PSAT Writing : Identifying Sentence Errors

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for PSAT Writing

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Example Questions

Example Question #93 : Identifying Word Usage Errors

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

Christine had difficulty finding a job despite having been the valedictorian of her university’s graduating class. No error

Possible Answers:

No error

of her university's graduating class

having been

difficulty

finding a job 

Correct answer:

No error

Explanation:

This sentence contains no grammatical, stylistic, or usage errors.

Example Question #151 : Identifying Word Usage Errors

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

Next time, I plan to look over my composition quick for faults before I turn it in to my professor. No error

Possible Answers:

faults

composition

No error 

in to

quick

Correct answer:

quick

Explanation:

"Quick" is an adjective and is being used to describe "look over," a verb. Adjectives cannot be used to describe verbs; adverbs describe verbs. So, "quick" needs to be changed to "quickly" for the sentence to be correct.

Example Question #11 : 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.

People who hate the pollution emitted by cities also tend to have despised the large companies that create the pollution. No error

Possible Answers:

have despised

who 

No error

that create

also 

Correct answer:

have despised

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, “have despised” should be changed to the present tense “despise.”

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.

The dentist was frustrated that his patient had developed another set of cavities because he told her to brush her teeth more frequently, and she doesn’t. No error

 

Possible Answers:

No error

more frequently 

was

doesn't

had developed

Correct answer:

doesn't

Explanation:

Since most of this sentence is in the past tense, it is incorrect for other verbs to be in a different tense, as a general rule. Therefore, “doesn’t” should be replaced by the past tense “didn’t.”

Example Question #11 : 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 young scholar and his advisors, a group of about four people, is going to be honored at an important dinner next week. No error

Possible Answers:

as well as

next week

is

No error

at

Correct answer:

is

Explanation:

In this sentence, the verb does not agree with the subject. The subject is plural (“a group of about four people" is a modifying phrase and doesn’t count), so the correct verb form should be “are,” not “is.”

 

Example Question #12 : 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 Scott runs at night, he wears very bright clothes so that drivers could see him. No error

Possible Answers:

could

so that

at night

No error

him 

Correct answer:

could

Explanation:

"Could" is a modal verb, but there is nothing in the sentence that calls for a modal verb to be used because the rest of the sentence is in the indicative mood. So, "could" should be changed to the simple present tense indicative verb "can."

Example Question #13 : 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 having controlled the city for over 150 years, the British peacefully return Hong Kong to China on July 1st, 1997. No error

Possible Answers:

peacefully

over 150 years

controlled

return

No error

Correct answer:

return

Explanation:

This sentence contains an error in verb tense. Keep verb tenses consistent within the timeline of the sentence. This verb should be past tense ("returned") to reflect an event that happened in the past.

Example Question #21 : 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.

I am eagerly awaiting my college admissions decision letters, though I expect that I will have to wait another month before I received any letters. No error

Possible Answers:

received

will have to wait

No error

though 

eagerly awaiting

Correct answer:

received

Explanation:

The sentence is referring to something that will happen in the future, which is indicated by the fact that the subject is currently waiting and is expecting to wait longer. Therefore, the verb "receive" cannot be past tense ("received") because it has not happened yet; the subject has not "received" letters and will not for quite some time. "Received" is therefore incorrect.

Example Question #21 : Identifying Verb 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 member of that family has freckles and bright red hair, so every year, it is easy to spot relatives as they arrived at the family reunion. No error

Possible Answers:

No error

to spot

so

of

they arrived

Correct answer:

they arrived

Explanation:

This sentence contains is a tense agreement issue. It is stated that "it is easy to spot relatives," which is present tense. Therefore, "arrive" must also be present tense. "Is" and "arrive" must agree in tense. 

Example Question #16 : 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.

We go to the zoo often, where we saw all sorts of birds and other animals. No error

Possible Answers:

the zoo

No error

We go

where

saw

Correct answer:

saw

Explanation:

The sentence begins in present tense because "go" is in present tense. So, the past tense verb "saw" should be changed to the present tense verb "see" in order to keep the sentence's tense consistent.

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