SAT Writing : Identifying Phrase, Clause, and Sentence Errors

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for SAT Writing

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Example Questions

Example Question #1 : Identifying Subordinate 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.

Bob, an insurance agent, wishes he had the kind of job that allowed him to travel, whenever he wanted. No error

Possible Answers:

wanted.

kind of

an insurance agent,

No error

travel,

Correct answer:

travel,

Explanation:

Since “whenever” is a subordinating conjunction linking a dependent and independent clause, no comma is needed before it. Commas are required before coordinating conjunctions, but not subordinating conjunctions.

Example Question #81 : 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.

Provided by she was paid overtime, Kara agreed to clean the golf course before she left for the day. No error

Possible Answers:

to clean

before

Provided by

No error

overtime

Correct answer:

Provided by

Explanation:

This question is checking for understanding of the subordinate conjunction "provided that." If it helps, "provided that" can be thought of as equivalent to "on the condition that." The only error in the sentence is that "provided by" is used instead of "provided that." "Provided by" has a different use (as a regular verb) and is not a subordinate conjunction. 

An example of "provided by" used correctly: "Her cell phone service was provided by her local cell phone company."

An example of "provided that" used correctly: "Provided that she was paid overtime, Kara agreed to clean the golf course before she left for the day."

Example Question #9 : Identifying Subordinate 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.

 When whenever we had enough to eat when I was younger, my whole family was completely overjoyed. No error

Possible Answers:

whole family

When whenever

I was younger,

No error

completely overjoyed

Correct answer:

When whenever

Explanation:

In the sentence above, the words "when" and "whenever" are being used to cause the second portion of the sentence to be a subordinate clause: they are subordinate conjunctions. They also mean roughly the same thing, so using both is redundant. One of the conjunctions should remain in the sentence, and the other should be deleted. The best way to correct the sentence above is:

"When we had enough to eat when I was younger, my whole family was completely overjoyed."

OR

"Whenever we had enough to eat when I was younger, my whole family was completely overjoyed."

Example Question #1 : Identifying Subordinate 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.

There's an old saying, "great men are rarely good men," but yet many of my favorite heroes from history were exceedingly kind. No error

Possible Answers:

but yet

 "great men are rarely good men,"

No error

were exceedingly kind.

of my

Correct answer:

but yet

Explanation:

In the sentence above, the words "but" and "yet" are being as subordinate conjunctions. They also mean roughly the same thing. Only one of them is necessary, and the other should be deleted. The best way to correct the sentence above is:

There's an old saying, "great men are rarely good men," yet many of my favorite heroes from history were exceedingly kind.

OR

There's an old saying, "great men are rarely good men," but many of my favorite heroes from history were exceedingly kind.

Example Question #81 : 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.

When I was a young man I used to love to go and hang out in parks. No error

Possible Answers:

When I was

No error

in parks.

go

man I used

Correct answer:

man I used

Explanation:

In the sentence above, the word "when" is being used as a subordinate conjunction. Any such subordinate clause must be separated from the rest of the sentence by a comma. The best way to correct the sentence above is:

"When I was a young man, I used to love to go out and hang out in parks."

Example Question #81 : 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. 

In the United States, many women feel they must make a choice between having a career or starting a family. No error

Possible Answers:

a choice 

having 

feel 

or

No error

Correct answer:

or

Explanation:

The word “between,” relating two independent clauses, implies that the correct conjunction to be used here is “and” rather than “or.” 

 

Example Question #83 : 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. 

According to new research, families with multiple children prefer the suburbs more than cities because they can afford homes with more space. No error

Possible Answers:

they can 

with 

No error

prefer

more than 

Correct answer:

more than 

Explanation:

The verb “prefer” takes the preposition “to,” not “than.” In other words, it is grammatically correct to say families prefer “suburbs to cities” but not correct to say they prefer “suburbs more than cities.”

 

Example Question #84 : 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. 

Many endangered species which inhabit the African savanna may become extinct if government agencies do not quickly take protective action to save them. No error

Possible Answers:

which inhabit 

take 

may become 

No error

if 

Correct answer:

which inhabit 

Explanation:

This sentence begins with the restrictive clause, “Many endangered species.” Using the word “which” after a restrictive clause is incorrect. Rather, we must use the word “that.”  While it is a common grammatical error to use "that" in situations when "which" is needed, it is equally incorrect to use "which" in instances when "that" is required, like after a restrictive clause. 

Example Question #1 : 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.

After school, the children went to the park, to the store, and home. No error

Possible Answers:

After

the park

No error

and home

the children went

Correct answer:

and home

Explanation:

"Home" contains the error in this sentence because parallel sentence structure dictates that each part in a series must use the same type of word and employ the same tense, if the words are verbs. In this case, the first two parts in the series are prepositional phrases ("to the park" and "to the store"), but the third part is a noun "home." Because only part of one of the prepositional phrases is underlined, we can't change them, so we would need to change the noun, "home," to correct the sentence's error.

Example Question #1 : 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.

For Lisa to change her email settings, she had to log in, choose "settings" and then clicked on "preferences." No error

Possible Answers:

choose

had to 

clicked

No error

to 

Correct answer:

clicked

Explanation:

Given that two of the three verbs in the series are in the present tense ("choose" and "log in"), it follows that "clicked" should also be in the present tense, not the past tense, in order to conform with the rest of the sentence. 

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