SAT Writing : Identifying Phrase, Clause, and Sentence Errors
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Example Questions
Example Question #11 : Identifying Conjunction Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
You can either tell him the truth and try to hide your mistake, but you should consider the consequences carefully; if you make the wrong decision, you may lose a friend. No error
decision,
carefully;
No error
mistake,
either tell him the truth and try to hide
either tell him the truth and try to hide
The correlative conjunction “either” must be paired with “or,” not “and.” The sentence is punctuated correctly, with commas separating dependent clauses from independent clauses and a semicolon separating the two independent clauses.
Example Question #11 : Identifying Conjunction Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Yesterday, I had to decide between the high-paying marketing job or the low-paying freelance gig; I hope I didn’t make a mistake when I turned down the high salary. No error
freelance gig;
high-paying marketing job or
No error
mistake when
Yesterday,
high-paying marketing job or
The correct conjunction to use with the word “between” is “and,” not “or.” You choose between a first option "and" a second option; you don’t choose between a first option "or" a second option.
Example Question #12 : Identifying Conjunction Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
As the rain poured down, the campers knew that they had to choose between bailing out their tents or packing up and going home. No error
had to choose
poured
or
No error
bailing
or
The correlative conjunction pair "between...and" is used to describe a choice or comparison. In this case, the choice is between "bailing out their tents and packing up," making the error in the sentence as it is written "or."
The full, correct version of this sentence would read: "As the rain poured down, the campers knew they had to choose between bailing out their tents and packing up and going home."
Example Question #51 : 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.
The girls could never make up their minds about which movie to see; either the showing was too late and the theater was too far. No error
and
No error
to see
was
could never
and
The correlative conjunction pair "either . . . or" is used to show two contrasting options. Either option could be true, but only one can be true at a time. In this case, the word "and" should be replaced by the word "or" to complete the correlative conjunction pair.
Example Question #52 : Identifying Phrase, Clause, And Sentence Errors
Select the underlined portion of the sentence below that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Neither China nor America is doing enough to fight global warming. NO ERROR
is
nor
NO ERROR
warming.
enough
NO ERROR
Whenever you see the conjunction "neither," it must always be followed by the correlative conjunction "nor." As such, the sentence above is correct as it is written.
Example Question #53 : Identifying Phrase, Clause, And Sentence Errors
Select the underlined portion of the sentence below that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
You either need to start working harder, nor accept the consequences of your laziness. NO ERROR
your
start working
NO ERROR
nor
laziness.
nor
Whenever you see the conjunction "either," it must always be followed by the correlative conjunction "or." As such, the "nor" in the sentence above should be changed to "or."
Example Question #54 : Identifying Phrase, Clause, And Sentence Errors
Select the underlined portion of the sentence below that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Not only is Chicago a great city for restaurants, and it has great live music as well. NO ERROR
and
Chicago
restaurants,
great live
NO ERROR
and
Whenever you see the conjunction "not only," it must always be followed by the correlative conjunction "but also." As such, the "and" in the sentence above should be changed to "but also."
Example Question #55 : 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.
Neither fame or passion drove Kelly to pursue a career in music; she got into the industry solely for the money. No error
Neither fame or passion
into
music;
No error
drove
Neither fame or passion
"Or" is the problematic word here - it should be "nor." "Neither... nor" is the correct pairing, not "Neither... or." "Either... nor" is also incorrect. In all cases it must be "either...or" and "neither...nor."
Example Question #55 : 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.
By the time her mother came home from work, Cecilia had not only cleaned her room, also taken out the trash and walked the dog. No error
By the time
work, Cecilia
and walked the dog
No error
,also
,also
This question is checking for understanding of the correlative conjunction "not only . . . but also." The mistake in the sentence is the missing "but" in "but also." When using this construction, sometimes the "also" can be taken out but the "but" can never be since it changes the meaning. A corrected sentence reads "By the time her mother came home from work, Cecilia had not only cleaned her room, but also taken out the trash and walked the dog."
Example Question #56 : 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.
After she came home exhausted from the soccer match, Tabatha had to decide whether she wanted to go to Sarah's birthday party nor just stay home. No error
decide
No error
nor
exhausted from
to go
nor
This question is checking for an understanding of the correlative conjunction "whether . . . or." The trick is that the error—"nor"—brings up another correlative conjunction: "neither . . . nor." The difference between the two is that "whether . . . or" presents an option between two choices (staying home and going to the birthday party), whereas "neither . . . nor" rejects both of the things referenced. The corrected sentence would read "After she came home exhausted from the soccer match, Tabatha had to decide whether she wanted to go to Sarah's birthday party or just stay home."
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