSAT Writing Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #11 : Correcting Verb Tense 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.
According to the pamphlet I’m reading, this musical performance will be finished by 8 PM.
This musical performance will have been finished by 8 PM
This musical performance would have finished by 8 PM
This musical performance will be finished by 8 PM
This musical performance would have been finished by 8 PM
This musical performance will finish by 8 PM
This musical performance will finish by 8 PM
Since the sentence is referring to an action in the near future, the simple future tense is best (“will finish”). This is the clearest and most concise option.
Example Question #12 : Correcting Verb Tense 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.
I went to visit my university many months before I had applied to go there.
I had gone to visit my university many months before I applied to go there.
I had went to visit my university many months before I had applied to go there.
I went to visit my university many months before I had applied to go there.
I had went to visit my university many months before I applied to go there.
Many months before I had applied to go there; I went to my university.
I had gone to visit my university many months before I applied to go there.
In this sentence, the action of visiting the university is identified as taking place earlier in time than the action of applying to go there. To reflect this, the past participle should be used for the earlier action, while the past tense should be used for the later action. Only the correct answer choice includes the correct verb tenses.
Example Question #31 : Correcting Verb 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.
I would make it a priority to visit Rome if I was able to travel to Europe.
if I were able to travel to Europe
if I was able to travel to Europe
if I was able traveling to Europe
if I was able of traveling to Europe
if I were able of traveling to Europe
if I were able to travel to Europe
To talk about a hypothetical situation, you must use a verb that employs the subjunctive mood—"if I were" instead of "if I was," in the case of this specific sentence. “I was” is the simple past tense.
Example Question #11 : Verb Mood 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.
Victory is the ultimate goal of any general, but too precise a focus can clouds a leader's judgement.
can clouds leader's judgement.
can cloud a leaders judgement.
can clouds a leader's judgement.
can clouds a leader's judgements.
can cloud a leader's judgement.
can cloud a leader's judgement.
The phrase underlined in the sentence uses the modal verb "can," which conditions what might happen in the future. The verb form "clouds" is incorrect as the verb after "can" still needs to feature the singular form necessary with the subject "focus." "Can cloud a leader's judgement" is the best choice among the answer.
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
Immersion happening
Having been immersed
Had been immersed
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 #1 : Correcting Other Verb Errors
Conflicting desires existing in every single person, and are quite difficult to sort out.
Conflicting desires existence in every single person
Conflicting desires existing in every single person
The existing of conflicting desires in every single person
The existence of conflicting desires in every single person
Conflicting desires exist 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 #145 : Correcting Verb Errors
Hold back tears, the woman was moved deeply by her son's gift.
Hold back tears
Held back tears
Holding backing 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 #146 : Correcting Verb Errors
After a large lunch, the whole group did not want 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 wanting eating 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."
Example Question #147 : Correcting Verb Errors
The orders were unclear, confused the troops everytime they were read out.
confused of the troops
confusing the troops
confused all troops
confused troops
confused the troops
confusing the troops
The use of the verb "confused" creates many different problems in the sentence. By leading off a phrase, the word needs to be in a form that can link the phrase to the first part of the sentence. "Confusing the troops," which uses a past participle to describe the effect of the orders, is the correct answer choice.
Example Question #371 : Correcting Word Usage Errors
He regularly went seeing the parades that went through downtown.
went seeing
went saw
went to see
seeing
went seen
went to see
The verb form used in the underlined section is completely wrong. The use of the present participle "seeing" confuses the meaning of the sentence and is unclear. The verb "went" needs a complement form, such as an infinitive. Therefore, the correct answer is "went to see."
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