PSAT Writing : Identifying Sentence Errors
Study concepts, example questions & explanations for PSAT Writing
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Example Questions
Example Question #34 : 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.
Johnny much preferred flannel shirts and bluegrass music to suits and jazz. No error.
to
much
No error.
preferred
flannel shirts and bluegrass music
No error.
This sentence is correct as written! "Much" is an adverb modifying "preferred," "preferred" is a verb in the correct tense and person, "flannel shirts and bluegrass music" follows parallel structure, and "to" creates the comparison.
Example Question #35 : 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.
Gail voraciously attacked the steak dinner that Carl had prepared for her birthday. No error.
voraciously
No error.
had prepared
attacked
that
No error.
This sentence is correct as written! “Voraciously” is an adverb that modifies a verb, “attacked” is a verb in the correct tense, “that” is an appropriate relative pronoun, and “had prepared” is a verb in the correct tense.
Example Question #36 : 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.
Many countries have their own carnival celebrations where all of the people dress up and frolic in the streets. No error.
dress up and frolic
their
where
Many
No error.
No error.
This sentence is correct as written! “Many” is an adjective describing a noun, “their” is a pronoun that matches its antecedent, “where” is the appropriate relative pronoun, and “dress up and frolic” uses correct parallel structure.
Example Question #37 : 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 dancers hopped like frogs across the stage, and Duncan wondered what was going on. No error.
No error.
what
going
stage, and
hopped like frogs
No error.
This sentence is correct as written. “Hopped like frogs” is a correctly-formed verb phrase, the comma in “stage, and” is correct, “what” is the correct pronoun, and “going” is an appropriately-used gerund.
Example Question #38 : 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.
Far from being elected prom king, Dan received only a single vote, which he himself cast. No error.
being
No error.
which
himself
single
No error.
This sentence is correct as written! The gerund “being” is used correctly, the adjective “single” appropriately modifies a noun, “which” is the appropriate relative pronoun, and “himself” correctly uses a reflexive pronoun for emphasis.
Example Question #39 : 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.
Listening at his parents’ bedroom door, Gerald was appalled to learn that one of the neighborhood children had had a horrific bike accident the week before. No error.
parents'
appalled
No error.
Listening
had had
No error.
The sentence is grammatically correct as written.
Example Question #1 : Identifying Sentences That Contain No Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Anne later discovered that Paul and she were the members of the choir to sing the correct notes of the song. No error
were
later discovered
to sing
she
No error
No error
There are no inherent grammatical errors in the sentence above. The phrase "Paul and she were" may ring some alarms, but it is the same as the phrase "she and Paul were." You can break it down into "Paul was the only person" and "she was the only person." When combined, it should appear as written in the question. "She" is used properly in the subject form of the pronoun, rather than "her," the object form; "she" is performing the action in the sentence.
Example Question #2 : Identifying No Errors Or Other Errors
She revealed herself and befriended the aliens, who were excited and pleased to meet a real human.
befriended the aliens
No error
herself
were excited
to meet a
No error
This sentence is correct as written.
Example Question #2 : Identifying Sentences That Contain No Errors
As the author slowly stood up, stretched, and trudged to the doorway, his friends jumped out from behind the antique cabinets.
As
slowly
jumped out from behind
and trudged
No error
No error
This sentence is correct as written.
Example Question #841 : 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.
Lucy realized that she would not be able to arrive at the opera in a timely manner. No error
realized
timely manner
at the opera
would not be able to
No Error
No Error
This is a grammatically correct sentence that needs no stylistic improvements.
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