PSAT Writing : Identifying Sentence Errors

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for PSAT Writing

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Example Questions

Example Question #3 : Identifying Adjective And Adverb Errors

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

Schwartz climbed into the spacious limousine and settled himself comfortable on one of the long leather seats. No error.

Possible Answers:

climbed into

No error.

himself

limousine and

comfortable

Correct answer:

comfortable

Explanation:

This sentence uses an adjective (“comfortable”) to modify a verb (“settled”), which is not grammatically correct. Using an adverb instead of an adjective would be appropriate, however. The corrected sentence reads, "Schwartz climbed into the spacious limousine and settled himself comfortably on one of the long leather seats."

Example Question #4 : Identifying Adjective And Adverb 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 audience watched breathless as the contortionist brought her leg behind her back and in front of her noseNo error.

Possible Answers:

in front of her nose

No error.

breathless

her

brought

Correct answer:

breathless

Explanation:

This sentence uses the adjective “breathless” to modify the verb “watched”. An adjective cannot be used to modify a verb, but an adverb can, so an adverb would be more appropriate. The corrected sentence reads, "The audience watched breathlessly as the contortionist brought her leg behind her back and in front of her nose."

Example Question #5 : Identifying Adjective And Adverb 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 mademoiselle’s promising career in opera was tragic cut short by a falling piano. No error.

Possible Answers:

tragic

falling

No error.

promising career in opera

cut short by

Correct answer:

tragic

Explanation:

In this sentence, the adjective “tragic” is misused to modify a verb, “cut short.” An adverb would be correct here. The corrected sentence reads, "The mademoiselle’s promising career in opera was tragically cut short by a falling piano."

Example Question #6 : Identifying Adjective And Adverb Errors

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

Francisca was nervous that the sudden arrival of fifty international students would be overly chaotic, but fortunately everything went smooth. No error

Possible Answers:

overly chaotic

No error

was nervous that

arrival of

went smooth

Correct answer:

went smooth

Explanation:

In this sentence, the adjective “smooth” is used to modify the verb “went.” An adverb would be correct in this situation. The corrected sentence reads, "Francisca was nervous that the sudden arrival of fifty international students would be overly chaotic, but fortunately everything went smoothly."

Example Question #7 : Identifying Adjective And Adverb 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 track star is admired for his ability to run so swift, which is why many adoring fans have given him a nickname relating to his speed. No error

Possible Answers:

No error

have given him

which

is admired

swift

Correct answer:

swift

Explanation:

Adverbs often end in "–ly" (e.g. "quickly," "slyly," and "happily"). Without this "–ly" ending, swift is only an adjective (e.g. "He is a swift runner."). In this case, “swift” acts as an adverb (describing how the track star runs), so it should be written “swiftly.”

Example Question #3 : Identifying Other Adjective And Adverb Errors

 

While the trick may look effortlessly, the actual execution of a perfect double back handspring is quite tricky to achieve successfully.

 

Possible Answers:

execution of

No error

quite tricky

may

effortlessly

Correct answer:

effortlessly

Explanation:

This sentence uses an adverb (effortlessly) to describe a noun (trick). An adjective would be more appropriate. The corrected sentence reads: While the trick may look effortless, the actual execution of a perfect double back handspring is quite tricky to achieve successfully.

 

Example Question #8 : Identifying Adjective And Adverb 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 the eighth grade math bowl team did excellently in practice, the members performed terrible in the actual tournament. No error

Possible Answers:

excellently

terrible

No error

the members

Although

Correct answer:

terrible

Explanation:

This sentence uses the adjective "terrible" to modify the verb "performed." An adverb is more appropriate. The corrected sentence reads, "Although the eighth grade math bowl team did excellently in practice, the members performed terribly in the actual tournament."

Example Question #1 : Identifying Comparative And Superlative Errors

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

Of the sixteen jellybean varieties available, the turquoise tasted more exquisite. No error.

Possible Answers:

available, the

more

tasted

Of the sixteen

No error.

Correct answer:

more

Explanation:

This sentence uses a comparative (“more”) to compare more than two things—sixteen, in fact. For a comparison involving more than two things, a superlative (“most”) is used. The corrected sentence reads, "Of the sixteen jellybean varieties available, the turquoise tasted most exquisite."

Example Question #1 : Identifying Comparative And Superlative Errors

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

Of her four classes that semester, Introduction to Biology was the more challengingNo error.

Possible Answers:

that

No error.

semester, Introduction

more challenging

her

Correct answer:

more challenging

Explanation:

This sentence uses the comparative adjective “more” to compare four things. The superlative “most” would be correct here, as the superlative form of adjectives is used when three or more things are being compared. The corrected sentence reads, "Of her four classes that semester, Introduction to Biology was the most challenging."

Example Question #1 : Identifying Comparative And Superlative 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 experience less health problems are more likely to be happier and less depressed than their unhealthy counterparts. No error

Possible Answers:

less

than

No error

who

happier

Correct answer:

less

Explanation:

The error in this sentence is "less" because "health problems" are countable nouns—you can count the number of health problems a person has. When referring to countable nouns, you should use "fewer" instead of "less." The beginning of this sentence, then, should read, "People who experience fewer health problems."

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