PSAT Writing : Identifying Other Phrase, Clause, and Sentence Errors
Study concepts, example questions & explanations for PSAT Writing
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Example Questions
Example Question #3 : Identifying Sentence Fragment And Sentence Combination Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
The museum is hosting a Georgia O'Keefe exhibit until January, we should go this weekend. No error.
Georgia O'Keefe
January, we
No error.
is hosting
this
January, we
This sentence has a comma splice. This is when two independent clauses (clauses which can stand on their own as complete sentences) are separated only by a comma. A semicolon works well here. The corrected sentence reads, "The museum is hosting a Georgia O'Keefe exhibit until January; we should go this weekend."
Example Question #4 : Identifying Sentence Fragment And Sentence Combination Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Due to global temperature increases, and the polar ice cap is melting at an alarming rate. No error
global temperature increases
No error
is melting
and
alarming
and
This sentence is not coordinated correctly. The first clause explains why something is happening, so it shouldn’t be connected to the main clause with an “and.” The corrected sentence reads, "Due to global temperature increases, the polar ice cap is melting at an alarming rate."
Example Question #5 : Identifying Sentence Fragment And Sentence Combination Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Enjoying the sensation of standing in the warm rain and listening to it hit the pavement. No error
sensation of
it
No error
rain and listening
Enjoying
Enjoying
This sentence is a fragment because it does not have a subject. Instead of starting out with the gerund ("-ing" verb used as a noun) “enjoying,” we need a subject and a verb that agrees with it. One example of how to correct this sentence would be, "I enjoy the sensation of standing in the warm rain and listening to it hit the pavement."
Example Question #641 : Psat Writing Skills
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
The cafeteria that was serving "seafood surprise" for lunch and subsequently not attracting many customers. No error
"seafood surprise"
No error
that
not attracting many customers
subsequently
that
This sentence is a fragment; read it out loud and you will hear that it sounds incomplete. This happened because the "that" turned the main part of the sentence into a modifying phrase. Take this out to fix the fragment: "The cafeteria was serving "seafood surprise" for lunch and subsequently not attracting many customers."
Example Question #82 : Identifying Phrase, Clause, And Sentence Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Virtue is, in many ways, a foreign idea to him, every kind gesture he thinks he knows is proven false. No error
him, every
Virtue
No error
, in many ways,
false.
him, every
In this sentence, the independent clauses "Virtue is, in many ways, a foreign idea to him" and "every kind gesture he thinks he knows is proven false" are linked with a comma. This is called a comma splice and should be avoided. Replacing the comma with a semicolon fixes the error.
Example Question #642 : Psat Writing Skills
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Rodrigo will always be wealthy. Even if he were to unknowingly live out the prophecy. No error
wealthy.
No error
unknowingly
Always
prophecy.
wealthy.
"Even if he were to unknowingly live out the prophecy," is a dependent clause. It could be combined with the sentence before it, if a comma were placed after "wealthy," the period after "wealthy" is incorrect.
Example Question #1301 : Sat Writing
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
The old, faded rug ran the course of the entire empty room, it having been left untouched for fifty years. No error
it having been
old, faded
untouched for
ran
No error
it having been
This sentence has some unnecessary words thrown in it. “It having been” is clunky and not needed. The corrected sentence reads: The old, faded rug ran the course of the entire empty room, left untouched for fifty years.
Example Question #643 : Psat Writing Skills
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
The downtrodden wrestlers all put away their uniforms and tried to silently forget the crushing defeat of that day. No error
downtrodden
crushing
their
to silently forget
No error
to silently forget
The error in this sentence is a split infinitive. Conventional grammar rules tell us that an infinitive verb, such as “to forget,” should not be interrupted by an adverb, like “silently.” It would be more correct to say "tried silently to forget.”
Example Question #2 : Identifying Other Phrase, Clause, And Sentence Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Every Wednesday, I go to the dry cleaner, where I pick up my shirts, and to the grocery store, where I bought milk and bread. No error
Every Wednesday,
I bought
I go
store, where
No error
I bought
The error in the sentence is "I bought." The fact that I go to the store "every Wednesday" indicates that my actions, from going to the store to buying milk, are recurring actions. Using "I bought" makes the action a past action, when it should be "I buy."
Example Question #644 : Psat Writing Skills
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Statistical evidence supports the claim that a majority of middle-aged men do not never use deodorant. No error.
never use deodorant
majority of
the claim that
No error.
Statistical
never use deodorant
This sentence has a double negative, which is redundant. The corrected sentence reads: "Statistical evidence supports the claim that a majority of middle-aged men do not use deodorant."
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