PSAT Writing : Identifying Phrase, Clause, and Sentence Errors

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for PSAT Writing

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Example Questions

Example Question #71 : 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.

Traveling during the holidays can be expensive, and it is worth it to celebrate with your family. No error.

Possible Answers:

can be

Traveling

your family

and it is 

No error.

Correct answer:

and it is 

Explanation:

The conjunction used in this sentence (“and”) does not match the logic of the sentence's content. The two parts oppose each other, so “but” is more appropriate. The corrected sentence reads, "Traveling during the holidays can be expensive, but it is worth it to celebrate with your family."

Example Question #611 : 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 weather should be beautiful on Friday, but Barbara has made plans to go hikingNo error.

Possible Answers:

No error.

has made plans

should be beautiful

Friday, but

hiking

Correct answer:

Friday, but

Explanation:

The conjunction that this sentence uses does not make logical sense. The first half is the reasoning for the second half, so the conjunction “so” would be more appropriate. The corrected sentence reads, "The weather should be beautiful on Friday, so Barbara has made plans to go hiking."

Example Question #71 : 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.

Vincent van Gogh sold only a few paintings during his lifetime, but yet he is considered one of the greatest painters of all timeNo error

Possible Answers:

No error

but yet

of all time

greatest

sold

Correct answer:

but yet

Explanation:

This sentence contains a redundancy error. The conjunctions "but" and "yet" are synonyms; they mean the same thing, so only one or the other is necessary to convey the intended meaning of the sentence.

The answer choice "sold" is correct because it contains the simple past tense, which is correct for events that happened in the past and don't continue into the present.

The answer choice "greatest" is correct because it uses the superlative form (the "-est" form) of the adjective great, which is appropriate for comparisons involving more than two items.

The answer choice "of all time" is a perfectly correct use of an idiomatic expression.

Example Question #1 : Identifying Subordinate Conjunction Errors

Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.

Defying all expectations, the space shuttle reentered the atmosphere at 3:57, that was three whole minutes ahead of schedule. No error

Possible Answers:

No error

that was 

Defying all expectations

whole

reentered the atmosphere

Correct answer:

that was 

Explanation:

This sentence has a clunky dependent clause tacked on the end. We can make it sound better by taking out some words and making it an appositive phrase: "Defying all expectations, the space shuttle reentered the atmosphere at 3:57, three whole minutes ahead of schedule." Or, alternatively, one could also change "that was" to "which was," but one introduce a phrase that provides additional information about a subject and follows a comma with "that"; one should use "which" instead in this instance.

Example Question #2 : Identifying Subordinate Conjunction Errors

Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.

Although so many people were already lined up at the ticket booth when we arrived, Louise and I missed the start of the movie we had come to see. No error

Possible Answers:

had come

Although

Louise and I

No error

arrived,

Correct answer:

Although

Explanation:

This sentence contains a logical error. The long line was the cause of missing the start of the movie, so the use of a contrasting conjunction like "although" here is wrong. Replacing it with "Because" or "Since" would be a simple correction.

Example Question #1 : 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.

In particular, the audience’s worry that the vicious dogs might biteNo error.

Possible Answers:

vicious

In particular

No error.

might bite

the audience's worry

Correct answer:

the audience's worry

Explanation:

This sentence is a fragment, because it does not have a main verb. Changing the noun phrase “the audience’s worry” to a noun and verb fixes this nicely: "In particular, the audience worried that the vicious dogs might bite."

Example Question #1 : 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.

Paul was frustrated because his phone was not working, service was inconsistentNo error.

Possible Answers:

inconsistent

his

No error.

working, service

frustrated because

Correct answer:

working, service

Explanation:

This sentence is a run-on. There are two independent clauses separated only by a comma. Change that comma to a semicolon to fix the problem: "Paul was frustrated because his phone was not working; service was inconsistent."

Example Question #71 : 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.

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

Possible Answers:

January, we

Georgia O'Keefe

this

No error.

is hosting

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 #1 : 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:

and 

global temperature increases

alarming

is melting

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 #71 : 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.

Enjoying the sensation of standing in the warm rain and listening to it hit the pavement. No error

Possible Answers:

Enjoying

it

rain and listening

sensation of 

No error

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."

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