All PSAT Writing Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #291 : 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 repeats the underlined portion as it is written.
Both Mark and his friend Josh is a type of person called introverts.
are a types
are a type
is a types
is one type
is a type
are a type
The subject of the sentence, "Mark and his friend Josh," is plural. Therefore, the sentence must use a verb that agrees with a plural subject. So, "are" needs to be used instead of "is." In choosing between "are a type" and "are a types," the phrase "a types" is grammatically incorrect because "a" is an indefinite article used with singular nouns, and "types" is a plural noun. Plus, you can see that the sentence is discussing one type of person "called introverts"—there is no discussion provided of any other type of person, so using the plural "types" would not make sense in the sentence's context. So, "are a type" 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.
Despite positive reviews from movie critics, the quality of the young director’s recent films are rather questionable.
the quality of the young Director’s recent films are rather questionable.
the quality of the young Director’s recent films is rather questionable.
the quality of the young director’s recent films are rather questionable.
the quality of the young director’s recent films is rather questionable.
the quality of the young directors recent films is rather questionable.
the quality of the young director’s recent films is rather questionable.
An apostrophe is necessary to show possession, but the word “director” doesn’t need to be capitalized unless it is the official title or nickname of the person. Since “the quality” is singular, the sentence must read, "Despite positive reviews from movie critics, the quality of the young director’s recent films is rather questionable."
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 #62 : 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, of the teenagers, have
Each of the teenagers having
Each of the teenagers have
Each teenager 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 #63 : 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, objects
The teenager along with her classmates objects
The teenager, along with her classmates, objects
The teenager, along with her classmates, object
The teenager along with her classmates object
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.
is to listen
are listen
is having listened
are to listen
are listening
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.
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