PSAT Writing : Identifying Sentence Errors
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Example Questions
Example Question #23 : Identifying Parallel Structure Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
It’s a long drive, but I would much rather drive home than bus. No error
long
No error
but
It's
than bus
than bus
In this sentence, the format of the two items being compared does not stay parallel. “Drive” is a verb, and “bus” is a noun. The corrected sentence reads: It’s a long drive, but I would much rather drive home than take the bus.
Example Question #24 : Identifying Parallel Structure 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 spies started to empathize with the man they were watching, and suddenly they wondered if their actions were morally excusable or not being so. No error
not being so
and suddenly
No error
empathize with
they
not being so
This sentence lacks grammatical parallelism. The phrase “not being so” is clunky, and it doesn’t match with the earlier part “were morally excusable.” The corrected sentence reads: The spies started to empathize with the man they were watching, and suddenly they wondered if their actions were morally excusable or not.
Example Question #25 : Identifying Parallel Structure Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
She aspired to someday live in Barcelona, learn Spanish, and traveling through the country. No error
No error
traveling
through
someday
live in
traveling
This sentence has a problem with parallelism. The items in the list should be formatted the same. The corrected sentence reads, "She aspired to someday live in Barcelona, learn Spanish, and travel through the country."
Example Question #31 : 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.
When I was much younger I was very energetic, but now I nap often, watch a lot of television, tired, and rarely work out. No error
No error
tired
often
rarely
much younger
tired
All of the items in this poor tired fellow's list of activities need to be in the same form. Yet we find three verbs ("nap," "watch," and "work out") and one adjective ("tired"). Thus, the adjective is the odd one out and needs to be changed (to something like "am always tired").
Example Question #21 : Identifying Parallel Structure Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
That performance has been seen by more people than any musical made in the past decade. No error
No error
than
in
has been seen
any musical
any musical
The word "other" should be included in a comparison of one thing with a group, so the correct phrase is "any other musical" and "any musical" contains the sentence's error.
Example Question #22 : Identifying Parallel Structure 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 class project consisted of forming groups, discussing questions about the novel, and give a presentation in front of the class. No error
No error
consisted of
groups
give
in front of
give
"Give" is the wrong verb tense. To achieve parallelism, it should be "giving."
Example Question #23 : Identifying Parallel Structure 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 town fell into chaos and confusion; people fled from their homes and running blindly into obstacles. No error
fell into
confusion; people
No error
running
their
running
This sentence has a problem with verb tense and parallelism. Since the “fled” and “running” are coordinated with a conjunction, they should be formatted in the same way. The corrected sentence reads, "The town fell into chaos and confusion; people fled from their homes and ran blindly into obstacles."
Example Question #24 : Identifying Parallel Structure Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Ultimately, he concluded that having a surprise party on a gloomy day was better than his birthday. No error
concluded that having
than his birthday
gloomy
on
No error
than his birthday
This sentence does not compare between two like things. The two sides of the comparison should be formatted in a parallel way. The corrected sentence reads, "Ultimately, he concluded that having a surprise party on a gloomy day was better than one on his birthday."
Example Question #31 : Identifying Parallel Structure Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Having my uncle over for dinner is never much fun; he talks loudly, makes rude comments, and, although the food is always delicious, complaining is constant about the quality of what we eat. No error
complaining is constant
what we eat
talks loudly
Having
No error
complaining is constant
The clause "although the food is always delicious" might distract some people into missing the paralellism used, because it is set apart by commas. Considering "talks" and "makes," we see the present form of some verbs used in succession. For the best sentence structure, the final action should also follow the normal present verb form, like "talks" and "makes." "Complaining is constant" does not follow this, and so (C) contains the error. It would be best to say "complains constantly" or something similar.
Example Question #32 : Identifying Parallel Structure Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
It will rain tomorrow, so I will jog in the park, practice soccer, and playing baseball in my backyard today. No error
I
will rain tomorrow
No error
playing
will
playing
This is a parallelism error. The verbs "jog" and "practice" begin the parallel elements in the sentence, and they are each in present tense. The verb "playing" should also be in present tense so that it matches "jog" and "practice." So, "playing" should be "play."
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