PSAT Writing : Improving Sentences
Study concepts, example questions & explanations for PSAT Writing
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Example Questions
Example Question #161 : Correcting Phrase, Clause, And Sentence Errors
Good ideas often come in bunches, overload a creative person's brain.
bunches, overloading a creative person's brain.
bunches, overload a creative person's brain.
bunches overload a creative person's brain.
bunches, overload the creative person's brain.
bunches, overloads a creative person's brain.
bunches, overloading a creative person's brain.
The underlined portion of the sentence contains an inappropriate use of the verb "overload." The use in the sentence needs to acknowledge the fact the final phrase is a fragment on its own. "Overloading" appropriately ties the phrase to the subject of "good ideas."
Example Question #1131 : Psat Writing Skills
The entire class had to conduct a debate between historical figures, acted out each part based on extensive research.
acted out every part based on extensive research.
acted out each part basing on extensive research.
acted out each part based on extensive research.
acted out each part basing it on extensive research.
acting out each part based on extensive research.
acting out each part based on extensive research.
The use of the verb form "acted" makes the final part of the sentence an incomplete thought not connected to the first part of the sentence. The secondary clause must be joined with the main body of the sentence, either with a conjunction or a verb form that can connect the two. "Acting out each part based on extensive research," using the past participle, is the correct answer choice.
Example Question #172 : Phrase, Clause, And Sentence Errors
Choose the best way to rephrase the underlined portion of the sentence. One of the answer choices repeats the original phrasing.
The man who waved goodbye and headed back into the cold, wintry night.
The man who waved goodbye, heading
Waving goodbye, the man who headed
The man waving goodbye, headed
The man who waved goodbye and headed
The man waved goodbye and headed
The man waved goodbye and headed
The relative pronoun “who” makes this sentence into a fragment, because there is no longer a predicate. The best answer simply removes “who.”
Example Question #451 : 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.
The boy always gave his schoolwork his best shot but he never could make himself into a good student.
The boy always gave his schoolwork his best shot, he never could make himself into a good student.
The boy always gave his schoolwork his best shot but he never could make himself into a good student.
The boy always gave his schoolwork his best shot, but he never could make himself into a good student.
The boy always gives his schoolwork his best shot but he never could make himself into a good student.
The boy always gave his schoolwork his best shot but he never could making himself into a good student.
The boy always gave his schoolwork his best shot, but he never could make himself into a good student.
The sentence is written as a run-on sentence, as it is two complete thoughts not properly combined into a compound sentence. A compound sentence needs to have its two independent clauses joined by either a conjunction and a comma, or a semicolon. The only answer choice to employ either of these options is "The boy always gave his schoolwork his best shot, but he never could make himself into a good student."
Example Question #21 : Correcting Sentence Fragment And Sentence Combination 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 researchers found that humans can detect millions of different odors, dogs, in contrast, can detect only a few thousand.
detect millions of different odors; dogs, in contrast, can detect only a few thousand
detect millions of different odors, dogs, in contrast, can detect only a few thousand
detect millions of different odors; and dogs, in contrast, can detect only a few thousand
detect millions of different odors, dogs can detect only a few thousand in contrast
detect millions of different odors; whereas dogs, in contrast, can detect only a few thousand
detect millions of different odors; dogs, in contrast, can detect only a few thousand
The original text contains a run-on sentence. That means that the original text places two complete sentences side by side, separated only by a comma. Answer choice "detect millions of different odors, dogs can detect only a few thousand in contrast" also results in a run-on sentence.
To fix a run-on sentence, you can either change the comma to a semicolon, as in answer choice "detect millions of different odors; dogs, in contrast, can detect only a few thousand," or you can insert a conjunction after the comma.
Answer choices "detect millions of different odors; whereas dogs, in contrast, can detect only a few thousand" and "detect millions of different odors; and dogs, in contrast, can detect only a few thousand" are incorrect because they make both of these changes—changing the comma to a semicolon and inserting a conjunction— instead of just one or the other.
Example Question #21 : Sentence Fragment And Sentence Combination 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 planes were designed to last for decades but unfortunately they proved to have mechanical problems immediately.
The planes were designed to last for decades and unfortunately they proved to have mechanical problems immediately.
The planes were designed to last for decades so unfortunately they proved to have mechanical problems immediately.
The planes were designed to last for decades but unfortunately they proved to have mechanical problems immediately.
The planes were designed to last for decades, but unfortunately they proved to have mechanical problems immediately.
The planes were designing to last for decades but unfortunately they proving to have mechanical problems immediately.
The planes were designed to last for decades, but unfortunately they proved to have mechanical problems immediately.
The sentence is written as a compound sentence, or a sentence composed of two complete thoughts joined together to show their relationship. All compound sentences must be joined by either a semicolon or a conjunction and a comma. The only answer choice that does this is "The planes were designed to last for decades, but unfortunately they proved to have mechanical problems immediately."
Example Question #131 : 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.
Airplane travel is still a relatively recent phenomenon just a little more than a century has passed since the first flight.
recent phenomenon just a little
recent phenomenon as just a little
recent phenomenon; just a little
recent phenomenon, a little
recent phenomenon a little
recent phenomenon; just a little
The sentence is a compound sentence, or two sentences put together to show their relationship to each other. All such sentences need to have their two parts separated by either a comma and a conjunction or a semi-colon. "Recent phenomenon; just a little" is the only answer choice that does either.
Example Question #21 : Correcting Sentence Fragment And Sentence Combination Errors
In the following question, please choose the best sentence improvement.
During the fireworks display, the colors that filled the sky like starbursts.
the colors filled the sky
the colors, which filled the sky
the colors that filled the sky
the colors filling the sky
the colors will fill the sky
the colors filled the sky
As it is written, the sentence is a fragment because of the word that. The sentence is therefore corrected by removing that.
Example Question #181 : Phrase, Clause, And Sentence Errors
In the following question, please choose the best sentence improvement.
Going to college can lead to some fantastic careers, young adults who do not pursue additional education can find fulfilling and exciting jobs as well.
If going to college can lead to some fantastic careers
Since going to college can lead to some fantastic careers
Going to college can lead to some fantastic careers
Unless going to college can lead to some fantastic careers
Although going to college can lead to some fantastic careers
Although going to college can lead to some fantastic careers
In its current state, this is a run-on sentence because it has two independent clauses that are not joined with a conjunction or semicolon. In this answer choice, the appropriate conjunction is added to the introductory clause, making the introductory clause dependent and the sentence grammatically correct.
Example Question #22 : Correcting Sentence Fragment And Sentence Combination 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.
Mary Shelley, English novelist and author of Frankenstein, and who died from a brain tumor when she was 53 years old.
and who has died
she died
and who died
she has died
died
died
Only the verb in the past tense is necessary here. If “who” is used, the second part of the sentence becomes a relative clause modifying the subject, leaving us with a fragment—a subject, an appositive phrase, and a relative clause, but no predicate. The answers "and who died" and "and who has died" are both incorrect for the same reason; the answers "she died" and "she has died" introduce the pronoun "she," which is unnecessary (and grammatically incorrect) because the sentence already has a subject.
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