SAT Writing : Identifying Word Usage Errors

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for SAT Writing

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Example Questions

Example Question #241 : Identifying Word 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.

Though the dog had been washed by the petsitter just yesterday, he continued to smell badly. No error

Possible Answers:

yesterday,

smell badly

continued to

No error

had been

Correct answer:

smell badly

Explanation:

This sentence's error is that it uses an adverb in the place of an adjective. "Badly," as an adverb, is referencing not the quality of the dog's odor, but its poor ability to smell.

Example Question #242 : Identifying Word 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.

Sarah, Emilie, and Jenn competed against one another in the four hundred meter hurdle event, and they both scored similarly. No error

Possible Answers:

one another

No error

event, and

similarly

both

Correct answer:

both

Explanation:

This sentence has three subjects: "Sarah," "Emilie," and "Jenn." Because of this, the sentence requires a form of the word "both" that is used to refer to groups of three or more. "Both" would be correct if only two of the girls were racing.  However, since all three are racing, we need to use the adverb "all" instead of "both." The corrected sentence would read "Sarah, Emilie, and Jenn competed against one another in the four hundred meter hurdle event, and they all scored similarly."

Example Question #435 : 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.

Many popular books and movies are inspired by folktales that were original passed down orally from generation to generationNo error

Possible Answers:

from generation to generation

that were

No error

inspired by

original

Correct answer:

original

Explanation:

The word "original" is an adjective and should modify a noun. Here, it modifies the verb "passed". An adverb would be correct: "Many popular books and movies are inspired by folktales that were originally passed down orally from generation to generation."

Example Question #441 : 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.

Despite the terrible dress rehearsal the night before, the opening performance of Romeo and Juliet went really goodNo error

Possible Answers:

Despite

of

went

No error

really good

Correct answer:

really good

Explanation:

The word "good" is an adjective and should describe a noun. Here, it describes the verb "went" and is grammatically incorrect. Changing "good" to the adverb "well" corrects the sentence's error. The corrected sentence reads, "Despite the terrible dress rehearsal the night before, the opening performance of Romeo and Juliet went really well."

Example Question #442 : 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.

Tom had a terrible sense of direction but a wonderful sense of humor; he consistently headed off in the complete wrong direction but laughed about it later. No error

Possible Answers:

he

complete

laughed about it

No error

headed

Correct answer:

complete

Explanation:

This sentence uses an adjective (“complete”) to describe another adjective (“wrong”). An adverb is the correct part of speech in this context. The corrected sentence reads: "Tom had a terrible sense of direction but a wonderful sense of humor; he consistently headed off in the completely wrong direction but laughed about it later."

Example Question #27 : Identifying Adjective And Adverb Errors

Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.

May dragged on painful; Dorothy was counting the hours until graduation, and they couldn’t pass fast enough. No error

Possible Answers:

they

was counting

graduation, and

painful

No error

Correct answer:

painful

Explanation:

In this sentence, the adjective “painful” is used to describe the verb “dragged on.” As adjectives only describe nouns and pronouns, "painful" contains the sentence's error, and the adverb "painfully" would be a grammatically correct choice. The corrected sentence reads, "May dragged on painfully; Dorothy was counting the hours until graduation, and they couldn’t pass fast enough."

Example Question #31 : Identifying Adjective And Adverb Errors

Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English.

The little girl could never sit still for longer then five minutes.

Possible Answers:

The little girl could never sit still for longer then five minutes.

The little girl could never sit still for longer than five minutes.

The little girl could never sit still for long then five minutes.

The little girl could never sit still of longer then five minutes.

The little girl could never sat still for longer then five minute.

Correct answer:

The little girl could never sit still for longer than five minutes.

Explanation:

"Then" is an adverb that means at that particular moment, and "than" is an adverb used to compare two things, as in the sentence, "My fall coat is less heavy than my winter coat." So, "then" is being used incorrectly in this sentence and should be replaced with "than" in order to correct the sentence's error.

Example Question #443 : 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.

Because the oven did not heat up properly, Megan's cupcakes baked uneven; some were burnt and overdone, while others were raw and runny. No error

Possible Answers:

while

uneven

No error

properly

raw

Correct answer:

uneven

Explanation:

In this sentence, "uneven" is meant to modify the verb "baked." Therefore, an adverb is needed. However, "uneven" is an adjective. The adverbial form is "unevenly," so the correct sentence would read, "Because the oven did not heat properly, Megan's cupcakes baked unevenly; some were burnt and overdone, while others were still raw and runny." Remember that adjectives only modify nouns, and adverbs modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs.

Example Question #444 : 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.

The sloth crept slow across the roadway, risking life and limb in its determination to explore the world on the other sideNo error

Possible Answers:

risking

in his determination

on the other side

slow

No error

Correct answer:

slow

Explanation:

In this sentence, the adjective “slow” is used to modify the verb “crept.” Adjectives should only modify nouns and pronouns, so to correct the sentence's error, the adjective "slow" should be replaced with the adverb “slowly." The corrected sentence reads, "The sloth crept slowly across the roadway, risking life and limb in his determination to explore the world on the other side."

Example Question #445 : 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.

Chad’s political views took an abrupt swing to the left; afterwards, he had to find a way to remove bumper stickers quickNo error

Possible Answers:

a way to

afterwards, he

took

quick

No error

Correct answer:

quick

Explanation:

In this sentence, the adjective “quick” describes the verb “remove.” An adverb would be more appropriate. The corrected sentence reads: Chad’s political views took an abrupt swing to the left, and he had to find a way to remove bumper stickers quickly.

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