PSAT Writing : Identifying Sentence Errors

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for PSAT Writing

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Example Questions

Example Question #43 : 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.

Bob agonized over the logic puzzle that Charlie had been giving him, and Charlie took delight in his agony. No error

Possible Answers:

agonized over

and

his

No error

had been giving

Correct answer:

had been giving

Explanation:

This sentence uses the wrong verb tense. “Had been giving” is clunky and unnecessary. The corrected sentence reads: Bob agonized over the logic puzzle that Charlie had given him, and Charlie took delight in his agony.

Example Question #301 : 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.

George was desperately excited to go caroling through the snow, but unfortunately it being July and he would have to waitNo error 

Possible Answers:

being

desperately

would have to wait

through the snow

No error

Correct answer:

being

Explanation:

This sentence uses the wrong form of the verb “to be.” “Was” is a better choice than “being” in this case. The corrected sentence reads: George was desperately excited to go caroling through the snow, but unfortunately it was July and he would have to wait.

Example Question #302 : 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.

She spent the afternoon wondering if having been gone to Scotland during the summer was worth the troubleNo error

Possible Answers:

wondering if

No error

having been gone

was

worth the trouble

Correct answer:

having been gone

Explanation:

This sentence uses a convoluted form of the verb. One way to correct the sentence reads: She spent the afternoon wondering if going to Scotland during the summer was worth the trouble.

 

Example Question #303 : 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.

Turning around, Jonathan saw that the entire back wall of the garden fence has been destroyed in the blast. No error

Possible Answers:

that

Turning around

No error

entire back wall

has been destroyed

Correct answer:

has been destroyed

Explanation:

The timeline of verb tenses in this sentence is not logical. The corrected sentence reads, "Turning around, Jonathan saw that the entire back wall of the garden fence had been destroyed in the blast." 

Example Question #304 : 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 natural conclusion to draw would being that the goldfish jumped out of the tank, stole some pretzels for the road, unlocked the door, and ran away to join the circus. No error

Possible Answers:

natural

for the road

would being

and ran away

No error

Correct answer:

would being

Explanation:

This sentence uses an incorrectly constructed verb (“would being”). The corrected sentence reads, "The natural conclusion to draw would be that the goldfish jumped out of the tank, stole some pretzels for the road, unlocked the door, and ran away to join the circus."

 

Example Question #871 : Sat Writing

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

Although Steven does not usually have an appetite, he has ate more tonight than anyone else at the dinner. No error

Possible Answers:

than

has ate

No error

he

Although

Correct answer:

has ate

Explanation:

The phrase "has ate" should be "has eaten." "Eaten" is the proper participle for the present perfect form.

Example Question #41 : 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.

Marketers are finding greater success making sales when they phoned people in the morning rather than late in the afternoon. No error

Possible Answers:

phoned

greater

No error

when

rather than

Correct answer:

phoned

Explanation:

The sentence is present tense, so use "phone "instead of "phoned."

Example Question #42 : 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 undercover agents chose not to apprehend the suspect in the mall that afternoon, but instead apprehended him at the harbor before he is boarding a ship to Morocco. No error

Possible Answers:

but instead

is boarding

No error

in the mall

not

Correct answer:

is boarding

Explanation:

"Is boarding" should be "boarded" because it matches the tense of other verbs in the sentence.

Example Question #51 : 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.

Despite a strict ban and severe punishments, the circulation of illegal jokes remains a thriving part of that country's underground cultureNo error

Possible Answers:

remains

culture

No error

Despite

of

Correct answer:

remains

Explanation:

For the timeline of the sentence to make sense, "remain" should be changed to past tense, because it occured before the Soviet Union collapsed. A simple correction would be "remained."

Example Question #43 : 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.

Many people theorized that the darkness was caused by smoke from a volcanic eruption, but a few know that the real cause was an alien invasion. No error

Possible Answers:

from a volcanic eruption

No error

know that

Many people

but

Correct answer:

know that

Explanation:

This sentence has an error in verb tense. Since the first half is in past tense, the second half should be too. The corrected sentence reads, "Many people theorized that the darkness was caused by smoke from a volcanic eruption, but a few knew that the real cause was an alien invasion."

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