PSAT Writing : PSAT Writing Skills
Study concepts, example questions & explanations for PSAT Writing
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Example Questions
Example Question #21 : Identifying Verb 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 am eagerly awaiting my college admissions decision letters, though I expect that I will have to wait another month before I received any letters. No error
eagerly awaiting
will have to wait
though
received
No error
received
The sentence is referring to something that will happen in the future, which is indicated by the fact that the subject is currently waiting and is expecting to wait longer. Therefore, the verb "receive" cannot be past tense ("received") because it has not happened yet; the subject has not "received" letters and will not for quite some time. "Received" is therefore incorrect.
Example Question #292 : Psat Writing Skills
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Every member of that family has freckles and bright red hair, so every year, it is easy to spot relatives as they arrived at the family reunion. No error
they arrived
of
so
No error
to spot
they arrived
This sentence contains is a tense agreement issue. It is stated that "it is easy to spot relatives," which is present tense. Therefore, "arrive" must also be present tense. "Is" and "arrive" must agree in tense.
Example Question #293 : Psat Writing Skills
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
We go to the zoo often, where we saw all sorts of birds and other animals. No error
No error
the zoo
We go
saw
where
saw
The sentence begins in present tense because "go" is in present tense. So, the past tense verb "saw" should be changed to the present tense verb "see" in order to keep the sentence's tense consistent.
Example Question #104 : Identifying Usage Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Ralph was having quite a hard time at lunch that day due to the fact that the cafeteria was serving chicken noodle soup and had ran out of spoons. No error
was having
No error
had ran out of
quite a hard time at lunch
due to the fact that
had ran out of
This sentence contains an error in verb tense in the phrase "had ran out of." "Had" is a past tense helping verb, so the verb that follows it needs to be an infinitive. For example, one wouldn't say "He thought I didn't go to the concert, but I did went." You would say, "He thought I didn't go to the concert, but I did go." The corrected version of the given sentence is, "Ralph was having quite a hard time at lunch that day due to the fact that the cafeteria was serving chicken noodle soup and had run out of spoons."
Example Question #111 : Identifying Usage Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Sharleen, who knew and appreciated how much work her mother put into preparing supper each night, often misses dinners with friends because she insisted on eating at home with her family. No error
who
No error
misses
preparing
eating
misses
This sentence has an issue of verb tense agreement. Because the given verbs are all in past tense—"knew," "appreciated," and "insisted"—the verb "misses" also needs to also be in the past tense. So, the corrected sentence reads, "Sharleen, who knew and appreciated how much work her mother put into preparing supper each night, often missed dinners with friends because she insisted on eating at home with her family."
Example Question #112 : Identifying Usage Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Earlier this morning, I was walking to the bus station, when I suddenly was realizing that I forgot my bus pass, so I had to go home to retrieve it. No error
was walking
had to go
forgot
No error
was realizing
was realizing
"Was realizing" is grammatically incorrect and awkward. "Was realizing" implies a gradual process of realizing, when this is not the case; we can especially tell that this is true because of the sentence's use of "suddenly," which suggests a definite, one-time action in the past, not something that happened over time. So, to correct the sentence's error, the past progressive verb "was realizing" should be changed to the simple past tense verb "realized."
Example Question #113 : Identifying Usage Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Prior to accepting the post of head developer in London, Mrs. Reynolds has been spending time in France. No error
has been spending
accepting
of
Prior to
No error
has been spending
The verb "has been spending" does not work with the timeline of the sentence because Mrs. Reynolds is no longer in France. The verb should be a past participle instead. Changing "has been spending" to "had been spending" corrects the sentence's error. The corrected sentence reads, "Prior to accepting the post of head developer, Mrs. Reynolds had been spending time in France."
Example Question #114 : Identifying Usage Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Margaret carried her dog, which was often clad in a pink and white argyle sweater, everywhere she goes. No error
No error
she goes
clad
pink and white argyle sweater
often
she goes
The first part of the sentence is in the past tense ("carried"), but the second is in the present ("goes"). These should be kept consistent. Changing "goes" to "went" corrects the sentence's error. The corrected sentence reads, "Margaret carried her dog, which was often clad in a pink and white argyle sweater, everywhere she went."
Example Question #115 : Identifying Usage 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 man peered around the corner, checked to see if the coast was clear. No error
No error
was
if
corner, checked
peered
corner, checked
The verb "checked" is written in the simple past tense, and the following phrase is not coordinated correctly with the rest of the sentence. This can be fixed by turning it into a gerund: "The man peered around the corner, checking to see if the coast was clear."
Example Question #31 : Identifying Verb Tense Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
As he resigned himself to eating instant noodles for the rest of the month, Alex thinks longingly of prime rib. No error
of
thinks
himself
No error
for the rest of
thinks
This sentence switches tense from past ("as he resigned") to present ("thinks") in the middle of the sentence. In the logical timeline of events, these should both be in the past: "As he resigned himself to eating instant noodles for the rest of the month, Alex thought longingly of prime rib."
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