SAT Writing : Identifying Phrase, Clause, and Sentence Errors

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for SAT Writing

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Example Questions

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:

are

mountain-climbing

how to

No error

knows

Correct answer:

mountain-climbing

Explanation:

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

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

Possible Answers:

No error

slightly larger

except

similar to the cafeteria

less fat

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 #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.

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:

as my grandmother

No error

as good

must admit

at the mall

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 #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 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:

separating

No error

of the cake recipe

followed

we put

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 #34 : 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

No error

were

paintings, which

Zoe's

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 #37 : 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:

friend's

Saturday

No error

will attend

cooking dinner,

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:

No error

became fascinated by

strange

telling of hilarious jokes

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 #38 : 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:

higher

is

No error

boss

my

Correct answer:

boss

Explanation:

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

Example Question #121 : 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.

Napa Valley is known for having amazing food, high quality wine, and attracts a wealthy clientele. No error

Possible Answers:

attracts

having

is

for

No error

Correct answer:

attracts

Explanation:

It is important for a sentence to use correct parallelism, which means that listed items should take on the same grammatical form. Here, the first two listed items are nouns ("amazing food" and "high quality wine"). Therefore, the third item should also be a noun; however, “attracts” is a verb, and therefore is incorrect. To fix the sentence, one might omit the word "attracts," leaving simply "amazing food, high quality wine, and a wealthy clientele," three nouns.

Example Question #122 : Identifying Phrase, Clause, And Sentence Errors

I had expected to learn many essential survival skills at the workshop, but instead only how to open a can without a can opener.

Possible Answers:

No error

only how to open

had expected

essential

but

Correct answer:

only how to open

Explanation:

This sentence has a problem with parallelism. Since the first part contains a verb, the second part must as well. The corrected sentence reads: I had expected to learn many essential survival skills at the workshop, but instead I only learned how to open a can without a can opener.

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