PSAT Writing : Correcting Word Usage Errors

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for PSAT Writing

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Example Questions

Example Question #2 : Correcting Other Verb Errors

The trail was much steeper than appearing from the bottom of the mountain.

Possible Answers:

than appearing

than it had appeared

than was appearing

appearing as such

than was appeared

Correct answer:

than it had appeared

Explanation:

The non-underlined, and therefore correct, verb in the sentence is "was," which is in the past tense. Therefore, the verb in the underlined portion of the sentence must also be in the past tense. The only answer choice that is both a correct grammatical form and in the past tense is "than it had appeared."

Example Question #581 : Usage Errors

The soldiers were horrified at what they had seeing on the battlefield.

Possible Answers:

have seeing

had seen

had been seen

being saw

had seeing

Correct answer:

had seen

Explanation:

The verb construction "had seeing" is an incorrect form, with the participle "seeing" needing some form of the word "be" to be made correct. The form needs to be changed to something more appropriate. "Had seen," featuring the past tense form of "see," is the correct answer choice.

Example Question #2431 : Act English

The entire town became obsessing with the case, following every detail mentioned in the newspapers.

Possible Answers:

The entire town became obsessed among the case

The entire town becomes obsessing with the case

The entire town became obsessing with the case

The entire town became obsessed with the case

The entire town became obsessing among the case

Correct answer:

The entire town became obsessed with the case

Explanation:

The underlined portion of the sentence contains a strange use of the verb "obsessing," which should not be used with the past tense "became." The correct answer choice must change "obsessing" to an appropriate past tense form; therefore, the correct answer is "The entire town became obsessed with the case."

Example Question #373 : Correcting Usage Errors

Issues began cropping up as soon as the new software was introduced, having angering consumers who bought the initial run of the product.

Possible Answers:

having angering consumers

angering consumers

having anger consumers

having angry consumers

have angering consumers

Correct answer:

angering consumers

Explanation:

"Having angering" is a universally incorrect construction, and needs to be made appropriate grammatically. The -ing verb form following a comma that ends a complete thought is a participial modifier, which modifies the result of that clause. Here the result of "issues began cropping up" is that consumers became angry (at those issues). Using "angering" as the modifier, then, makes complete sense: the issues angered the consumers, so "angering consumers" properly uses a participial modifier to describe the effect of the action that takes place before the comma. "angering consumers" is correct.

Example Question #11 : Correcting Other Verb Errors

Most people ignoring the warnings of the government officials about the storm.

Possible Answers:

Most people ignored

Many people ignoring

Most people ignoring 

Most persons ignores

More people ignoring

Correct answer:

Most people ignored

Explanation:

The use of the verb "ignoring" is incorrect in this sentence, as it is a present participle and the sentence needs a past tense active verb; therefore, the correct answer is "Most people ignored."

Example Question #382 : Correcting Usage Errors

The man keeping up with the friends he made in childhood.

Possible Answers:

The man's keeping up with

The man who had kept up with

The man keeping up with

The man keeps up with

The man keeping with

Correct answer:

The man keeps up with

Explanation:

The use of the past participle "keeping" is inappropriate as it needs either an infinitive or a version of "be" to be used as the verb in a sentence. "Keeping" needs to be changed to an appropriate verb form without changing the meaning of the sentence. The only answer choice that does both is "The man keeps up with."

Example Question #122 : Correcting Usage Errors

The power of monarchy in Renaissance Europe questioning by modern scholars.

Possible Answers:

questioning by modern scholars.

is questioning by modern scholars.

questionable by modern scholars.

questioned by modern scholars.

is questioned by modern scholars.

Correct answer:

is questioned by modern scholars.

Explanation:

The use of the verb form "questioning," a gerund, makes the sentence confusing. The word should be changed to a form that properly reflects the "scholars" are questioning "the power of monarchy." The answer choice that best does this is "is questioned by modern scholars."

Example Question #11 : Correcting Other Verb Errors

Due to his condition, the professor keeping an extra pair of glasses by his podium.

Possible Answers:

 keeping the extra pair of glasses

 keeping extra pair of glasses

 keeps an extra pair of glasses

 keeping an extra pair of glasses

by keeping an extra pair of glasses

Correct answer:

 keeps an extra pair of glasses

Explanation:

The use of the participle form "keeping" is incorrect without a  version of the verb "to be," and needs to either be changed to a non-participle or have the version of "to be" added. This is the only issue with the sentence as it is written. Therefore, the correct answer choice is "keeps an extra pair of glasses."

Example Question #2442 : Act English

The protesters moving into position to have a confrontation with the police.

Possible Answers:

The protesters moving in towards position

The protesters moving into position

The protesters moves into position

The protesters move into position

The protesters had moving into position

Correct answer:

The protesters move into position

Explanation:

The use of the participle form "moving" makes the sentence have no actual verb, as any participle needs a form of the verb "to be" to function as the verb in a sentence. The form needs to to either have the active form "is" attached or be changed into the active form; therefore, "The protesters move into position" is the correct answer choice.

Example Question #3461 : Sat Writing

Under the terms of the treaty, the victorious nation keeping the territory it acquired during the war.

Possible Answers:

the victorious nation kept the territory

the victorious nation keeping the territory

the victorious nation having keeping the territory

the victorious nation keeping territory

the victorious nation keep the territory

Correct answer:

the victorious nation kept the territory

Explanation:

The use of the verb "keeping," a participle, is incorrect and confusing in the sentence, as a participle always needs to function with a version of the form to be. Either one of these forms needs to be added in or the form should be changed. The only answer choice that appropriately does this is "the victorious nation kept the territory."

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