SAT Writing : Correcting Other Phrase, Clause, and Sentence Errors

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for SAT Writing

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Example Questions

Example Question #161 : 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.

Having been suffering from pain and indignity for that which was a long time, the woman avoided discussing the past.

Possible Answers:

Suffering from pain and indignity for which is a long time,

Suffering from pain and indignity for that which was a long time,

Having been suffering from pain and indignity for a long time,

Having been suffering from pain and indignity that was a long time,

Having been suffering from pain and indignity for that which was a long time,

Correct answer:

Having been suffering from pain and indignity for a long time,

Explanation:

The underlined portion of the sentence is extremely overwrought and confusingly long. The sentence needs to be simplified while retaining the same meaning and remaining grammatically correct. "Having been suffering from pain and indignity for a long time," is the answer choice which best achieves both goals.

Example Question #162 : 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.

Having been that which was the thing that everyone wanted, the toy flew off the shelves.

Possible Answers:

Having been that was everyone wanted,

Having been that which was the thing that everyone wanted,

Being what everyone wanted,

Being the thing that which everyone wanted,

Having been that which everyone wanted,

Correct answer:

Being what everyone wanted,

Explanation:

The underlined portion of the sentence is extremely wordy and needs to be simplified. When it is being simplified, though, the original intended meaning of the sentence must be preserved, and the correct answer choice must also be grammatically correct. Thus, "Being what everyone wanted" is the best answer choice.

Example Question #163 : 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.

Being that which was the thing which he had sought, the man bought the ring immediately.

Possible Answers:

Being that which he had sought,

Being that thing which he had sought,

Being that which was the thing which he had sought,

Being the thing which he had sought,

Being what he sought,

Correct answer:

Being what he sought,

Explanation:

The sentence, as it is written, is extremely overwrought and too wordy, meaning it needs to be simplified. While being simplified, however, the sentence needs to retain its intended meaning and be grammatically correct. "Being what he sought," is the best choice among the answers.

Example Question #164 : 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.

The shopkeeper made sure to keep those which were the things which the customers most requested.

Possible Answers:

those which things customers most requested.

those which were things customers most requested.

the things customers most requested.

those were things customers most requested.

those which were the things which the customers most requested.

Correct answer:

the things customers most requested.

Explanation:

The underlined portion of the sentence is overly wordy, and needs its repetitive and unnecessary parts excised. While being simplified, however, the sentence needs to remain grammatically correct and keep its intended meaning. The answer choice that best does this is "the things customers most requested."

Example Question #165 : 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.

That which had been the thing which was most closely guarded by the troops was now missing.

Possible Answers:

That thing which was most closely guarded by the troops

That which had been the thing most closely guarded by the troops

The thing guarded closely by most troops

That which had been the thing which was most closely guarded by the troops

The thing most closely guarded by the troops

Correct answer:

The thing most closely guarded by the troops

Explanation:

The sentence is extremely overwrought and excessively wordy, and needs to be simplified. While being simplified, however, the sentence also needs to remain grammatically correct and keep the same intended meaning. "The thing most closely guarded by the troops" is the answer choice that best accomplishes both of these goals.

Example Question #166 : 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.

That topic which was the one that was being debated was extremely complex.

Possible Answers:

That topic was the one that was being debated

The topic being debated

That topic which was the one that was being debated

The topic being the one that was debated

That topic which being debated

Correct answer:

The topic being debated

Explanation:

The underlined portion of the sentence is extremely wordy, repetitive, and confusingly constructed, meaning it must be simplified. A simplification, though, needs to be grammatically correct and keep the sentence's intended meaning. "The topic being debated" is the answer choice that best accomplishes both goals.

Example Question #167 : 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.

The undercover agent began to have doubts that the thing which he had seen was actually true.

Possible Answers:

The undercover agent began to have doubts that the thing which he had seen was actually true.

The undercover agent began to have doubts the thing which he had seen was actually true.

The undercover agent began to have doubts that the thing which he had seen was actually true.

The undercover agent began to have doubts that the thing he had seen was actually true.

The undercover agent began to doubt that what he had seen was true.

Correct answer:

The undercover agent began to doubt that what he had seen was true.

Explanation:

The sentence is extremely wordy and complex, and needs to be simplified. While being simplified, the sentence needs to still be correct grammatically and retain its intended meaning. The answer choice which best accomplishes both these goals is "The undercover agent began to doubt that what he had seen was true."

Example Question #181 : 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.

Being that which was the thing which was most debated inside the meetings of the group, the topic took prominence inside the association.

Possible Answers:

Being that which was most debated inside the meetings of the group,

Being that which was the thing which most debated inside the meetings of the group,

Being that which was the thing which was most debated inside the meetings of the group,

Being the thing which was most debated inside the meetings of the group,

Being the most debated thing inside the groups' meetings,

Correct answer:

Being the most debated thing inside the groups' meetings,

Explanation:

The underlined portion of the sentence is extremely wordy and confusing, and needs to be simplified. The simplification needs to also keep the sentence's intended meaning intact, and the revised sentence must also be grammatically correct. "Being the most debated thing inside the groups' meetings," is the only answer choice that best accomplishes both.

Example Question #182 : 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.

The school journal is self-governing and makes its own bylaws to be indicated the proper protocol for voting on who will be the next editor-in-chief. 

Possible Answers:

when they indicate

that indicate

indicating

that are indicating

to be indicated

Correct answer:

indicating

Explanation:

Here, "indicating" is being used as a participle, modifying "bylaws." The other answer choices introduce "indicate" as a verb, which causes the sentence to be more complex than it otherwise has to be. 

Example Question #183 : 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.

Leonardo da Vinci is seen by many having been the most well-known painter in Italy, if not all of Europe. 

Possible Answers:

as

that he was

for being

having been 

to be

Correct answer:

as

Explanation:

"As" is the most efficient, and therefore the most grammatically correct answer choice. 

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