PSAT Writing : Correcting Word Usage Errors

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for PSAT Writing

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Example Questions

Example Question #1 : Correcting Verb Tense 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.

The students were shocked learning of their teacher's past life as a rock musician.

Possible Answers:

were shocking learning

were shocked learning

were shocking to learn

were shocking to learn

were shocked to learn

Correct answer:

were shocked to learn

Explanation:

The use of the verb "learn" is essentially as a modifier of the students "shock." This means that "learning" must be turned into a form that will describe why the students were "shocked." "Were shocked to learn," using an infinitive form, is the best choice among the answers.

Example Question #71 : Correcting Verb 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.

If she arrives empty handed, I was angry with her.

Possible Answers:

I anger

I am angry

I had been angry

I was angry

I will be angry

Correct answer:

I will be angry

Explanation:

The sentence features a conditional statement, "If she arrives empty handed," that explains the underlined portion of the sentence. This means the verb tense in the underlined portion should be in the future, as it will only occur once another action has taken place. "I will be angry," is the correct answer choice.

Example Question #72 : Correcting Verb 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.

"Victoria" is a name that sounds throughout history since the nineteenth century.

Possible Answers:

sounding through history

sounding throughout history

sounds throughout history

sounds through history

has sounded throughout history

Correct answer:

has sounded throughout history

Explanation:

The use of the phrase "since the nineteenth century" indicates that the appropriate verb form of "sound" must be the past tense, as it describes things taking place previously. The correct answer choice is "has sounded throughout history," as it is the only choice in the past tense.

Example Question #71 : Correcting Verb 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.

Sam go to the grocery store before he stopped by the bakery.

Possible Answers:

gone

is going

will go

goes

went

Correct answer:

went

Explanation:

For this sentence, we need to correct the tense of the verb "go" such that it makes sense when used in the sentence with "stopped by." We know that Sam visited the grocery store "before he stopped by the bakery," so we need to pick out the past tense of "go," because we are told that Sam "stopped by" the bakery in the sentence, and "stopped by" employs the past tense. We also know that Sam visited the grocery store "before he stopped by the bakery," so the correct form of "go" must also employ the past tense. While both "went" and "gone" might look like potentially correct answers, "gone," when used as a verb, is the past participle of "go" and must be used with a helping verb like "has" or "had" to be grammatically correct. The answer choice "gone" does not include a helping verb, so we know that it can't be correct. "Went," however, is the past tense of "go," so "went" is the correct answer.

Example Question #73 : Correcting Verb 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.

Young professionals often make mistakes, but they also learned from them.

Possible Answers:

Young professionals often make mistakes but they also learned from them.

Young professionals often make mistakes, but they also learned from those.

Young professionals often make mistakes, they also learned from them.

Young professionals often make mistakes, but they also learn from them.

Young professionals often make mistakes, but they also learning from them.

Correct answer:

Young professionals often make mistakes, but they also learn from them.

Explanation:

The sentence employs both the present-tense verb "make" and the past-tense verb "learned." Both of these verbs need to agree and employ the same tense. The only answer choice that correctly adjusts the tenses of the sentence's verbs is "Young professionals often make mistakes, but they also learn from them."

Example Question #433 : Word Usage 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.

Janine only had one priority on Wednesday night: studied physics before her final exam the next morning.

Possible Answers:

Janine only had one priority on Wednesday night; studying physics before her final exam the next morning.

Janine only had one priority on Wednesday night: studied physics before her final exam the next morning.

Janine only had one priority on Wednesday night, and studying physics before her final exam the next morning.

Janine only had one priority on Wednesday night: and that was studying physics before her final exam the next morning.

Janine only had one priority on Wednesday night: studying physics before her final exam the next morning.

Correct answer:

Janine only had one priority on Wednesday night: studying physics before her final exam the next morning.

Explanation:

This sentence is structured as an independent clause about a priority and then a clarification of what that priority is.

The only appropriate punctuation here is a colon, which will provide that correct structural division and allow the second part of the sentence ("studying physics before her final exam the next morning") to act as an explanation of the noun "priority."

 

INCORRECT EXPLANATIONS:

A semicolon connects two separate independent clauses, so that is incorrect.

Janine's priority is "studying," which is a gerund, so the past tense "studied" is incorrect. 

The option that uses a comma is incorrect because the second clause is dependent and is lacking a subject.

The option that uses a colon unnecessarily includes the connector "and that was." These superfluous words cloud the sentence's meaning and make the sentence grammatically incorrect.

Example Question #112 : Improving Sentences

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.

Classic comedies have withstood the test of time to remaining popular.

Possible Answers:

to remains popular.

to remains popular.

remaining popular.

to remain popular.

remains popular.

Correct answer:

to remain popular.

Explanation:

The underlined phrase takes the form of an infinitive verb phrase, meaning "to remaining" is an incorrect construction. The appropriate form of an infinitive is "to remain," making "to remain popular" the correct answer.

Example Question #101 : Correcting Word Usage 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.

According to the pamphlet I’m reading, this musical performance will be finished by 8 PM.

Possible Answers:

This musical performance will have been finished by 8 PM

This musical performance will be finished by 8 PM

This musical performance would have been finished by 8 PM

This musical performance will finish by 8 PM

This musical performance would have finished by 8 PM

Correct answer:

This musical performance will finish by 8 PM

Explanation:

Since the sentence is referring to an action in the near future, the simple future tense is best (“will finish”). This is the clearest and most concise option.

Example Question #102 : Correcting Word Usage 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.

I went to visit my university many months before I had applied to go there.

Possible Answers:

I went to visit my university many months before I had applied to go there.

I had gone to visit my university many months before I applied to go there.

I had went to visit my university many months before I had applied to go there.

I had went to visit my university many months before I applied to go there.

Many months before I had applied to go there; I went to my university.

Correct answer:

I had gone to visit my university many months before I applied to go there.

Explanation:

In this sentence, the action of visiting the university is identified as taking place earlier in time than the action of applying to go there. To reflect this, the past participle should be used for the earlier action, while the past tense should be used for the later action. Only the correct answer choice includes the correct verb tenses.

Example Question #103 : Correcting Word Usage 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.

I would make it a priority to visit Rome if I was able to travel to Europe.

Possible Answers:

if I were able of traveling to Europe

if I was able of traveling to Europe

if I was able to travel to Europe

 if I were able to travel to Europe

if I was able traveling to Europe

Correct answer:

 if I were able to travel to Europe

Explanation:

To talk about a hypothetical situation, you must use a verb that employs the subjunctive mood—"if I were" instead of "if I was," in the case of this specific sentence. “I was” is the simple past tense.

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