SAT Writing : Identifying Preposition Errors
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Example Question #34 : Identifying Other 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 results of the experiment indicate that children prefer the voices of adults rather than those of other children. No error
children
indicate
No error
rather than
those of
rather than
This sentence contains an idiom error. It is incorrect to say that someone "prefers X rather than Y." Instead, the correct form of the idiom is "prefer X to Y," so the sentence should read, "The results of the experiment indicate that children prefer the voices of adults to those of other children."
Example Question #35 : Identifying Other 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.
To the professor's surprise, the measurements obtained by her colleagues were inconsistent to the predictions of classical Newtonian physics. No error
professor's
No error
to
were
classical
to
This sentence contains an incorrect idiomatic expression. The phrase "inconsistent to" should be "inconsistent with."
Example Question #36 : Identifying Other 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.
When the earthquake hit, Martin, fearing for his life, ran to cover underneath a nearby tree, not knowing he was safer out in the open. No error
out in the open
for his life
ran to cover
a nearby tree
No error
ran to cover
The phrase "ran to cover" contains the sentence's error; it should be written as "ran for cover" instead so that it correctly follows the conventions of preposition usage.
Example Question #37 : Identifying Other 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.
Somehow, I managed to talk with my professor for twenty minutes and successfully evade from the topic of my seriously late literature review. No error
talk with
and
evade from
seriously
No error
evade from
This sentence does not follow the conventions of prepositions. “Evade” is not typically followed by a preposition; the “from” is unnecessary and incorrect. The corrected sentence reads, "Somehow, I managed to talk with my professor for twenty minutes and successfully evade the topic of my seriously late literature review."
Example Question #41 : Identifying Other 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 rice dish I made was different than the one Krista made last weekend; mine used different spices and had a longer cooking time. No error
the one
No error
spices and had
weekend; mine
different than
different than
"Different from" should be used instead of "different than." "Than" implies a direct comparison, implying that A is more different than B. Since only two things are being compared, that means one can't be more different than the other (unless there is a third reference item also in the comparison), and "different from" should be used instead of "different than."
Example Question #42 : Identifying Other Usage Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed in order to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
The research assistant came back with results inconsistent to those of previous trials, so the investigator had to verify her calculations. No error
those of
to
trials, so
had
No error
to
"To" is the incorrect preposition to use with "inconsistent." The correct pairing would be "inconsistent with." "With" should also be paired with "consistent."
Example Question #43 : Identifying Other 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.
Ron used to prefer cats for dogs, but recently changed his mind on the matter after being befriended by a charming canine. No error
for
but recently
used to prefer
being befriended
No error
for
When using the word "prefer" to describe a preference for one item versus another, the proper preposition to use along with "prefer" is "to," not "for." Therefore, the proper formation of this part of the sentence would be "prefer cats to dogs," not "prefer cats for dogs."
Example Question #44 : Identifying Other Usage Errors
The several miscommunication problems that we have experienced point at the underlying translation issues that characterize the industry as a whole.
point at
several
that characterize
as a whole
No error
point at
This sentence has a problem with prepositional idioms. The corrected sentence reads: The several miscommunication problems that we have experienced point to the underlying translation issues that characterize the industry as a whole.
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