SAT Writing : Identifying Word Usage Errors

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for SAT Writing

varsity tutors app store varsity tutors android store varsity tutors ibooks store

Example Questions

Example Question #113 : Identifying Other 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.

I had reason to believe it was the same truck which had been involved in the hit-and-run last yearNo error

Possible Answers:

reason

No error

last year

it

which

Correct answer:

which

Explanation:

In this sentence, the phrase "had been involved in the hit-and-run from last year" is not a subordinate clause. Rather, it is part of the main clause and helps to identify which truck in particular the speaker is referring to. Because it is not subordinate, the use of the word "which" is inappropriate and confusing. The word "that" should be used instead.

Example Question #472 : 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.

Nancy brought over the most heavenly-smelling batch of pecan rolls, that would have been lovely if I weren’t allergic to both nuts and glutenNo error

Possible Answers:

No error

that

brought over

both nuts and gluten

lovely

Correct answer:

that

Explanation:

This sentence mixes up the words “that” and “which.” “Which” is used to start a phrase that provides additional information after a comma. The content of a which-phrase is loosely connected to the content of the main phrase, and the sentence would still make sense if the information contained in the phrase were omitted. “That” directly follows the word it’s modifying, with no comma intervening. The corrected sentence reads, "Nancy brought over the most heavenly-smelling batch of pecan rolls, which would have been lovely if I weren’t allergic to both nuts and gluten."

Example Question #121 : Identifying Other Usage Errors

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

The seagull must have injured it's wing; it is having a lot of difficulty flying and can't seem to get off the ground. No error

Possible Answers:

No error

have

wing;

it's

flying and

Correct answer:

it's

Explanation:

"It's" is the contraction, meaning "it is." "Its," without the apostrophe, is the possessive pronoun - the correct one that should be used here. This is a VERY common error, just remember that this is a rare case where the possessive form specifically does not take an apostrophe.

Example Question #122 : Identifying Other Usage Errors

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

"You're beautiful," he whispered sensually in her ear, "and I hope to multiply you're happy days for the rest of our lives." No error

Possible Answers:

sensually

ear,

you're

No error

beautiful,"

Correct answer:

you're

Explanation:

Although "you're" is correct the first time it appears in the sentence, it is a contraction of "you are;" it is, in other words, a subject and a verb. In the second half of the sentence, "happy days" is an object that the speaker is talking about, and "you're" should be changed to your, the possessive form of the pronoun "you." This makes it clear that she has happy days, but is not herself made of happy days. To see the problem more clearly, replace "you're" with "you are" every time it appears: "...I hope to multiply you are happy days..."

Example Question #411 : 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.

If you had booked a hotel like I asked, we wouldn’t have have to sleep at the airport. No error

Possible Answers:

No error

asked,

have to sleep

wouldn't have

had booked

Correct answer:

have to sleep

Explanation:

Here, the correct form of the present perfect is “wouldn’t have had to sleep,” not “wouldn’t have have to sleep.”

Example Question #1 : Identifying Other 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.

I don’t think I’ve ever seen such a wide array of neglected animals before I began volunteering at the shelter. No error

Possible Answers:

I've ever seen

I don't think

No error

I began volunteering

a wide array

Correct answer:

I've ever seen

Explanation:

The form of the sentence requires that we use the past perfect (e.g. "I had done something") instead of the present perfect (e.g. "I have done something") since the speaker is discussing the time "before [he or she] began volunteering at the shelter." The correct form of the past perfect is “I’d,” a contraction of “I had," instead of "I've," a contraction of "I have."

Example Question #412 : 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.

According to our boss, we are suppose to lock the register, clean the restrooms, and restock the shelves before we finish our shifts. No error

Possible Answers:

No error

suppose to

restrooms, and

According to our boss,

before we finish our shifts.

Correct answer:

suppose to

Explanation:

Here, we have a simple verb error. The correct form is always “supposed to,” never “suppose to.”

Example Question #413 : 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.

If he hadn’t read the book on midwifery, he wouldn’t of known that birthing practices in modern hospitals are sometimes deleterious to women. No error

Possible Answers:

wouldn’t of known

in modern hospitals

deleterious

No error

midwifery,

Correct answer:

wouldn’t of known

Explanation:

We have another simple verb error here. Despite how it sounds in spoken dialogue, the correct form is always “wouldn’t have” and never “wouldn’t of.”

Example Question #411 : 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.

I can’t hardly see the road; the frost, while beautiful and sparkly, has completely obscured my windshield. No error

Possible Answers:

road;

No error

I can't hardly see

obscured

while beautiful and sparkly,

Correct answer:

I can't hardly see

Explanation:

The phrase “can’t hardly” works as a double negative and is grammatically incorrect. If you can’t hardly see something, you can actually see it pretty well, which is clearly not the meaning that the speaker of this sentence intends. The correct form would be “I can hardly see the road.” Elsewhere in the sentence, the semicolon is the correct punctuation, since it’s separating two independent clauses.

Example Question #91 : Identifying Verb Errors

Select the underlined word or words that need to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences may not contain an error.

The triplets didn’t rest until they had drove the babysitter insane with their bickering, tantrums, and juvenile games. No error

Possible Answers:

No error

juvenile

The triplets didn't rest

they had drove

their bickering,

Correct answer:

they had drove

Explanation:

Here we have another error with the present perfect. The correct conjugation is “they had driven,” not “they had drove.”

Learning Tools by Varsity Tutors