PSAT Writing : Identifying Sentence Errors

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for PSAT Writing

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Example Questions

Example Question #5 : Identifying Verb Tense 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 show will not have been such a fiasco if the animals had not escaped from their kennels just as the curtain was rising. No error.

Possible Answers:

such a fiasco if

had not escaped

will not

just as

No error.

Correct answer:

will not

Explanation:

This sentence describes a situation that did not happen, and should use the conditional “would” instead of the future tense “will.” The corrected sentence reads, "The show would not have been such a fiasco if the animals had not escaped from their kennels just as the curtain was rising."

Example Question #1 : Identifying Verb Tense Errors

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

Her flat intonation masked the incredible excitement she felt at found the prize in the cereal boxNo error.

Possible Answers:

Her flat intonation

No error.

in the cereal box

incredible

found

Correct answer:

found

Explanation:

This sentence uses the wrong form of the verb “to find.” In order to fit into the timeline of the sentence, it should read “having found” or possibly "finding." The corrected sentence reads, "Her flat intonation masked the incredible excitement she felt at having found the prize in the cereal box."

Example Question #273 : 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 issue being that the director does not come into the office on Fridays and I am not familiar with the process she uses. No error.

Possible Answers:

being that

she

familiar with

No error.

does not come into

Correct answer:

being that

Explanation:

This sentence uses the "-ing" verb “being” when it isn’t necessary. In fact, this sentence is a fragment as it is written, but can be made into a complete sentence by changing "being" as "is." This also sounds much cleaner and more direct. The corrected sentence reads, "The issue is that the director does not come into the office on Fridays and I am not familiar with the process she uses."

Example Question #274 : 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.

Robert being always the top of his class in high school, and he put enormous pressure on himself to maintain his rank in college. No error.

Possible Answers:

No error.

pressure on himself

the top of his class

being

his

Correct answer:

being

Explanation:

The gerund “being” here is unnecessary and makes the sentence sound clunky. Replace it with “was” to make the sentence run more smoothly: "Robert was always the top of his class in high school, and he put enormous pressure on himself to maintain his rank in college."

Example Question #1 : Identifying Verb Tense 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 he had never taken piano lessons, anytime that Jeff, who was unusually intelligent, sees a piano, he was able to play a song. No error

Possible Answers:

who was

No error

able to play

Although

sees

Correct answer:

sees

Explanation:

The entire sentence refers to the past, as we can tell from the verb "was" in "who was unusually intelligent" and the verb "was" in "was able to play." Therefore, the verb "sees" should be in the past tense like the rest of the verbs in the sentence. To correct the sentence's error, we would need to change "sees" to "saw."

Example Question #3 : Identifying Verb Tense 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 revolutionary, having been the subject of abuse during his childhood, emphatically lead the uprising, fueled by both a desire for social justice, as well as a certain anger that he himself did not entirely understand. No error

Possible Answers:

No error

he himself

having been 

fueled by both

lead

Correct answer:

lead

Explanation:

"Lead" is in the present tense. Given that the rest of the sentence is in the past tense, this verb should also be in the past tense. Therefore, it should be "led," not "lead."

Example Question #1 : Identifying Verb Tense Errors

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

As soon as I booked my flight to visit my friends in New York, I am finding that all the prices for plane tickets were plummeting. No error

Possible Answers:

I am finding

As soon as

to 

prices for

No error

Correct answer:

I am finding

Explanation:

This sentence written in the past tense, except for the phrase “I am finding.” In order to maintain proper verb tense, the underlined portion should be changed to “I found.”

Example Question #1 : Identifying Verb Tense Errors

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

While most species of monkeys live in tropical areas, there is a type of monkey that lives in northern Japan, where it has snowed.  No error

Possible Answers:

there is

has snowed

No error

most

in 

Correct answer:

has snowed

Explanation:

Given that the rest of the sentence is in present tense, the underlined portion should be as well. "Has snowed" should be replaced by "snows."

Example Question #1 : Identifying Verb Tense 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 David cooks, he uses a variety of spices and put the flame on very high, creating flavorful and charred dishes. No error

Possible Answers:

very high

he uses

creating

put

No error

Correct answer:

put

Explanation:

Since most of this sentence is in the present tense, it is incorrect for other verbs to be in a different tense, as a general rule. Therefore, “put,” which is in past tense, should be “puts,” the proper present tense form. 

Example Question #2 : Identifying Verb Tense Errors

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

After several hours of futile research, Paco decided to then take a break before he would resume his search for pertinent data once again. No error

Possible Answers:

No error

would

futile

then

pertinent 

Correct answer:

then

Explanation:

The infinitive verb “to take” should not be split by the word “then.” If you wanted to keep the "then" in the sentence but not split the infinitive, you might place it after "Paco" and before "decided."

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