SAT Writing : Identifying Word Usage Errors
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Example Questions
Example Question #42 : Identifying Verb Tense Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
She spent the afternoon wondering if having been gone to Scotland during the summer was worth the trouble. No error
wondering if
having been gone
was
No error
worth the trouble
having been gone
This sentence uses a convoluted form of the verb. One way to correct the sentence reads: She spent the afternoon wondering if going to Scotland during the summer was worth the trouble.
Example Question #131 : Identifying Usage Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Turning around, Jonathan saw that the entire back wall of the garden fence has been destroyed in the blast. No error
that
has been destroyed
entire back wall
No error
Turning around
has been destroyed
The timeline of verb tenses in this sentence is not logical. The corrected sentence reads, "Turning around, Jonathan saw that the entire back wall of the garden fence had been destroyed in the blast."
Example Question #44 : Identifying Verb Tense 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 natural conclusion to draw would being that the goldfish jumped out of the tank, stole some pretzels for the road, unlocked the door, and ran away to join the circus. No error
and ran away
would being
No error
for the road
natural
would being
This sentence uses an incorrectly constructed verb (“would being”). The corrected sentence reads, "The natural conclusion to draw would be that the goldfish jumped out of the tank, stole some pretzels for the road, unlocked the door, and ran away to join the circus."
Example Question #45 : Identifying Verb Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Although Steven does not usually have an appetite, he has ate more tonight than anyone else at the dinner. No error
Although
has ate
No error
he
than
has ate
The phrase "has ate" should be "has eaten." "Eaten" is the proper participle for the present perfect form.
Example Question #51 : Identifying Verb Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Marketers are finding greater success making sales when they phoned people in the morning rather than late in the afternoon. No error
phoned
No error
rather than
when
greater
phoned
The sentence is present tense, so use "phone "instead of "phoned."
Example Question #51 : Identifying Verb 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 undercover agents chose not to apprehend the suspect in the mall that afternoon, but instead apprehended him at the harbor before he is boarding a ship to Morocco. No error
is boarding
No error
in the mall
but instead
not
is boarding
"Is boarding" should be "boarded" because it matches the tense of other verbs in the sentence.
Example Question #52 : Identifying Verb Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Despite a strict ban and severe punishments, the circulation of illegal jokes remains a thriving part of that country's underground culture. No error
remains
culture
Despite
of
No error
remains
For the timeline of the sentence to make sense, "remain" should be changed to past tense, because it occured before the Soviet Union collapsed. A simple correction would be "remained."
Example Question #53 : Identifying Verb 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 people theorized that the darkness was caused by smoke from a volcanic eruption, but a few know that the real cause was an alien invasion. No error
but
Many people
from a volcanic eruption
No error
know that
know that
This sentence has an error in verb tense. Since the first half is in past tense, the second half should be too. The corrected sentence reads, "Many people theorized that the darkness was caused by smoke from a volcanic eruption, but a few knew that the real cause was an alien invasion."
Example Question #54 : Identifying Verb Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
One alien invader, who misunderstood the orders he has been given, landed in the Great Barrier Reef instead of Great Britain. No error
instead of
who
No error
in
has been given
has been given
This sentence has a problem with verb tense. The main clause is in the past tense, and the modifying phrase should reflect that. The corrected sentence reads, "One alien invader, who misunderstood the orders he had been given, landed in the Great Barrier Reef instead of Great Britain."
Example Question #141 : Identifying Usage Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Feeling uninspired, the writer stared out at the gloomy landscape and thought of the days when he had rode along the old county roads in his father’s truck.
Feeling uninspired
he
had rode
his father's truck
No error
had rode
This sentence uses an ill-formed verb. The corrected sentence reads: Feeling uninspired, the writer stared out at the gloomy landscape and thought of the days when he had ridden along the old county roads in his father’s pick-up.
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