PSAT Writing : Improving Sentences

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for PSAT Writing

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Example Questions

Example Question #132 : Correcting 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.

The tiny force holding down the fort until help came three days later.

Possible Answers:

The tiny force held down the fort

The tiny force holding down the fort

The tiny force holds down the fort

The tiny force that holding down the fort

The tiny force, holding down the fort,

Correct answer:

The tiny force held down the fort

Explanation:

The use of the participle "holding" means that there is no actual verb in the sentence. Not only does the form have to change, but the use of "came" later in the sentence means the verb form needs to be the past tense. "The tiny force held down the fort" is the only answer choice that uses the correct tense.

Example Question #133 : Correcting 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.

The athlete obsessing over his team's loss for the entire offseason.

Possible Answers:

The athlete obsessing around

The athlete obsessed over

The athlete obsessing over

The athlete being obsessing over

The athlete to obsess over

Correct answer:

The athlete obsessed over

Explanation:

The use of the participle "obsessing" actually makes the sentence have no verb, as a participle cannot stand as a verb without some form of the verb "to be." "Obsessing" needs to be changed to an appropriate verb form to make the sentence complete. The only answer choice that uses a correct verb form is "The athlete obsessed over."

Example Question #2452 : Act English

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.

The child considering the model truck his favorite toy as soon as he played with it.

Possible Answers:

The child considering the model truck 

The child considering that model truck 

The child considered the model truck 

The child's considering the model truck

The child considering of the model truck 

Correct answer:

The child considered the model truck 

Explanation:

The use of the participle form "considering" in the sentence actually causes the sentence to not have a verb. A participle needs some form of the verb "to be" to make a complete verb phrase. "The child considered the model truck," which uses a simple past tense verb, is the only answer choice that corrects this issue.

Example Question #141 : 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.

The old woman keeping mementos throughout her entire life.

Possible Answers:

The old woman kept

The old woman is keeping

The old woman keeping

The old woman keeps

The old woman keep

Correct answer:

The old woman kept

Explanation:

The use of "keeping" as the only verb in the sentence is wrong, as "keeping" is a present participle, and a present participle always needs some form of the verb "to be" to precede it to create a verbal phrase. Additionally, the sentence needs to employ a past tense verb because its action takes place in the past. As such, the only answer choice that fulfills these requirements is "The old woman kept."

Example Question #531 : 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.

The new CEO was astonishing at the state of the company's finances.

Possible Answers:

The new CEO astonishing

The new CEO were astonishing

The new CEO was astonishing

The new CEO was astonished

The new CEO is astonishing

Correct answer:

The new CEO was astonished

Explanation:

The verbal phrase "was astonishing" is structured as though the CEO is astonishing the company's finances. The only answer choice that fixes this issue is "The new CEO was astonished."

Example Question #142 : 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.

The woman hoarding animals in unsafe conditions, which got her charged by the animal control services.

Possible Answers:

The woman hoarding animals in unsafe condition,

The woman hoarding animals in the unsafe conditions,

The woman was hoarding animals in unsafe conditions,

The woman hoarding animals in unsafe conditions,

The woman hoard animals in unsafe conditions,

Correct answer:

The woman was hoarding animals in unsafe conditions,

Explanation:

The use of "hoarding" makes the sentence contain no actual verb, as the present participle "hoarding" needs to be preceded by some form of the verb "to be" to make a complete verb phrase. "The woman was hoarding animals in unsafe conditions," is the only answer choice that inserts the appropriate word.

Example Question #532 : 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.

Many psychologists now argue that vacations being one of the best ways for people to reduce their stress.

Possible Answers:

being one the best ways

being one of the best way

are one of the best ways

being one of the best ways

being one for the best ways

Correct answer:

are one of the best ways

Explanation:

The use of "being" makes the sentence actually not have a verb, as "being" is a gerund, or a verb form that is used as a noun. The sentence needs to be changed so that it contains a verb. The only answer choice that corrects the issue is "are one of the best ways."

Example Question #251 : Verb Formation 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.

The young boy holding onto his teddy bear throughout the stressful trip.

Possible Answers:

The young boy holding to his teddy bear

The young boy holding on his teddy bear

The young boy holding onto his' teddy bear

The young boy holding onto his teddy bear

The young boy held onto his teddy bear

Correct answer:

The young boy held onto his teddy bear

Explanation:

The use of the participle form "holding" makes the sentence actually have no practical verb, as a participle needs some form of the verb "to be" in order to function as the verb in the sentence. Either a version of "to be" needs to be put in the sentence, or "holding" should be changed to a proper verb form. "The young boy held onto his teddy bear" is the only answer choice that does either.

Example Question #252 : Verb Formation 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.

The storm creating havoc from the moment it made landfall near the coastal resort.

Possible Answers:

The storm creating havoc from the moments it made landfall near the coastal resort.

The storm creating havoc from the moment it made landfall near the coastal resort.

The storm creating havoc at the moment it made landfall near the coastal resort.

The storm created havoc from the moment it made landfall near the coastal resort.

The storm creating havoc from the moment it made landfall near a coastal resort.

Correct answer:

The storm created havoc from the moment it made landfall near the coastal resort.

Explanation:

The use of the participle "creating" in the sentence makes the sentence not have a verb, as a participle needs some form of the verb "to be" to create a full verb for a sentence. Either the verb needs to be changed or have a form of "to be" added in. The only answer choice that does either is "The storm created havoc from the moment it made landfall near the coastal resort."

Example Question #32 : Correcting Other 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.

It is widely believed that working for the government usually requires the employee willing to take a substantial pay cut.

Possible Answers:

usual requires the employee willing to take

usually requires the employee to be willing to take

usually requires the employee willing to take

usually required the employee willing to take

usually requires the employee willing taking

Correct answer:

usually requires the employee to be willing to take

Explanation:

The sentence actually has no verb as written, as the word that is trying to function as a verb, "willing," is a participle that cannot stand alone as a verb. Instead, it needs a form of the verb "to be" attached to it to fully function as the verb in the sentence. Therefore, the correct answer choice is "usually requires the employee to be willing to take," as it is the only one that employs such a usage.

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