SAT Writing : Identifying Parallel Structure Errors

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for SAT Writing

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Example Questions

Example Question #61 : Identifying Other Phrase, Clause, And 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.

Having my uncle over for dinner is never much fun; he talks loudly, makes rude comments, and, although the food is always delicious, complaining is constant about the quality of what we eat. No error

Possible Answers:

talks loudly

No error

complaining is constant

Having

what we eat

Correct answer:

complaining is constant

Explanation:

The clause "although the food is always delicious" might distract some people into missing the paralellism used, because it is set apart by commas. Considering "talks" and "makes," we see the present form of some verbs used in succession. For the best sentence structure, the final action should also follow the normal present verb form, like "talks" and "makes." "Complaining is constant" does not follow this, and so (C) contains the error. It would be best to say "complains constantly" or something similar.

Example Question #62 : Identifying Other Phrase, Clause, And 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 will rain tomorrow, so I will jog in the park, practice soccer, and playing baseball in my backyard today. No error

Possible Answers:

No error

I

will rain tomorrow

playing

will

Correct answer:

playing

Explanation:

This is a parallelism error. The verbs "jog" and "practice" begin the parallel elements in the sentence, and they are each in present tense. The verb "playing" should also be in present tense so that it matches "jog" and "practice." So, "playing" should be "play."

Example Question #43 : Identifying Phrase, Clause, And 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.

There are two things Jean knows how to do well: how to cook and mountain-climbingNo error

Possible Answers:

mountain-climbing

No error

knows

how to

are

Correct answer:

mountain-climbing

Explanation:

The sentence needs to remain parallel. If it had said "cooking," "mountain-climbing" would be ok.

Example Question #33 : Identifying Parallel Structure Errors

Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.

At the deli, the sandwiches are very similar to the cafeteria, except they are slightly larger and contain less fat. No error

Possible Answers:

No error

less fat

slightly larger

except

similar to the cafeteria

Correct answer:

similar to the cafeteria

Explanation:

This is a faulty comparison. "Sandwiches" cannot be compared to a cafeteria. Use "similar to those at the cafeteria" or something like that instead to correct the sentence's error.

Example Question #63 : Identifying Other Phrase, Clause, And 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 must admit that your mom's chocolate chip cookies are quite tasty, but they are not as good as my grandmother—hers are the bestNo error

Possible Answers:

must admit

as my grandmother

No error

at the mall

as good

Correct answer:

as my grandmother

Explanation:

When making comparisons you must be careful to compare like things. In this case, the sentence as written makes a comparison between "cookies" and "my grandmother." You want to compare cookies to cookies. You can fix this error by making "grandmother" into a possessive, singular noun, "grandmother's." This way, it is inferred that the subject being spoken about is the speaker's grandmother's cookies, not the speaker's grandmother herself.

Example Question #64 : Identifying Other Phrase, Clause, And 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.

My niece and I followed every step of the cake recipe together, sifting the flour, separating the eggs, and we put the cake in the oven to bake. No error

Possible Answers:

of the cake recipe

followed

No error

we put

separating

Correct answer:

we put

Explanation:

This sentence contains parallelism—in this case, a set of sequential actions set off by commas. In sentences that have a parallel structure, all similar parts of speech should follow the same format. So, the list should read, "sifting the flour," "separating the eggs," and "putting it in the oven to bake." Instead, the way the sentence is currently written, "we put" inserts a needless repetition of the subject that interrupts the logical flow of the sentence by putting the verb in a different tense.

Example Question #31 : Identifying Parallel Structure Errors

Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.

At the student art showcase, Anna enjoyed seeing her friend Zoe's abstract paintings, which she thought were more creative than other artistsNo error

Possible Answers:

than other artists

paintings, which

were

Zoe's

No error

Correct answer:

than other artists

Explanation:

The correct answer is "than other artists."  As the sentence reads, it is saying that Anna thinks her friend's art is more creative than other artists, which is an incorrect comparison; she should be comparing her friend's art to the art of other artists, not to the artists themselves.

A correct phrasing would be "At the student art showcase, Anna enjoyed seeing her friend Zoe's abstract paintings, which she thought were more creative than the works of the other artists."

Example Question #32 : Identifying Parallel Structure Errors

Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.

On Saturday I am running, grocery shopping, cooking dinner, and will attend my friend's birthday party. No error

Possible Answers:

will attend

Saturday

No error

cooking dinner,

friend's

Correct answer:

will attend

Explanation:

The verb phrase "will attend" should be changed to "attending" because it is part of a list of "-ing" verbs, all of which need to be in the same form in order for the sentence to use proper parallel structure. Since "running," "shopping," and "cooking" are already conjugated in the same way, "will attend" should be conjugated in this way too, and therefore should be changed to "attending."

Example Question #32 : Identifying Parallel Structure 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 woman slowly became fascinated by the aliens’ strange culture, their intelligence, and their telling of hilarious jokesNo error

Possible Answers:

telling of hilarious jokes

strange

No error

became fascinated by

slowly

Correct answer:

telling of hilarious jokes

Explanation:

This sentence lacks parallel structure between the elements in the list. Items in a list should be formatted in the same way grammatically. The corrected sentence reads, "The woman slowly became fascinated by the aliens’ strange culture, their intelligence, and their hilarious jokes."

Example Question #33 : Identifying Parallel Structure Errors

Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.

My apartment is on a higher floor than my bossNo error

Possible Answers:

is

my

No error

higher

boss

Correct answer:

boss

Explanation:

Only like things can be compared. "My apartment" can be compared to "that of my boss" or my "boss'."

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