PSAT Writing : Improving Sentences

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for PSAT Writing

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Example Questions

Example Question #303 : Correcting Phrase, Clause, And Sentence Errors

Select the answer that produces the most effective sentence, one that is clear and exact, without awkwardness or ambiguity.

After eating too much food, nausea overwhelmed Francis.

Possible Answers:

food; nausea overwhelmed Francis.

food, Francis was overwhlemed with nausea.

food, nausea overwhelmed Francis.

food: naseau overwhelmed Francis.

food, Francis having been overwhelmed with nausea.

Correct answer:

food, Francis was overwhlemed with nausea.

Explanation:

Here, the modifying phrase is misplaced: it is Francis, not the nausea, that ate too much food. Choose the answer which places the subject close to the modifier and also makes grammatical sense.

Example Question #254 : Correcting Phrase, Clause, And Sentence Errors

Playing the piano for over an hour, Tyler’s soreness prevented him from performing his best.

Possible Answers:

Playing the piano for over an hour, Tyler’s soreness prevented him from performing well.

Playing the piano for over an hour, Tyler was unable to perform well because of his soreness.

Having played the piano for over an hour, Tyler was unable to perform well because of his soreness.

Having played the piano for over an hour, Tyler’s soreness prevented him from performing well.

Having played the piano for over an hour, Tyler’s performing well was prevented by soreness.

Correct answer:

Having played the piano for over an hour, Tyler was unable to perform well because of his soreness.

Explanation:

There are two problems with the initial sentence. First, playing modifies Tyler, not his soreness. Second, the participle is in the wrong form. It should be in the perfect form, having played. Only past action could have caused his current soreness.

Example Question #251 : 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.

Noticing the dates while they walked, the sun beat down on the children as they strolled through the orchard.

Possible Answers:

Dates strolled through the orchard while the children beat down on the sun.

Noticing the dates that littered the ground, the children strolled through the orchard as the sun beating down on them.

The children noticed the dates as they strolled, through the orchard while the sun beat down on them.

Noticing the dates that littered the ground, the sun beat down on the children as they strolled through the orchard.

Noticing the dates that littered the ground, the children strolled through the orchard as the sun beat down on them.

Correct answer:

Noticing the dates that littered the ground, the children strolled through the orchard as the sun beat down on them.

Explanation:

This sentence contains a dangling participle. A dangling participle is a participle in an introductory phrase that makes reference to the wrong noun. As written, it appears as if "the sun" is doing the "noticing," when "the children" should be the ones doing the "noticing." Rearranging the sentence so that "the children" is the noun that follows the introductory phrase rids the sentence of its dangling participle.

Example Question #271 : 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.

Rounding the corner, the mountains loomed large in front of the group.

Possible Answers:

Rounding the corner the mountains loomed large in front of the group.

Rounding the corner, the mountains loomed large in front of the group.

Rounding the corner: the mountains loomed large in front of the group.

The mountains loomed large in front of the group as they rounded the corner.

The mountains loomed large rounding the corner in front of the group.

Correct answer:

The mountains loomed large in front of the group as they rounded the corner.

Explanation:

The phrase "Rounding the corner" is a type of error is known as a "dangling modifier." What is described as "rounding" is not "the mountains" as the sentence's construction implies by having "the mountains" immediately follow the introductory phrase "Rounding the corner." "The group" is the noun being described by "Rounding the corner," so to correct this sentence's ambiguity, the sentence should be arranged so that "the group" is the noun that immediately follows "Rounding the corner." Thus, the correct answer is "The mountains loomed large in front of the group as they rounded the corner."

Example Question #41 : Correcting Dangling Modifier 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.

Although captured and executed, Americans still remember Nathan Hale for his patriotism and bravery during the revolution.

Possible Answers:

Americans still remember the patriotism and bravery of Nathan Hale

Nathan Hale is still remembered by Americans for his patriotism and bravery

Nathan Hale, still remembered by Americans for his patriotism and Bravery

Americans still remember Nathan Hale for his patriotism and bravery

the patriotism and bravery of Nathan Hale is still remembered by Americans

Correct answer:

Nathan Hale is still remembered by Americans for his patriotism and bravery

Explanation:

When the sentence begins with a descriptive phrase (e.g. prepositional or adverbial), the subject of that phrase should immediately follow. Only two choices correctly place the Subject, but one omits the primary verb, creating a new structure issue.

Example Question #371 : 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.

Gazing into the night sky, the stars prompted Galileo to invent one of the first telescopes.

Possible Answers:

Gazing into the night sky, the stars had prompted Galileo

Gazing into the night sky, Galileo

Gazing into the night sky, Galileo prompted the stars

Gazing into the night sky, Galileo was prompted by the stars

Gazing into the night sky, the stars prompted Galileo

Correct answer:

Gazing into the night sky, Galileo was prompted by the stars

Explanation:

This sentence contains a dangling participle. The way the sentence is phrased, the introductory phrase "Gazing into the night sky" appears to describe "the stars" instead of "Galileo." The only answer choice that corrects this issue while creating a grammatically correct sentence is "Gazing into the night sky, Galileo was prompted by the stars."

Example Question #51 : Correcting Dangling Modifier 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.

Working out the kinks in his invention, the machine was exhibited by the tinkerer in 1904.

Possible Answers:

the machine exhibited by the tinkerer in 1904.

the machine was exhibited in 1904 by the tinkerer.

the machine was exhibited by the tinkerer in 1904.

the tinkerer exhibited the machine in 1904.

the machine was exhibiting by the tinkerer in 1904.

Correct answer:

the tinkerer exhibited the machine in 1904.

Explanation:

The sentence is written in a manner that makes it appear that "the machine" was "working out the kinks," when the only logical noun to do this action is "the tinkerer." The sentence needs to be rearranged so as to indicate clearly who was doing the "working," a task best achieved by the answer choice "the tinkerer exhibited the machine in 1904."

Example Question #604 : 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.

Walking out of the house, the breeze nearly knocked the girl down.

Possible Answers:

The breeze nearly knocking the girl down as walking out of the house.

The breeze nearly knocked the girl down as she walked out of the house.

Walking out of the house so the breeze nearly knocked the girl down.

Walking out of the house made the breeze nearly knock the girl down.

Walking out of the house, the breeze nearly knocked the girl down.

Correct answer:

The breeze nearly knocked the girl down as she walked out of the house.

Explanation:

The sentence as written features a dangling modifier, which makes the sentence read as though "the breeze" was "walking out of the house." The sentence needs to be rearranged to make it clear that the girl was the one doing the walking. The only answer choice that does this is "The breeze nearly knocked the girl down as she walked out of the house."

Example Question #605 : 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.

Flying into the city, the smog was visible to everyone on the plane.

Possible Answers:

Everyone on the plane was visible with smog flying into the city.

The smog visible to everyone on the plane flying into the city.

The smog was visible to everyone on the plane flying into the city.

Flying into the city, everyone on the plane was visible to the smog.

Flying into the city, the smog was visible to everyone on the plane.

Correct answer:

The smog was visible to everyone on the plane flying into the city.

Explanation:

The sentence is written in a way that makes it appear that "the smog" was the thing "flying into the city." The sentence needs to be restructured to show that the plane, and the people on it, were "flying into the city." The answer choice that best clarifies the meaning of the sentence is "The smog was visible to everyone on the plane flying into the city."

Example Question #52 : Correcting Dangling Modifier 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.

Walking at night through the graveyard, noises always seem much creepier than they actually are during daylight.

Possible Answers:

Walking at night through the graveyard, noises seem always

Walking at night through the graveyard, noises always seem

Walking at night through the graveyard, people hear noises that seem

Walking in night in the graveyard, noises always seem

Walking through the graveyard at night, noises always seem

Correct answer:

Walking at night through the graveyard, people hear noises that seem

Explanation:

The sentence as written contains what is known as a "dangling modifer," as the introductory clause does not describe action taken by the subject, "noises." This means the sentence needs to be fixed to make the subject fit with its modifying clause. The best choice among the answers is "Walking at night through the graveyard, people hear noises that seem."

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