SAT Writing : Identifying Phrase, Clause, and Sentence Errors
Study concepts, example questions & explanations for SAT Writing
All SAT Writing Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #181 : Sat Writing
Adapted from "Nature" by Ralph Waldo Emerson (1836)
Whoever considers the final cause of the world, will discern a multitude of uses that result. They all admit of being thrown into one of the following classes: Commodity; Beauty; Language; and Discipline.
Under the general name of Commodity, I rank all those advantages which our senses owe to nature. This, of course, is a benefit which is temporary and mediate, not ultimate, like its service to the soul. Yet although low, it is perfect in its kind, and is the only use of nature which all men apprehend. The misery of man appears like childish petulance, when we explore the steady and prodigal provision that has been made for his support and delight on this green ball which floats him through the heavens. What angels invented these splendid ornaments, these rich conveniences, this ocean of air above, this ocean of water beneath, this firmament of earth between? This zodiac of lights, this tent of dropping clouds, this striped coat of climates, this fourfold year? Beasts, fire, water, stones, and corn serve him. The field is at once his floor, his work-yard, his play-ground, his garden, and his bed.
Nature, in its ministry to man, is not only the material, but is also the process and the result. All the parts incessantly work into each other's hands for the profit of man. The wind sows the seed; the sun evaporates the sea; the wind blows the vapor to the field; the ice, on the other side of the planet, condenses rain on this; the rain feeds the plant; the plant feeds the animal; and thus the endless circulations of the divine charity nourish man.
If the tense of the underlined verb above were changed to past perfect tense, what would the correct conjugation be?
have worked
worked
has worked
working
had worked
had worked
Past perfect tense uses the helping verb "had" plus a past tense participle of the verb stem, as in "had worked."
Example Question #21 : Identifying Phrase, Clause, And Sentence Errors
Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English. One of the answer choices reproduces the underlined portion as it is written in the sentence.
The thing I hate most in people is whininess.
thing
qualities
item
quality
things
quality
Instead of using the word "thing," be as precise as possible. "Quality" gives a more specific definition. Here, it needs to be the singular "quality," not the plural "qualities," because only one quality is discussed and the singular verb "is" is used.
Example Question #22 : Identifying Phrase, Clause, And Sentence Errors
In his other works are found. An equable tenor of easy language, which rather trickles than flows.
Replace the underlined phrase with a version that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English.
In his other works is found an equable tenor of easy language, which rather trickles than flows.
In his other works are found an equable tenor of easy language, which rather trickles than flows.
In his other works is found. an equable tenor of easy language, which rather trickles than flows.
In his other works are found, an equable tenor of easy language, which rather trickles than flows.
In his other works is found an equable tenor of easy language, which rather trickles than flows.
The sentence "In his other works are found an equable tenor of easy language, which rather trickles than flows" is the best rewriting to correct both the sentence fragment in the original and the subject-verb agreement error (we would likely rewrite the sentence as "An equitable tenor of easy language, which rather trickles than flows, is found in his other works").
(Passage adapted from "Swift" in Volume III of Lives of the Most Eminent English Poets by Samuel Johnson, 1781)
Example Question #23 : Identifying Phrase, Clause, And Sentence Errors
The plot of modern political television usually revolves around several key themes. First, there is a political conflict at the national level between major parties. Second, there are emotional and practical concerns related to office politics; furthermore, there are a number of subplots that usually have to do with local politics and tit-for-tat agreements. Finally, things resolve themselves later on in the show because much television just works itself out.
Please pick an appropriate revision for the underlined portion of the final sentence of the passage, reproduced below:
Finally, things resolve themselves later on in the show because much television just works itself out.
is convoluted and does not wrap up at all
resolves itself simply
troubles expected norms
works out
confuses everyone
resolves itself simply
The use of "just work itself out" is overly simple and conversational. The closest formal alternative is the option to write: "resolves itself simply."
Example Question #193 : Sat Writing
Adapted from The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin (1793)
While I was intent on improving my language, I met with an English grammar (I think it was Greenwood's), at the end of which there were two little sketches of the arts of rhetoric and logic, the latter finishing with a specimen of a dispute in the Socratic method; and soon after I procured Xenophon's Memorable Things of Socrates, wherein there are many instances of the same method. I was charmed with it, adopted it, dropped my abrupt contradiction and positive argumentation, and put on the humble inquirer and doubter. And being then, from reading Shaftesbury and Collins, become a real doubter in many points of our religious doctrine, I found this method safest for myself and very embarrassing to those against whom I used it; therefore I took a delight in it, practiced it continually, and grew very artful and expert in drawing people, even of superior knowledge, into concessions, the consequences of which they did not foresee, entangling them in difficulties out of which they could not extricate themselves, and so obtaining victories that neither myself nor my cause always deserved. I continued this method some few years, but gradually left it, retaining only the habit of expressing myself in terms of modest diffidence; never using, when I advanced any thing that may possibly be disputed, the words certainly, undoubtedly, or any others that give the air of positiveness to an opinion; but rather say, I conceive or apprehend a thing to be so and so; it appears to me, or I should think it so or so, for such and such reasons; or I imagine it to be so; or it is so, if I am not mistaken. This habit, I believe, has been of great advantage to me when I have had occasion to inculcate my opinions, and persuade men into measures that I have been from time to time engaged in promoting; and, as the chief ends of conversation are to inform or to be informed, to please or to persuade, I wish well-meaning, sensible men would not lessen their power of doing good by a positive, assuming manner, that seldom fails to disgust, tends to create opposition, and to defeat every one of those purposes for which speech was given to us, to wit, giving or receiving information or pleasure. For, if you would inform, a positive and dogmatical manner in advancing your sentiments may provoke contradiction and prevent a candid attention. If you wish information and improvement from the knowledge of others, and yet at the same time express yourself as firmly fixed in your present opinions, modest, sensible men, who do not love disputation, will probably leave you undisturbed in the possession of your error. And by such a manner, you can seldom hope to recommend yourself in pleasing your hearers, or to persuade those whose concurrence you desire.
How might the verb phrase in the underlined sentence above be rewritten so as to be clearer but retain the same meaning?
And since I was then a real doubter from reading Shaftesbury and Collins
And since I had then become a real doubter from reading Shaftesbury and Collins
And seeing as I was a real doubter after reading Shaftesbury and Collins
And as I became a real doubter after reading Shaftesbury and Collins
And since I had then become a real doubter from reading Shaftesbury and Collins
The phrase "And since I had then become a real doubter from reading Shaftesbury and Collins" comes closest to expressing the meaning of the original sentence in more concise modern English.
Example Question #24 : Identifying Phrase, Clause, And Sentence Errors
The plot of modern political television usually revolves around several key themes. First, there is a political conflict at the national level between major parties. Second, there are emotional and practical concerns related to office politics; furthermore, there are a number of subplots that usually have to do with local politics and tit-for-tat agreements. Finally, things resolve themselves later on in the show because much television just works itself out.
Second, there are emotional and practical concerns pertaining to office politics.
No Change
about office politics
about office problems
pertaining to nothing important
pertaining to personal relationships that change from minute to minute
No Change
The use of "pertaining to" is appropriate here because it is more formal. Also, "interoffice" helps clarify the region we are concerned with (issues within an office environment). Thus, formalizing and clarifying the fragment helps the reader better understand the meaning of the sentence.
Example Question #25 : Identifying Phrase, Clause, And Sentence Errors
Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English.
The number of items at furniture stores are overwhelming to some customers.
The numbers of item at furniture stores are overwhelming to some customers.
The number of items at furniture stores are overwhelming to some customers.
When buying furniture, the number of items at stores are overwhelming to some customers.
The number of items at stores that sell furniture are overwhelming to some customers.
The number of items at furniture stores is overwhelming to some customers.
The number of items at furniture stores is overwhelming to some customers.
This sentence has a singular subject, "the number," but uses a plural verb, "are," to refer to it. To correct the sentence's error, one should change "are" to "is," making the correct answer "The number of items at furniture stores is overwhelming to some customers."
Example Question #26 : Identifying Phrase, Clause, And Sentence Errors
Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English.
Despite the forecast, I didn't think that much snow would fall overnight however, I was wrong.
Despite the forecast I didn't think that much snow would fall overnight however, I was wrong.
Despite the forecast, I didn't think that much snow would fall overnight however, I was wrong.
Despite the forecast, I didn't think that much snow would fall overnight; however, I was wrong.
Despite the forecast, I didn't think that much snow would fall overnight however I was wrong.
Despite the forecast, I didn't think that much, snow would fall overnight however, I was wrong.
Despite the forecast, I didn't think that much snow would fall overnight; however, I was wrong.
The original sentence is a run-on. The two clauses of this sentence, joined by "however," must be separated. The only answer choice that does this is "Despite the forecast, I didn't think that much snow would fall overnight; however, I was wrong."
Example Question #196 : Sat Writing
The plot of modern political television usually revolves around several key themes. First, there is a political conflict at the national level between major parties. Second, there are emotional and practical concerns related to office politics; furthermore, there are a number of subplots that usually have to do with local politics and tit-for-tat agreements. Finally, things resolve themselves later on in the show because much television just works itself out.
Please revise the following sentence to fit in better with the paragraph:
Furthermore, there are a number of subplots that usually have to do with local politics and tit-for-tat agreements.
Also, there is a number of subplots that often relate to local politics and give and take agreements.
Furthermore, there are things that usually have to do with local politics and tit-for-tat agreements.
There are also a number of subplots that often relate to local politics and give-and-take agreements.
There are also any number of subplots that relate to local politics and give and take agreements.
There are also a number of subplots that often relate to local politics and give and take agreements.
There are also a number of subplots that often relate to local politics and give-and-take agreements.
The best way to simplify and clarify this sentence is to heighten the tone by replacing the phrase "tit-for-tat" and clarifying that this sentence follows logically from the paragraph with the use of "also."
Example Question #27 : Identifying Phrase, Clause, And Sentence Errors
Replace this sentence with a version that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English.
What we have missed long enough to want it, we value more when it is regained.
We miss things only when we have a chance at regaining them.
We value something we have regained more when we have had a chance to miss it.
We value what we have regained more than what we have missed.
We value what we miss more than what we have regained.
When we value something, we value it only if we have regained it after missing it.
We value something we have regained more when we have had a chance to miss it.
The original sentence is saying that we value something that we have regained much more if we have a chance to miss it first, so "We value something we have regained more when we have had a chance to miss it" is the correct answer.
(Sentence adapted from "The Decay of Friendship" in Issue 23 of The Idler by Samuel Johnson, September 23rd, 1758.)
All SAT Writing Resources
