All PSAT Writing Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #2 : Correcting Other Verb Errors
The trail was much steeper than appearing from the bottom of the mountain.
than appearing
than it had appeared
than was appearing
appearing as such
than was appeared
than it had appeared
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.
have seeing
had seen
had been seen
being saw
had seeing
had seen
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.
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
The entire town became obsessed with the case
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.
having angering consumers
angering consumers
having anger consumers
having angry consumers
have angering consumers
angering consumers
"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.
Most people ignored
Many people ignoring
Most people ignoring
Most persons ignores
More people ignoring
Most people ignored
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.
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
The man keeps up with
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.
questioning by modern scholars.
is questioning by modern scholars.
questionable by modern scholars.
questioned by modern scholars.
is questioned by modern scholars.
is questioned by modern scholars.
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.
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
keeps an extra pair of glasses
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.
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
The protesters move into position
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.
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
the victorious nation kept the territory
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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