PSAT Writing : Identifying Usage Errors

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for PSAT Writing

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Example Questions

Example Question #81 : Identifying 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.

My father told Jon and I that we could keep the stray dog, but the responsibility of caring for it would fall on us. No error

Possible Answers:

No error

Jon and I

but

fall on us

caring for it

Correct answer:

Jon and I

Explanation:

The pronoun "I" should be changed to "me" because it is not the subject of the sentence, so the phrase "Jon and I" contains the sentence's error.

Example Question #3 : Identifying Pronoun Errors: Case

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

I was almost to the exit of the building, but standing between the doors and I was a gigantic security guard looking right at meNo error

Possible Answers:

No error

the doors and I 

looking right at me

exit of

standing

Correct answer:

the doors and I 

Explanation:

This sentence uses the wrong pronoun case. If a first person pronoun is the object of a preposition, it should be “me,” not “I.” The corrected sentence reads, "I was almost to the exit of the building, but standing between me and the doors was a gigantic security guard looking right at me."

Example Question #3 : Identifying Pronoun Errors: Case

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

At the start of the soccer season, Coach Stan paid a visit to my parents and I to explain why I was cut from varsity. No error

Possible Answers:

At

No error

parents and I

paid a visit

why

Correct answer:

parents and I

Explanation:

"Parents and I" is the object of the preposition "to," so it should instead be "parents and me."

Example Question #801 : 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.

My sister took my hand and solemnly swore that nothing would ever come between her and INo error

Possible Answers:

No error

her and I

hand and

would ever come

solemnly

Correct answer:

her and I

Explanation:

In this sentence, the wrong pronoun case is used. “I” is a subject, but here it appears as the object of a preposition. The corrected sentence reads: My sister took my hand and solemnly swore that nothing would ever come between her and me.

Example Question #327 : 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.

There was a new person whom I had never seen before standing between my sister and I in the line. No error 

Possible Answers:

standing

There was

and I

No error

whom

Correct answer:

and I

Explanation:

This sentence uses the wrong case of pronoun. As an object, the first person pronoun should always be “me.” The corrected sentence reads, "There was a new person who I had never seen before standing between my sister and me in the line."

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.

Seafarers have not been able to measure longitude during their journeys until the 18th century, when clockmaker William Harrison solved the problem with a very precise clock. No error.

Possible Answers:

their journeys

No error.

when

solved the problem with

have not been able to

Correct answer:

have not been able to

Explanation:

The verb tenses in this sentence do not work together. The first part of the sentence takes place before a point in the past (when Harrison solved the problem), so the correct verb would be “had not been able.” The corrected sentence reads, "Seafarers had not been able to measure longitude during their journeys until the 18th century, when clockmaker William Harrison solved the problem with a very precise clock."

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.

Frustrated by the limited career options in his small, rural hometown, Frank ran away with the circus and was becoming a contortionist. No error.

Possible Answers:

No error.

with the circus

Frustrated by

small, rural hometown

was becoming

Correct answer:

was becoming

Explanation:

There is no reason for the last verb in this sentence to be in the past progressive tense—it happened at a singular point in the past. The corrected sentence reads, "Frustrated by the limited career options in his small, rural hometown, Frank ran away with the circus and became a contortionist."

Example Question #3 : 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.

Although he found his job being dreadfully boring, he remained committed, knowing that his wages would buy him a plane ticket to Paris. No error.

Possible Answers:

he remained

Although

No error.

would buy

being

Correct answer:

being

Explanation:

This sentence uses the wrong form of the verb “to be.” After “found,” it is correct to use the infinitive "to be" instead of "being." The corrected sentence reads, "Although he found his job to be dreadfully boring, he remained committed, knowing that his wages would buy him a plane ticket to Paris."

Example Question #4 : 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.

Long before she began her tenure as chair of the Biology department, Professor Green has taught undergraduate classes in Spanish literature. No error.

Possible Answers:

Long before

her tenure

No error.

in

has taught

Correct answer:

has taught

Explanation:

The timeline of this sentence is off. The first phrase is in the past tense, so the verb “has taught” needs to indicate that it happened before that point in the past. So, "has taught" should be changed to "had taught," and "has taught" contains the sentence's error. The corrected sentence reads, "Long before she began her tenure as chair of the Biology department, Professor Green had taught undergraduate classes in Spanish literature."

Example Question #5 : 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 show will not have been such a fiasco if the animals had not escaped from their kennels just as the curtain was rising. No error.

Possible Answers:

will not

No error.

such a fiasco if

just as

had not escaped

Correct answer:

will not

Explanation:

This sentence describes a situation that did not happen, and should use the conditional “would” instead of the future tense “will.” The corrected sentence reads, "The show would not have been such a fiasco if the animals had not escaped from their kennels just as the curtain was rising."

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