SAT Writing : Identifying Punctuation Errors
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Example Question #631 : Sat Writing
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
"Im sorry," said the Professor. "I cannot raise your grade at this time." No error
Im
No error
professor
"I cannot
time."
Im
The words "I am" may be contracted into "I'm." The contraction as written above is missing an apostrophe, which should be corrected.
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.
I can't believe that someone would steal everyones' stuff. No error
someone
everyones'
No error
stuff.
can't
everyones'
In spite of the fact that it describes more than one person, "everyone" is a singular noun. To correctly indicate possession when using "everyone" simply add an apostrophe and an "s" to the end of the word. The sentence above incorrectly places an "s" before the apostrophe at the end of "everyone."
Example Question #12 : 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.
The couple started to look for a new chair for their apartment; their old one lost one of it's legs. No error
the couple
apartment;
it's
their
No error
it's
The error is "it's" because "it's" is short for "it is" and "their old [chair] lost one of it is legs" doesn't make sense. The correction is to use "its" rather than "it's" because "its" indicates possession and the chair possesses its legs. A corrected sentence would look like this: The couple started to look for a new chair for their apartment; their old one lost one of its legs.
Example Question #13 : 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.
After the scandal, the whole communitys' sense of trust was shattered. No error
was shattered.
No error
communitys'
trust
After the scandal,
communitys'
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. "Community" is a singular noun that does not end in "s," therefore to indicate possession with the word "community," you must write "community's."
Example Question #14 : 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.
The strange beast had hurt its paw; it was roaring loudly. No error
No error
its
paw;
roaring loudly.
The strange beast
No error
When one wishes to convey possession with the pronoun "it," "its" is the correct construction. The sentence above contains no error and is correct as written.
Example Question #21 : 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.
In all three vital trials, the juries' verdicts were still being debated. No error
debated
vital trials,
In
No error
juries'
No error
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. Therefore, to indicate possession with "juries," you merely need to add an apostrophe after the "s." The sentence above is correct as written.
Example Question #22 : Identifying Apostrophe Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no errors at all.
Hunters in the boreal region have complained about the statewide hunting sanctions, since the local deers’ prevalence has led to the destruction of many valuable crops. No error
the local deers’
No error
boreal region
sanctions
has led to
the local deers’
The plural of deer is “deer,” not “deers,” so the correct possessive form would be “deer’s.” Everything else in the sentence is grammatically correct.
Example Question #23 : 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.
There were rumors that the teacher’s lounge was getting a new vending machine, but these rumors were belied by an announcement about school budget cuts. No error
machine,
the teacher’s lounge
but these
about school budget cuts.
No error
the teacher’s lounge
Because multiple teachers work at the school and use the lounge, we need a plural possessive: “teachers’ lounge” is the correct form. (Since we have two independent clauses joined with a conjunction, the correct punctuation mark before “but” is a comma and not a semicolon.)
Example Question #24 : 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.
Students who have attended parochial school will often remember how to say Our Father’s and other prayers long after they leave; the constant repetition ensures that the words are ingrained in graduates’ memories. No error
long after they leave;
parochial
graduates’
Our Father’s
No error
Our Father’s
No apostrophe is needed to form this plural. The correct plural of “Our Father” is “Our Fathers.” The semicolon is correctly separating the two independent clauses here.
Example Question #25 : 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.
Some of my fondest childhood memories involve going over to the Singhs’ house and playing in the woods in their backyard; I imagined elaborate kingdoms full of dragons and princesses in the copses and thickets. No error
backyard
Singhs’
involve going over
copses and thickets
No error
Singhs’
The narrator of this sentence is talking about the house belonging to the Singhs (plural), not the Singh (singular), so the correct possessive form is “the Singhs’ house.” Here, a semicolon is correctly separating the two independent clauses.
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