SAT Writing : Identifying Punctuation Errors: Other Punctuation
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Example Question #3 : Identifying Apostrophe Errors
Select the underlined word or words that need to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences may not contain an error.
Scientists have been tracking the Canadian geeses’ migratory patterns for the better part of thirty years, and they have begun to notice some unusual habits. No error.
the better
have been tracking
No error.
geeses'
have begun
geeses'
The plural of goose is “geese,” not “geeses,” so the correct possessive form would be “geese’s.” "The better part of" is a commonly used phrase, and "have been tracking" and "have begun" are both the correct forms of the present perfect.
Example Question #1 : Identifying Apostrophe Errors
Select the underlined word or words that need to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences may not contain an error.
Everyone at the hospital was complaining bitterly about the new overtime policy; the nurse’s station in particular was a hotbed of dissent. No error.
dissent.
about
nurse's station
No error.
policy;
nurse's station
Because multiple nurses work at the hospital, we need a plural possessive: “nurses’ station” is the correct form. Elsewhere in the sentence, “about” is the correct preposition to use with “complaining,” “dissent” is a word that means strong disagreement, and the semicolon is used correctly to separate two independent clauses.
Example Question #81 : Identifying Punctuation Errors: Other Punctuation
Select the underlined word or words that need to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences may not contain an error.
The fervency of the congregation’s prayers was felt by everyone at the service as Our Father’s rang out left and right. No error.
congregation's
fervency
No error.
Our Father's
as
Our Father's
The correct plural of “Our Father” is “Our Fathers.” No apostrophe is used to form the plural. Because there’s only one congregation at the service, “congregation’s” is the correct possessive.
Example Question #81 : Identifying Punctuation Errors: Other Punctuation
Select the underlined word or words that need to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences may not contain an error.
Journalists and animal enthusiasts alike flocked to the wolf's enclosure to gawk at the pack’s newest litter. No error.
gawk at
alike
wolf's
pack's
No error.
wolf's
Because there’s an entire pack of wolves (and some new pups!), the singular possessive “wolf’s enclosure” should actually be “wolves’ enclosure.” “Pack’s” has the correct apostrophe form.
Example Question #81 : Identifying Punctuation Errors: Other Punctuation
Select the underlined word or words that need to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences may not contain an error.
With Phil being so new and inexperienced at the bakery job, the supervisor was constantly forced to check on things like the pastries’ consistency and the loafs’ quality. No error.
loafs'
to check on things like
pastries'
No error.
being
loafs'
The correct plural of loaf is loaves, not loafs, so the possessive should be loaves’, not loafs’.
Example Question #11 : Identifying Apostrophe Errors
Select the underlined word or words that need to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences may not contain an error.
I was always reluctant to go over to the Hudson’s house; they never cleaned, and the place usually smelled like old food and unwashed laundry. No error.
house;
was always reluctant
No error.
cleaned,
Hudson's
Hudson's
Because the house belongs to all the Hudsons, the plural possessive is needed. To form the plural possessive, we put the apostrophe after the “s” and make the correct form: “Hudsons’ house.” The semicolon is used correctly here, as it separates two independent clauses. The comma is also used correctly, as it separates two independent clauses that are linked by the conjunction “and.”
Example Question #131 : 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.
All of the teachers were surprised by the childrens' dedication to their dance class routines, and were sure they would all do well on their final performances. No error
childrens'
No error
dance
were sure
all
childrens'
The error in this sentence is that the possessive form of the irregular plural noun "children" is incorrect—it is "children's" rather than "childrens'."
Example Question #81 : 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.
Early last night, my family and I visited the Jones's at their brand-new home. No error
Jones's
my family and I
No error
Early
Staunton, Virginia
Jones's
"Early" correctly modifies "last night." "My family and I" is the subject of the sentence and therefore illustrates the correct usage of "I" as opposed to "me." "Brand-new" is appropriately connected by a hyphen, as the two words are functioning together as an adjective modifying "home." The sentence's error is found in the word "Jones's," which has an unnecessary apostrophe. "Jones" is not a possessive noun in this case, so there should be no apostrophe; the sentence could be corrected by changing "Jones's" to "Joneses."
Example Question #81 : 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.
Four different travel groups's bags were taken from the airport on the same day. No error
same day
No error
Four
groups's
airport
groups's
Use an apostrophe to indicate possession. If the noun ends in "s" then the apostrophe should follow the "s." If the noun does not end in "s" then add an "s" after the apostrophe. The sentence above makes the error of adding an additional "s" after the apostrophe for a noun that ends in "s."
Example Question #11 : 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.
A single piece of evidence swayed the final jurors' opinion. No error
single
opinion.
evidence
No error
jurors'
jurors'
Use an apostrophe to indicate possession. If the noun ends in "s" then the apostrophe should follow the "s." If the noun does not end in "s" then add an "s" after the apostrophe. The sentence above should have the "jurors'" changed to "juror's." While "jurors" is often a plural noun (there are twelve members of a standard U.S jury), in this case "the final juror" is one person, and thus a singular noun.
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