PSAT Writing : Improving Sentences
Study concepts, example questions & explanations for PSAT Writing
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Example Questions
Example Question #23 : Correcting Other Phrase, Clause, And Sentence 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.
Dan loves to play tennis and riding his bicycle.
ridden his bicycle
having ridden his bicycle
rides his bicycle
to ride his bicycle
rode his bicycle
to ride his bicycle
This sentence uses parallel structure, so we need to make sure both of its verbs match in terms of tense and verb form. We cannot change "to play tennis," so we need to make "riding his bicycle" match the tense and verb form of "to play tennis." "To play" is an infinitive, so we need to change "riding" to "to ride," another infinitive, yielding "to ride his bicycle," the correct answer.
Example Question #24 : Correcting Other Phrase, Clause, And Sentence 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.
Singing, dancing, and the ability to act at the highest level are all required of Broadway performers.
Singing dancing and the ability to act
Singing, to dance, and the ability to act
Singing, dancing, and the ability of acting
Singing, dancing, and acting
Singing, dancing, and the ability to act
Singing, dancing, and acting
The list that is underlined in the sentence has an issue with containing unlike forms. Therefore, they should be changed to have a consistent parallel structure. "Singing, dancing, and acting" is the only answer choice that uses the appropriate structure.
Example Question #21 : Correcting Other Phrase, Clause, And Sentence 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 soccer players were required to be skilled at kicking, running, and defensive skills.
at kicking, running, and defending.
at kicking, running, and their defensive skills.
at the kicking, the running, and the defensive skills.
at kicking, running, and defensive.
at kicking, running, and defensive skills.
at kicking, running, and defending.
The list featured in the underlined section is united by the same verb, but it does not have the same structure in all of its elements, two of which are gerunds ("kicking" and "running") and one of which is a noun phrase ("defensive skills"). The sentence needs to have its elements changed so that they match each other. Only "at kicking, running, and defending" features the appropriate parallel structure.
Example Question #82 : Correcting Phrase, Clause, And Sentence 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.
Neither bigotry nor hating will be tolerated anymore in the new nation.
Neither bigots nor hating
Neither bigotry nor hatred
Neither bigotry nor hating
Either bigotry nor hating
Neither bigotry or hating
Neither bigotry nor hatred
"Bigotry" and "hating" are described in the same "Neither...nor" phrase, but are actually two different forms, a noun and a participle. To appropriately be joined, the two must have a parallel structure. The only answer choice with a correct parallel structure is "Neither bigotry nor hatred," in which both "bigotry" and "hatred" are nouns.
Example Question #51 : Phrase, Clause, And Sentence 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.
For years, their mother had been concerned about how they ate, cleaned, and behaving.
how they were eating, cleaned, and behaving.
how they ate, cleaning, and behaving.
whether they ate, cleaned, and behaving.
how they ate, cleaned, and behaved.
how they ate, cleaned, and behaving.
how they ate, cleaned, and behaved.
The list at the end of the sentence, "ate, cleaned, and behaving," contains the sentence's error. The list should have a parallel structure and feature verbs that each have the same tense. While "ate" and "cleaned" employ the past tense, "behaving" is a present participle. The only answer choice that employs parallel structure correctly is "how they ate, cleaned, and behaved," in whcih all of the verbs are conjugated to be in the past tense.
Example Question #84 : Correcting Phrase, Clause, And Sentence 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 puppies all showed signs of being in good health, as they all enjoyed running, chasing, and play.
running, chase, and play.
running, chasing, and play.
run, chasing, and play.
running, chasing, and to play.
running, chasing, and playing.
running, chasing, and playing.
The list at the end of the sentence features three elements, "running," "chasing," and "play," which do not have a parallel structure because the present conjugation of "play" does not match the present participle conjugation of "running" and "chasing." Because there is not a parallel structure, the sentence is joining together unlike items. The only answer choice that features a parallel structure is "running, chasing, and playing."
Example Question #51 : Phrase, Clause, And Sentence 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.
Like her mother, the girl had special abilities in styling and in her dress.
in styling and her dress.
in styling and in her dress.
in styling and from her dress.
in the styling and in the dress.
in her style and in her dress.
in her style and in her dress.
"Styling" and "her dress" are two different objects of the same verb "had." As such, the two words need to employ parallel structure and be in the same form. The answer choice that features a parallel structure is "in her style and in her dress."
Example Question #1561 : Correcting Grammatical 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 school sought to create well-rounded individuals, making students who were painters, musicians, and participating in athletics.
who were painting, musicians, and participating in athletics.
who were painters, musicians, and athletes.
who were painters, musicians, and participating in athletics.
who were painters and musicians and participate in athletics.
who were painters, musicians, and participate in athletics.
who were painters, musicians, and athletes.
The list in the underlined portion of the sentence features three objects attached to the same verb, but these three objects are different kinds of words, describing different things. Any list like this one must feature a parallel structure, where all the items match in terms of tense and word form. The only answer choice to have such a parallel structure is "who were painters, musicians, and athletes."
Example Question #2341 : Sat Writing
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 organization needed people who could write, sell, and marketing their products.
who could write, sell, and market their products.
who could writing, sell, and marketing their products.
who could write, sell, and in marketing their products.
who could write, selling, and marketing their products.
who could write, sell, and marketing their products.
who could write, sell, and market their products.
The list contained in the underlined portion of the sentence features unlike elements, meaning that the verb describes unlike objects. The list needs to feature a parallel structure of elements that each have the same tense and word form. The only answer choice that features a correct parallel structure is "who could write, sell, and market their products."
Example Question #53 : Phrase, Clause, And Sentence 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.
Whether or not a protest was made, every decision was either reviewed or debating by the committee.
either reviewed or debating by the committee.
either be reviewed or debating by the committee.
either reviewed or debated by the committee.
either reviewed or debating by a committee.
either reviewed or debating in the committee.
either reviewed or debated by the committee.
In any "either . . . or" phrase, the elements compared must be of the same type, so that an equal comparison can be made. In the sentence, "reviewed" and "debating" do not follow such a parallel structure, because "reviewed" is a past tense verb while "debating" is a present participle. The only answer choice that employs parallel structure correctly is "either reviewed or debated by the committee."
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