PSAT Writing : Improving Sentences
Study concepts, example questions & explanations for PSAT Writing
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Example Questions
Example Question #103 : 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. One of the answer choices reproduces the underlined portion as it is written in the sentence.
Thomas Jefferson was a lawyer in Virginia, a member of the House of Burgesses, and he wrote the Declaration of Independence.
and he wrote the Declaration of Independence.
and was the writer of the Declaration of Independence.
and writing the Declaration of Independence.
and the writer of the Declaration of Independence.
and the one who wrote the Declaration of Independence.
and the writer of the Declaration of Independence.
The correct answer best follows the laws of parallelism. Like “a lawyer” and “a member,” “the writer” is a noun preceded by an article.
Example Question #104 : 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. One of the answer choices reproduces the underlined portion as it is written in the sentence.
Neither hunting nor a trapped animal ensures a guaranteed succesful trip for an outdoorsman.
Either hunting nor a trapped animal ensures
Neither hunting nor trapping an animal ensures
Neither hunting nor a trapped animal ensured
Neither hunting or a trapped animal ensures
Neither hunting nor a trapped animal ensures
Neither hunting nor trapping an animal ensures
In any "Neither...nor" phrase, each element described must be of a similar nature, so the phrase is describing similar objects. The sentence has two dissimilar objects in the phrase as it is written. The only answer choice that has an appropriate parallel structure is "Neither hunting nor trapping an animal ensures."
Example Question #105 : 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. One of the answer choices reproduces the underlined portion as it is written in the sentence.
The finer points of military strategy were lost on the general, who much preferred just fighting, charging, and to fire.
just fighting charging and to fire.
just fighting charging and firing.
only fighting, charging, and to fire.
just fighting, charging, and firing.
just fighting, charging, and to fire.
just fighting, charging, and firing.
In any list of verbs, such as the one in the underlined portion, all the verbs need to be in the same form. Additionally, all such lists need to have each item separated by commas. The correct answer, therefore, is "just fighting, charging, and firing."
Example Question #421 : 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 reproduces the underlined portion as it is written in the sentence.
To alleviate stress, Margaret liked to bake chocolate cakes and swim laps but never to be practicing yoga.
and not to be practicing yoga.
but never to be practicing yoga.
rather than practice yoga.
more than to practice yoga.
rather than be practicing yoga.
rather than practice yoga.
The cleanest and most logical coordinator here is “rather than,” and the verb should be in the same grammatical format as the ones before it.
Example Question #92 : 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. One of the answer choices reproduces the underlined portion as it is written in the sentence.
Our history teacher says that she enjoys teaching our class more than most classes she teaches.
she enjoys teaching our class more than she enjoys teaching other classes
she enjoys teaching our class more than she teaches other classes
she enjoys teaching our class more than she does teaching other classes
she does enjoy teaching our class more so than most classes she teaches
she enjoys teaching our class more than most classes she teaches
she enjoys teaching our class more than she enjoys teaching other classes
As written, we have an unequal comparison; the fact that she enjoys teaching our class is being compared to most classes she teaches. The sentence must compare how much the teacher enjoys teaching one class to how much she enjoys teaching the other classes.
Example Question #111 : 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. One of the answer choices reproduces the underlined portion as it is written in the sentence.
Younger employees often struggle with time management, balancing workloads, and file organization.
with time management balancing workloads and file organization.
with time management, workload balancing, and file organization.
with things like time management, balancing workloads, and file organization.
for time management, balancing workloads, and file organization.
with time management, balancing workloads, and file organization.
with time management, workload balancing, and file organization.
The list in the underlined portion of the sentence, "time management, balancing workloads, and file organization," contains three items which do not describe similar actions with their structure. The three items should match in any list structured like the one in the sentence. The only answer choice that features such a parallel structure is "with time management, workload balancing, and file organization."
Example Question #81 : 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. One of the answer choices reproduces the underlined portion as it is written in the sentence.
The President's speech avoided both the recent scandal and how women were disenfranchised in politics.
the recent scandal: how women were disenfranchised in politics.
both the recent scandal and the disenfranchisement of women in politics.
the recent scandal of how women were disenfranchised in politics.
both the recent scandal and how women were disenfranchised in politics.
the recent scandal, as well as how women were disenfranchised in politics.
both the recent scandal and the disenfranchisement of women in politics.
All elements in a list should be parallel: they should be of the same structure. Choose the answer that keeps elements parallel: "the recent scandal and the disenfranchisement . . ."
Example Question #142 : 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. One of the answer choices reproduces the underlined portion as it is written in the sentence.
The new manager came in like a house on fire, changing schedules, switching assignments, and broke old rules.
changing schedules, switching assignments, and breaking old rules.
changing schedule, switching assignment, and broke old rule.
changing schedules, switching assignments, and break old rules.
change schedules, switch assignments, and broke old rules.
changing schedules, switching assignments, and broke old rules.
changing schedules, switching assignments, and breaking old rules.
In any list like the one in the underlined portion of the sentence, all the verbs in the dependent clause need to be in the same form to show the subject is doing similar actions. The only answer choice that appropriately features such parallel structure is "changing schedules, switching assignments, and breaking old rules."
Example Question #143 : 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. One of the answer choices reproduces the underlined portion as it is written in the sentence.
Horses, once trained, take quite well to being harnessed, saddled, and riding.
being harnessed, saddled, and riding.
be harnessed, saddled, and riding.
being harnessed, saddled, and ridden.
been harnessed, saddled, and riding.
being harnesing, saddling, and riding.
being harnessed, saddled, and ridden.
The underlined portion of the sentence is incorrect, as any series needs to have a parallel structure, where all elements of the series are written in the same form. "Being harnessed, saddled, and ridden" is the only answer choice that is both correct grammatically and parallel in structure.
Example Question #81 : Correcting Parallel Structure 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 success of the one-handed touchdown catch was more a result of good luck than by skillful play.
good luck than of skillful play
good luck than because of skillful play
luck being good than because of play being skillful
good luck than by skillful play
luck being good than by play being skillful
good luck than of skillful play
This sentence contains an error in parallelism. Specifically, it compares "of good luck" to "by skillful play." The prepositions used in these phrases should match because they are being compared—"more a result of X than by Y" doesn't treat format each item in a consistent manner. The only answer choice that fixes this issue is "good luck than of skillful play," making the corrected sentence "The success of the one-handed touchdown catch was more a result of good luck than of skillful play."
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