PSAT Writing : Identifying Phrase, Clause, and Sentence Errors
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Example Questions
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.
The cafeteria that was serving "seafood surprise" for lunch and subsequently not attracting many customers. No error
"seafood surprise"
subsequently
that
No error
not attracting many customers
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 #6 : 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
No error
false.
him, every
Virtue
, in many ways,
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 #81 : 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.
Rodrigo will always be wealthy. Even if he were to unknowingly live out the prophecy. No error
wealthy.
No error
Always
prophecy.
unknowingly
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 #84 : 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 old, faded rug ran the course of the entire empty room, it having been left untouched for fifty years. No error
ran
old, faded
No error
it having been
untouched for
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 #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
their
No error
to silently forget
crushing
downtrodden
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 #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
Every Wednesday,
store, where
No error
I go
I bought
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 #633 : 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.
majority of
No error.
Statistical
never use deodorant
the claim that
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."
Example Question #81 : 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 overbearing manager demanded that his employees make hourly progress reports every sixty minutes. No error.
his
every sixty minutes
overbearing
make
No error.
every sixty minutes
This sentence contains redundancy. As the reports are "hourly," we already know they are to be made every sixty minutes. This phrase should be omitted.
Example Question #61 : 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.
Despite the company’s supposed emphasis on customer service, I have only talked to grouchy support personnel however. No error
No error
have only talked
the company's
supposed emphasis on
however
however
Since this sentence opens with a “despite,” the word “however” is redundant. They both express the same relationship between parts of the sentence. Omit “however” to fix this problem: "Despite the company’s supposed emphasis on customer service, I have only talked to grouchy support personnel."
Example Question #633 : 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.
Our physics teacher is famous for distributing papers to students while at the same time chewing his gum quite loudly. No error
distributing
No error
physics
at the same time
loudly
at the same time
“At the same time” means the same thing as “while.” Therefore, it is redundant, and doesn't need to be included in the sentence.
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