PSAT Writing : Identifying Sentence Errors
Study concepts, example questions & explanations for PSAT Writing
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Example Questions
Example Question #81 : 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.
Upon the discovery that she couldn’t completely open her right eye, Joanna decided it was finally time to visit a doctor. No error
was
Upon the discovery
completely
No error
eye, Joanna
No error
This sentence is correct as written. “Upon the discovery” is an appropriate idiomatic use of a preposition, “completely” is an adverb that modifies a verb, the comma between “eye” and “Joanna” is grammatical, and “was” is a verb in the correct tense.
Example Question #63 : Identifying Other Errors Or No Error
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Seeking radical change in the way his second grade classroom was run, Joey tried to mobilize the students and motivate them to form a student union. No error
No error
Seeking
in the way
was run
them
No error
This sentence is correct as written. “Seeking” is a gerund verb that starts a correct modifying phrase, “in the way” is a conventional prepositional phrase, “was run” is an appropriate use of the passive voice, and “them” is a pronoun that agrees with its antecedent “the students.”
Example Question #44 : Identifying No Errors Or Other Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Margaret was full of nagging doubts; she couldn’t remember if Wednesday or Thursday was the last time she had seen her pet tarantula. No error
doubts; she
Wednesday or Thursday
full of
had seen
No error
No error
This sentence is correct as written. “Full of” is a conventional combination of adjective and preposition, the semi-colon between “doubts” and “she” is grammatical, “Wednesday or Thursday” is coordinated correctly, and “had seen” is in the correct tense.
Example Question #82 : 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.
She found the cheerful, busy atmosphere of the café to be energizing, but her favorite place to spend time remained the reading room of the library. No error
No error
to be
but
remained
cheerful, busy
No error
This sentence is correct as written. “Cheerful, busy” is a correct combination of adjectives modifying a noun, “to be” is a conventional way to follow the very “found,” “but” is a logical conjunction, and “remained” is a verb in the correct tense.
Example Question #81 : 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.
She wrote all day and all night, and she only stopped when she had run out of words. No error
stopped
she
had run out
all day and all night
No error
No error
This sentence is correct as written. “All day and all night” are correctly coordinated adverbial phrases, “she” is a pronoun that agrees with the previous pronoun, “stopped” is a verb in the correct tense, and “had run out” is a correct combination of verb and preposition.
Example Question #81 : 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.
Joey chose to eat ice cream for every meal for a week, and now he is complaining that he feels ill. No error
he
No error
for every meal
week, and
feels
No error
This sentence is correct as written. “For every meal” is an appropriate prepositional phrase, the comma between “week” and “and” is grammatical, “he” is a pronoun that agrees with “Joey,” and “feels” is a verb in the correct tense.
Example Question #71 : 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.
"Don't speak to me like that ever again," Connie warned. "I'll tell on you next time." The boy, once so antogonistic, backed off immediately. No error
tell on you
boy, once
antagonistic
,"
No error
No error
There are no errors in the sentence, all the subjects agree with their verbs, and the tenses line up. The commas are in their correct places as well.
Example Question #71 : Identifying No Error Questions
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
She leapt over tables, wiggled through corridors, sprinted around three, tall tree trunks, and finally sat down in a heap to catch her breath. No error
sat down
leapt
No error
through corridors
three, tall
three, tall
Normally you'd want to separate a list with commas, but that's not the case here. To know why, imagine that each comma in a list is the word "and." You'd never say "three and tall tree trunks" here.
Numbers will commonly do this in English; thus "I saw four red birds," etc.
Example Question #51 : Identifying No Errors Or Other Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Sea salt, especially when paired with chocolate or caramel, has an interesting flavor and is becoming increasingly popular in baking. No error
and is
when
chocolate or caramel
No error
increasingly
No error
Nothing in this sentence needs to be changed.
Example Question #72 : 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 new exhibit at the history museum provides a surprisingly fascinating look at the milling industry in the American Midwest. No error
in the American Midwest
No error
surprisingly
provides
new
No error
Nothing in this sentence needs to be changed.
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