PSAT Writing : Correcting Phrase, Clause, and Sentence Errors
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Example Questions
Example Question #1 : Correcting Appositive And Interrupting Phrase Errors
Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English. One of the answer choices reproduces the underlined portion as it is written in the sentence.
Maura along with the rest of her school's swimming and soccer teams, had taken months to prepare for the intramural sports meet.
Maura along with the rest of her school's swimming and soccer teams had taken months to prepare for the intramural sports meet.
Maura along, with the rest of her school's swimming and soccer teams, had taken months to prepare for the intramural sports meet.
Maura along with the rest of her school's swimming and soccer teams, had taken months to prepare for the intramural sports meet.
Maura, along with the rest of her school's swimming and soccer teams had taken months to prepare, for the intramural sports meet.
Maura, along with the rest of her school's swimming and soccer teams, had taken months to prepare for the intramural sports meet.
Maura, along with the rest of her school's swimming and soccer teams, had taken months to prepare for the intramural sports meet.
The phrase "along with the rest of her school's swimming and soccer teams" gives additional information that should be set off from the subject and predicate of the sentence with commas. It is an interrupting phrase, and the correct answer choice separates it from the subject of the sentence, "Maura." The sentence, as it is written currently, misuses a comma, separating the subject of the sentence from the verb.
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