SAT Writing : Identifying Word Usage Errors
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Example Questions
Example Question #1 : Identifying Pronoun Errors: Case
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
I had never visited the Mayan ruins until four months ago when my intrepid friends and me decided to take a road trip there. No error
No error
had never visited
intrepid friends and me
intrepid
Mayan
intrepid friends and me
In the clause "my intrepid friends and me decided to take a road trip there," "my intrepid friends and me" are doing the action of deciding. Therefore, the objective-case pronoun "me" should be changed to the subjective-case pronoun "I."
Example Question #304 : Identifying 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.
Startled by the sudden darkness that fell upon the town, Margaret, Thomas, and me stumbled and clutched at each other. No error
clutched at
Startled by
No error
me
that fell upon
me
This sentence has a problem with pronoun case. Since “me” is a subject, it should be “I.” The corrected sentence reads, "Startled by the sudden darkness that fell upon the earth, Margaret, Thomas, and I stumbled and clutched at each other."
Example Question #4 : Identifying Pronoun Errors: Case
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
I was almost to the exit of the building, but standing between the doors and I was a gigantic security guard looking right at me. No error
exit of
looking right at me
standing
the doors and I
No error
the doors and I
This sentence uses the wrong pronoun case. If a first person pronoun is the object of a preposition, it should be “me,” not “I.” The corrected sentence reads, "I was almost to the exit of the building, but standing between me and the doors was a gigantic security guard looking right at me."
Example Question #7 : Identifying Pronoun Errors: Case
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 start of the soccer season, Coach Stan paid a visit to my parents and I to explain why I was cut from varsity. No error
No error
why
parents and I
paid a visit
At
parents and I
"Parents and I" is the object of the preposition "to," so it should instead be "parents and me."
Example Question #11 : Identifying Pronoun Errors: Case
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
My sister took my hand and solemnly swore that nothing would ever come between her and I. No error
her and I
solemnly
would ever come
hand and
No error
her and I
In this sentence, the wrong pronoun case is used. “I” is a subject, but here it appears as the object of a preposition. The corrected sentence reads: My sister took my hand and solemnly swore that nothing would ever come between her and me.
Example Question #12 : Identifying Pronoun Errors: Case
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
In that novel, the author poetically describes the experiences of immigrants whom venture to the United States in search of better lives. No error
better lives
in search of
whom
No error
poetically describes
whom
“Whom” should be replaced by “who” because here, it acts as a subject instead of an object.
Example Question #13 : Identifying Pronoun Errors: Case
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
The judges, who were responsible for choosing the winner of the science fair, were trying to decide between he and her. No error.
No error.
who
were trying
responsible for
he and her
he and her
When the preposition "between" and pronouns are used in a prepositional phrase, the pronouns must be in the objective case, since they are objects of the prepositional phrase. "Her" is in the objective case (as opposed to the subjective case pronoun "she") in this sentence, so it is correct, but "he" is a subjective-case pronoun that is incorrectly used. The objective-case pronoun "him" should be used instead to correct the sentence's error.
Example Question #14 : Identifying Pronoun Errors: Case
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Even though Arnold and his wife had never been to Hawaii, them were sure they would have fun there. No error
Even though
No error
had never been
would have
them
them
This sentence incorrectly uses the objective pronoun "them" where it should use the subjective pronoun "they." Since the pronoun in question is acting as the subject of the independent clause "(pronoun) were sure they would have fun there," it needs to be in its subjective form. Objective pronouns, on the other hand, are used when the pronoun in question is acting as a direct object or the object of a preposition, e.g. the exchange "To whom did you give the cake?" "I gave it to them." Here, both the pronouns "whom" and "them" are in their objective forms because each is funcitoning as the object of the preposition "to."
Example Question #15 : Identifying Pronoun Errors: Case
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Even though it did not have a history of biting, the dog that lived next door always made me feel uneasy; I didn't like the way it snarled at Jason and I. No error
dog that lived next door
Even though it did not have a history of biting
No error
Jason and I
uneasy;
Jason and I
There is an issue with the prepositional phrase "at Jason and I." "I" is a subjective pronoun, but the objective pronoun "me" should be used in this instance, since it is the object of the preposition "at."
Example Question #16 : Identifying Pronoun Errors: Case
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Samantha walked over to me and whispered, "Just between you and I, I don't think we can trust him to keep this secret." No error
to me
you and I
to keep
him
No error
you and I
This first person pronoun following "between" is an object of the preposition, and therefore should be the object pronoun "me" as opposed to the subject pronoun "I."
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