SAT Writing : Correcting Agreement Errors
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Example Question #27 : Correcting Modifier Word Modified Agreement 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.
If I were forced to choose between the bear and the fish, I would have to say that the bear is the best chess player.
the bear is the best chess player.
the bear is the better chess player.
the bear is the good chess player.
the bear is the best chess players.
the bear are the best chess player.
the bear is the better chess player.
In the sentence above, only two things are being compared (the bear and the fish). Therefore, one must use a comparative adjective to compare them. "Best" is a superlative adjective, and should be used to distinguish one person or thing from a list of three or more items. The best way to correct the sentence above is: "the bear is the better chess player."
Example Question #28 : Correcting Modifier Word Modified Agreement 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.
I prefer to go to those coffee shop during the middle of the afternoon; there are always fewer customers, and it's my favorite spot.
go to those
go to that
go for those
goes to those
go in those
go to that
In the sentence above, the phrase "coffee shop" is clearly singular. We know that all words modifying it must also be singular. "Those" is a plural word. The best way to correct the underlined portion of the sentence above is: "go to that."
Example Question #1 : Correcting Noun Noun Agreement 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.
Although they were on time, the students had their pencil sharpened or their drawing pad out at the beginning of class.
the students did not have their pencils sharpened or their drawing pads out at the beginning of class.
the students were having their pencils sharpened or their drawing pads out at the beginning of class.
the students were not having their pencils sharpened or their drawing pads out at the beginning of class.
the students did not have their pencil sharpened or their drawing pads out at the beginning of class.
the students had their pencil sharpened and their drawing pad out at the beginning of class.
the students did not have their pencils sharpened or their drawing pads out at the beginning of class.
Because the subject of the sentence is the plural “students,” we have to assume that each student would have his or her own pencil and drawing pad. Therefore, the correct sentence has “pencils” and “drawing pads.” Also, “had sharpened” is more concise and correct than “were having sharpened” or “were having sharpening.”
Example Question #1 : Correcting Noun Noun Agreement 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.
Even if everyone I invited is free, there’s still no guarantee that they will come to my party.
Even if everyone I invited are free, there’s still no guarantee that they will come to my party.
Even if everyone I invited is free, there are still no guarantee that they will come to my party.
Even if everyone I invited is free, there’s still no guarantee that people will come to my party.
Even if everyone I invited is free, there’s still no guarantee that they will come to my party.
Even if everyone I invited are free, there’s still no guarantee that people will come to my party.
Even if everyone I invited is free, there’s still no guarantee that people will come to my party.
“Everyone” is an indefinite pronoun that’s treated as singular. Therefore, the correct verb conjugation is “is.” Because “everyone” is indefinite, we can’t use the definite pronoun “they” at the end of the sentence to refer back to “everyone,” so we must use “people” instead. Because “guarantee” is singular, “there’s” is correct and “there are” is incorrect.
Example Question #3 : Correcting Noun Noun Agreement 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.
After months of organizing the gala, several of the party planners are beginning to wish they worked as a waiter or bartender instead.
several of the party planners are beginning to wish they worked as a waiter or bartender instead.
several of the party planners is beginning to wish they worked as a waiter or as a bartender instead.
several of the party planners are beginning to wish they worked as waiters or bartenders instead.
several of the party planners is beginning to wish they worked as waiters or bartenders instead.
several of the party planners are beginning to wish they worked as waiter or bartender instead.
several of the party planners are beginning to wish they worked as waiters or bartenders instead.
Because there are several party planners longing for different jobs, the jobs themselves must be plural; three or four people can’t work as a single waiter or bartender. And because “party planners” is plural, the correct verb conjugation is “are.”
Example Question #2 : Correcting Noun Noun Agreement 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.
Trying to convince me to go with them, my friends described the concert as once-in-a-lifetime experiences.
my friends described the concert as an experience once-in-a-lifetime.
my friends described the concert as a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
my friends described the concert as once-in-a-lifetime experiences.
my friends described the concert as a once-in-a-lifetime experiences.
my friends described the concert as experienced once-in-a-lifetime.
my friends described the concert as a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Because a "concert" is a singular noun, it can only be one experience and not many. “Trying to convince me to go with them, my friends described the concert as a once-in-a-lifetime experience” is the least awkward option.
Example Question #121 : Correcting Agreement 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.
Dani drove her car into the parking garage, turned off the engine, and made sure to lock her cars doors securely as she left.
to locking her cars doors securely
to locked her cars' doors securely
to lock her cars doors securely
to lock her cars doors securely
to lock her car doors securely
to lock her car doors securely
There is a disagreement between the nouns "cars" and "doors" in the sentence; we are told earlier in the sentence via its use of "her car" that Dani only drove one car into the parking garage. Therefore, the correct answer choice is "to lock her car doors."
Example Question #122 : Correcting Agreement 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.
We decided resolutely to pin all of our hopes and dream on the team's victory.
pin all of hopes and dream
pinning all of our hoping and dreams
pin all of our hope and dreams
pin all of our hopes and dreams
pin all of our hopes and dream
pin all of our hopes and dreams
There is a disagreement here between the nouns "hopes" and "dream" when they follow the phrase "all of our." Both nouns should be plural, and therefore the correct answer is "resolutely pin all of our hopes and dreams."
Example Question #5 : Correcting Noun Noun Agreement 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.
In most forms of martial arts, two examples of physical attack are kicks and punches.
of physical attacks
of physically attack
of physical attack
of attacks physical
of physically attacks
of physical attacks
The primary issue with the underlined phrase "of physical attack" is that it uses a singular noun ("attack") to modify the plural nouns "kicks" and "punches." The uderlined phrase should be changed to "of physical attacks" as this version of it uses the plural noun "attacks," which agrees in number with the compound predicate nominative "kicks and punches."
Example Question #123 : Correcting Agreement 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.
All children are taught at an early age never to run while holding their pencil.
while holding their pencils
while holding their pencil
while holding his pencil
while holding our pencil
while holding her pencil
while holding their pencils
The noun "pencil" needs to be pluralize to reflect the fact that the subject of the sentence is "All children," who presumably each have a pencil and do not share a single pencil.
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