SAT Writing : Identifying Apostrophe Errors
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Example Questions
Example Question #106 : Identifying Punctuation Errors: Other Punctuation
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Werent you supposed to be guarding the food stores last night? No error
night?
be guarding
supposed
No error
Werent
Werent
"Weren't" is a contraction of the words "were not" and must always contain an apostrophe. "Werent" is incorrect as written in the provided sentence, as it is missing this apostrophe.
Example Question #107 : Identifying Punctuation Errors: Other Punctuation
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
The diners praised the chef for the entrée’s rich taste and the hors d’ouevre’s exquisite texture; they were astonished that her restaurant had not yet received a good review in a major newspaper. No error
exquisite texture;
No error
entrée’s rich taste
had not yet received
hors d’ouevre’s
hors d’ouevre’s
"Hors d’ouevres" is a word taken from French, and it is always spelled with the final "s." For that reason, the possessive apostrophe needs to come after the "s" and not before it.
Example Question #31 : Identifying Apostrophe 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 she drives the car through the geese's puddle, it's swinging door flies open. No error
geese's
it's
drives
door flies
No error
it's
The "it" in the second clause logically must be the car, not the geese's puddle. The contraction "it's" is only used as a replacement for the phrase "it is;" when expressing possession by an object, "its" (without an apostrophe) is always the correct form. The present tense verbs, while unusual, are not incorrect.
Example Question #162 : 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 cant understand why the weather has been so foul lately; it's very unseasonable. No error
it's
why the weather
lately;
No error
cant
cant
The word "cant" means something entirely different from the word "can't," which is a contraction of the words "can" and "not" ("Cant" refers to purposeless chatter or discourse). The latter is clearly what should be in the sentence above, since it is a verb and not a noun, and as such, the portion of the sentence that needs to be corrected is, "cant."
Example Question #161 : 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 wont be very happy with you if you continue to fail to clean up your fair share of the dishes. No error
your fair share
No error
to fail to
with you
I wont be
I wont be
"Wont" refers to a desire acquired through custom or habit. Clearly this is not the right word for this sentence. "Won't" (with an apostrophe) is a contraction of "will not," which fits this sentence much better.
Example Question #31 : Identifying Apostrophe 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 believe that your being difficult just for the sake of being difficult; I would appreciate it if you would stop. No error
No error
you would stop.
your being
I believe that
being difficult;
your being
“You're” is a contraction meaning you are. “your” indicates possession when using the second person pronoun you. This sentence needs a verb, not a possessive pronoun, so the portion of the sentence that needs to be corrected is, "your being."
Example Question #31 : Identifying Apostrophe 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 bought a lot of you're daughter's Girl Scout cookies last week, and I would appreciate it if you would buy a wreath for my son. No error
you would buy
last week, and
you're daughter's
I bought
No error
you're daughter's
“You're” is a contraction of "you are." “Your” indicates possession when using the second person pronoun you. In the sentence above, clearly "you are" would be a very strange and grammatically incorrect choice, so "you're" has to be the error in the example.
Example Question #661 : Sat Writing
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
You need to be sure to feed the dog its' raw meat. No error
meat.
to be
to feed
No error
Its'
Its'
This sentence features a simple error of apostrophe placement. The apostrophe in "its'" should be moved before the "s" in order to indicate singular possession. The rest of the sentence is correct as written.
Example Question #161 : 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.
The very old boat had a number of leaks in it's keel, but we were sure that it would weather the storm. No error
The very old boat
were sure that
a number
it's
No error
it's
“It’s” is a contraction meaning it is or it has. “Its” indicates possession when using the third person pronoun it. In this sentence, it would not make sense to say "a number of leaks in it is keel," so we know that "it's" should be replaced with "its."
Example Question #162 : 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 find it hard to believe that the plane crashed solely because its engine failed; there must have been some human error. No error
I find it hard
that the plane
its
No error
must have been some human error.
its
“It’s” is a contraction meaning it is or it has. “Its” indicates possession when using the third person pronoun it. The portion of the sentence that needs to be corrected is, "its"
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