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 #51 : 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.

The museum is hosting a Georgia O'Keefe exhibit until January, we should go this weekend. No error.

Possible Answers:

this

January, we

is hosting

No error.

Georgia O'Keefe

Correct answer:

January, we

Explanation:

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

Possible Answers:

is melting

alarming

and 

global temperature increases

No error

Correct answer:

and 

Explanation:

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

Possible Answers:

sensation of 

it

No error

rain and listening

Enjoying

Correct answer:

Enjoying

Explanation:

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 #52 : 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.

The cafeteria that was serving "seafood surprise" for lunch and subsequently not attracting many customersNo error

Possible Answers:

not attracting many customers

No error

subsequently

"seafood surprise"

that

Correct answer:

that

Explanation:

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 #7 : 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.

Virtue is, in many ways, a foreign idea to him, every kind gesture he thinks he knows is proven false. No error

Possible Answers:

Virtue

No error

, in many ways,

him, every

false.

Correct answer:

him, every

Explanation:

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 #8 : 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.

Rodrigo will always be wealthy. Even if he were to unknowingly live out the prophecy. No error

Possible Answers:

No error

prophecy.

unknowingly

Always

wealthy.

Correct answer:

wealthy.

Explanation:

"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 #1 : 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.

The old, faded rug ran the course of the entire empty room, it having been left untouched for fifty years. No error

Possible Answers:

untouched for

ran

No error

it having been 

old, faded

Correct answer:

it having been 

Explanation:

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 #631 : Identifying 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.

The downtrodden wrestlers all put away their uniforms and tried to silently forget the crushing defeat of that day. No error

Possible Answers:

to silently forget

their

downtrodden

No error

crushing

Correct answer:

to silently forget

Explanation:

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 #632 : Identifying 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

Possible Answers:

Every Wednesday,

store, where 

I bought

I go

No error

Correct answer:

I bought

Explanation:

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 #631 : Identifying 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.

Statistical evidence supports the claim that a majority of middle-aged men do not never use deodorant. No error.

Possible Answers:

majority of 

the claim that

No error.

never use deodorant

Statistical

Correct answer:

never use deodorant

Explanation:

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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