PSAT Writing : PSAT Writing Skills
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Example Questions
Example Question #1 : Correcting Appositive And Interrupting Phrase 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.
Jimmy was afraid that Butch the biggest bully in school wanted to fight him on the playground; Jimmy did not have a death wish!
Jimmy was afraid that Butch the biggest bully in school wanted to fight him on the playground; Jimmy did not have a death wish!
Jimmy was afraid that Butch the biggest bully in school, wanted to fight him on the playground; Jimmy did not have a death wish!
Jimmy was afraid that Butch, the biggest bully in school wanted to fight him on the playground; Jimmy did not have a death wish!
Jimmy, was afraid that Butch, the biggest bully in school wanted to fight him on the playground; Jimmy did not have a death wish!
Jimmy was afraid that Butch, the biggest bully in school, wanted to fight him on the playground; Jimmy did not have a death wish!
Jimmy was afraid that Butch, the biggest bully in school, wanted to fight him on the playground; Jimmy did not have a death wish!
An appositive phrase sits next to a noun and renames it. An appositive phrase is surrounded by commas, and the sentence would still be grammatically correct if it were taken out. Because the appositive phrase "the biggest bully in school" renames "Butch" it should have a comma at the beginning and a comma at the end, making the correct sentence "Jimmy was afraid that Butch, the biggest bully in school, wanted to fight him on the playground; Jimmy did not have a death wish!" Note that while a period would not be incorrect in this instance, the exclamation point is also, technically, grammatically correct, and also note that a semicolon is correctly used to connect two independent clauses.
Example Question #1 : Correcting Appositive And Interrupting Phrase Errors
Select the option that best replaces the underlined word or phrase.
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. one of the leading activists in America's Civil Rights Movement delivered, speeches that continue to inspire listeners more than 40 years later.
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., one of the leading activists in America's Civil Rights Movement, delivered speeches that continue to inspire listeners more than 40 years later.
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. one of the leading activists in America's Civil Rights Movement delivered speeches that continue to inspire listeners more than 40 years later.
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., one of the leading activists in America's Civil Rights Movement delivered, speeches that continue to inspire listeners more than 40 years later.
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. one of the leading activists in America's Civil Rights Movement delivered, speeches that continue to inspire listeners more than 40 years later.
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., one of the leading activists in America's Civil Rights Movement delivered speeches that continue to inspire listeners more than 40 years later.
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., one of the leading activists in America's Civil Rights Movement, delivered speeches that continue to inspire listeners more than 40 years later.
An appositive phrase sits next to a noun and renames it. An appositive phrase is surrounded by commas, and the sentence would still be grammatically correct if it were taken out. Because the appositive phrase "one of the leading activists in America's Civil Rights Movement" renames "Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.," it should have a comma at the beginning and a comma at the end, making the correct sentence "Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., one of the leading activists in America's Civil Rights Movement, delivered speeches that continue to inspire listeners more than 40 years later." In the example sentence, the comma was incorrectly placed after a word that was not a part of the appositive phrase.
Example Question #2 : Correcting Appositive And Interrupting Phrase 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.
Cindy found that she like her older brothers, enjoyed collecting art more than creating it.
Cindy found that she, like her older brothers, enjoyed collecting art more than creating it.
Cindy found that she like her older brothers, enjoyed collecting art more than creating it.
Cindy found that she, like her older brothers as well, enjoying to collect art more than creating it.
Cindy found that, she like her older brothers, enjoyed collecting art more than creating it.
Cindy found, like her older brothers, enjoyed collecting art more than creating it.
Cindy found that she, like her older brothers, enjoyed collecting art more than creating it.
In this sentence, the subject is "Cindy," also referred to with the pronoun "she." The phrase "like her older brothers" is an interrupting phrase, giving additional information that is not necessary for the sentence to be grammatically complete. Therefore, this phrase should be separated from the main clause with two commas. The correct answer choice separates the interrupting phrase without introducing any new errors.
Example Question #1 : Correcting Appositive And Interrupting Phrase 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.
Maura along with the rest of her school's swimming and soccer teams, had taken months to prepare for the intramural sports meet.
Maura along with the rest of her school's swimming and soccer teams had taken months to prepare for the intramural sports meet.
Maura along, with the rest of her school's swimming and soccer teams, had taken months to prepare for the intramural sports meet.
Maura along with the rest of her school's swimming and soccer teams, had taken months to prepare for the intramural sports meet.
Maura, along with the rest of her school's swimming and soccer teams had taken months to prepare, for the intramural sports meet.
Maura, along with the rest of her school's swimming and soccer teams, had taken months to prepare for the intramural sports meet.
Maura, along with the rest of her school's swimming and soccer teams, had taken months to prepare for the intramural sports meet.
The phrase "along with the rest of her school's swimming and soccer teams" gives additional information that should be set off from the subject and predicate of the sentence with commas. It is an interrupting phrase, and the correct answer choice separates it from the subject of the sentence, "Maura." The sentence, as it is written currently, misuses a comma, separating the subject of the sentence from the verb.
Example Question #1 : Identifying Appositive And Interrupting Phrase Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Marvin, the librarian from Ridgedale always has a good recommendation for something to read. No error.
good
No error.
Ridgedale always
has
for something to read
Ridgedale always
"The librarian from Ridgedale" is an appositive phrase, which is extra information renaming a noun that is set off by commas. Here, it is missing the closing comma. The corrected sentence reads, "Marvin, the librarian from Ridgedale, always has a good recommendation for something to read."
Example Question #2 : Identifying Appositive Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
The dogs, who were basset hounds liked to run and sniff; they typically spent three hours outdoors every day. No error
every day
sniff; they
No error
The dogs,
basset hounds
basset hounds
The error in the sentence is "a basset hound." This appositive phrase, which describes "the dogs," needs to be closed off with a second comma. Appositive phrases rename the noun beside it. Non-essential appositives must always be separated from the rest of the sentence with commas.
Example Question #3 : Identifying Appositive Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Our family's pet bird, a canary wakes me every morning with her beautiful song. No error.
family's
canary wakes
morning with
No error
bird, a
canary wakes
An appositive phrase sits next to a noun and renames it. An appositive phrase is surrounded by commas, and the sentence would still be grammatically correct if it were taken out. Because the appositive phrase "a canary" renames "Our family's pet bird," it should have a comma at the beginning and a comma at the end, making the correct sentence, "Our family's pet bird, a canary, wakes me every morning with her beautiful song."
Example Question #653 : Identifying Sentence Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
I've never understood how bugs tiny creatures, could scare such big humans! No error.
creatures, could
big humans
bugs tiny
never understood
No error
bugs tiny
An appositive phrase sits next to a noun and renames it. An appositive phrase is surrounded by commas, and the sentence would still be grammatically correct if it were taken out. Because the appositive phrase "tiny creatures" renames "bugs," it should have a comma at the beginning and a comma at the end, making the correct sentence, "I've never understood how bugs, tiny creatures, could scare such big humans!" Note that while an exclamation points is not necessary, it is also not strictly incorrect in this instance. Exclamation points are optional, stylistic punctuation marks.
Example Question #654 : Identifying Sentence Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
That dress, even if it flatters Maureen, is not one that I would wear to the prom. No error.
I would
the prom
No error
Maureen, is
dress, even
No error
An interrupting phrase provides extra information about the subject that is not necessary for the sentence to be correct. A correctly-formed interrupting phrase should have a comma at the beginning and a comma at the end, and the sentence should remain correct even if the interrupting phrase is deleted. This means that the correct form of this sentence is "That dress, even if it flatters Maureen, is not one that I would wear to the prom."
Example Question #655 : Identifying Sentence Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
It's hard to believe that Arthur though he did work very hard, received a full scholarship to an Ivy League school. No error.
Arthur though
It's hard
No error
Ivy League
hard, received
Arthur though
An interrupting phrase provides extra information about the subject that is not necessary for the sentence to be correct. A correctly formed interrupting phrase should have a comma at the beginning and a comma at the end, and the sentence should remain correct even if the interrupting phrase is deleted. This means that the correct form of this sentence is "It's hard to believe that Arthur, though he did work very hard, received a full scholarship to an Ivy League school."
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