All PSAT Writing Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #32 : Correcting Subject Verb Agreement 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 treatment of animals in laboratories have become a controversial issue in recent years.
have become
have been becoming
had becoming
having been becoming
has become
has become
The underlined words, the verb phrase "have become," must be in agreement with the subject of the sentence, which is "treatment." In the sentence, treatment is singular, even though it discusses "animals in laboratories." Thus, the singular verb form "has become" is the correct answer.
Example Question #61 : Subject Verb Agreement 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 oldest of the veterans hold a special place of honor in the group.
the veterans hold the special place
the veterans holds a special place
the veterans holding a special place
the veterans hold a special place
the veteran's hold a special place
the veterans holds a special place
The verb "hold" is a plural verb, but the subject of the sentence is the singular "The oldest." The verb needs to be changed to a singular form to be in agreement with the subject. The only answer choice that uses the correct verb is "the veterans holds a special place."
Example Question #31 : Correcting Subject Verb Agreement 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.
Each of the teenagers have a brand new cellular phone.
Each of the teenagers has
Each teenager have
Each of the teenagers having
Each of the teenagers have
Each, of the teenagers, have
Each of the teenagers has
The underlined section of the sentence has a problem with the verb "have." While the verb is situated next to the plural noun "teenagers," the subject of the sentence is the word "each," which is singular. Therefore, the verb needs to be a singular form, and "Each of the teenagers has" is the correct answer choice.
Example Question #32 : Correcting Subject Verb Agreement 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 teenager, along with her classmates, object to the school's use of uniforms beginning next year.
The teenager along with her classmates object
The teenager, along with her classmates, object
The teenager, along with her classmates, objects
The teenager along with her classmates, objects
The teenager along with her classmates objects
The teenager, along with her classmates, objects
The issue in the underlined portion of the sentence is that the sentence and verb are not in agreement. While the sentence references "classmates," that is in an interrupting phrase set off by commas, and the subject is the singular "teenager." "The teenager, along with her classmates, objects" is the correct answer choice.
Example Question #61 : Agreement 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 most challenging thing for young musicians are to listen to the rest of the ensemble.
are listening
is to listen
is having listened
are to listen
are listen
is to listen
The use of "are" is incorrect in the sentence, as it is a plural form and the subject of the sentence, "thing," is in the singular. The verb tense for "are" needs to be adjusted to the singular form; therefore, the correct answer is "is to listen."
Example Question #281 : 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.
A combination of trenchant social commentary and delightfully entertaining plot twists characterize the novels of Jane Austen.
delightfully entertaining plot twists characterize the novels of Jane Austen.
the fact that she twists the plot in delightfully entertaining ways characterizes the novels of Jane Austen.
delightfully entertaining plot twists have characterized the novels of Jane Austen.
delightfully entertaining plot twists characterizes the novels of Jane Austen.
the fact that she twists the plot in delightfully entertaining ways characterize the novels of Jane Austen.
delightfully entertaining plot twists characterizes the novels of Jane Austen.
The subject of this sentence, "A combination," is singular, so the predicate should be singular, too. The original text "delightfully entertaining plot twists characterize the novels of Jane Austen" and the answer choice "delightfully entertaining plot twists have characterized the novels of Jane Austen" contain plural predicates and therefore lead to subject-verb agreement errors.
The answer choice "the fact that she twists the plot in delightfully entertaining ways characterizes the novels of Jane Austen" leads to faulty parallelism and the use of an ambiguous pronoun, and the answer choice "the fact that she twists the plot in delightfully entertaining ways characterize the novels of Jane Austen" leads to errors in both parallelism and subject-verb agreement.
Only answer choice "delightfully entertaining plot twists characterizes the novels of Jane Austen" correctly preserves the parallel structure and avoids any subject-verb agreement errors.
Example Question #282 : 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.
No one knows where the paintings were anymore, as all records of their location were lost over a century ago.
No one know where the paintings
No one knew where the paintings
No one knows where the paintings
No one knows where the painting's
No body knows where the paintings
No one knew where the paintings
The use of the past tense verb "were" indicates that the main verb of the sentence, "knows," should also be in the past tense, as they should be in agreement. Thus, the verb "knows" needs to be changed to its past-tense form. "No one knew where the paintings" is the only answer choice that correctly does this.
Example Question #283 : 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.
Making up stories are one of the chief ways a child learns to develop critical thinking skills.
Making up stories are one of the chief ways
Making up stories are one of the chief way's
Making up, stories are one of the chief ways
Making up stories are one chief way
Making up stories is one of the chief ways
Making up stories is one of the chief ways
The subject of the sentence is actually the gerund phrase "Making up stories," which is a singular construction, despite the use of "stories." The verb, therefore, must match the singular subject, but is written in a plural form. "Making up stories is one of the chief ways" is the answer choice that best corrects this issue.
Example Question #132 : Subject Verb Agreement 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.
Freud and other advocates of introspective psychology argue that a feeling of connectedness with other human beings, along with a positive self-image, contribute to the overall health of an individual.
argues that a feeling of connectedness with other human beings, along with a positive self-image, contribute to the overall health
argue that a feeling of connectedness with other human beings, along with a positive self-image, contribute for the overall health
argues that a feeling of connectedness with other human beings, along with a positive self-image, contributes to the overall health
argue that a feeling of connectedness with other human beings, along with a positive self-image, contributes to the overall health
argue that a feeling of connectedness with other human beings, along with a positive self-image, contribute to the overall health
argue that a feeling of connectedness with other human beings, along with a positive self-image, contributes to the overall health
The answer choice "argue that a feeling of connectedness with other human beings, along with a positive self-image, contributes to the overall health" is correct. It contains the correct number agreement of the verb "contributes" with its subject, "a feeling of connectedness with other human beings."
The answer choices containing "contribute" instead of "contributes" are incorrect. The subject of "contribute" is singular, not plural.
Although the answer choice "argues that a feeling of connectedness with other human beings, along with a positive self-image, contributes to the overall health" correctly contains "contributes," the verb "argues" introduces a number agreement error, as "argues" is singular but being used with a plural subject, "Freud and other advocates of introspective psychology."
Example Question #44 : Correcting Agreement 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.
Tom, Dick, and Harry all laments the loss of a previous innocence they possessed as children.
all lament
each lament
all lamenting
all laments
laments
all lament
The use of "all" is the key indicator of the correct answer in the sentence. While "Tom, Dick, and Harry" are singular as individuals, they are "all" together sharing their feeling as a plural group; therefore, "all lament" is the correct choice among the answers.
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