SAT Writing : Identifying Word Usage Errors
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Example Questions
Example Question #421 : 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.
Before meeting my best friend, Ana, I had never eaten sushi, climbed a mountain, or went on a roller coaster. No error
never eaten sushi,
went
No error
friend,
Ana,
went
In order to maintain a parallel structure, each verb in the list should be in the present perfect form. Therefore, the correct conjugation for the final verb is “gone,” as in “I had never gone,” not “went.”
Example Question #422 : 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 want my opinion, the team was doing well with its current coach and shouldn’t of hired the new, inexperienced manager. No error
new, inexperienced
was doing well with its
shouldn't of hired
opinion,
No error
shouldn't of hired
We have a simple verb error here. Despite how it sounds in spoken dialogue, the correct form is always “shouldn’t have” and never “shouldn’t of.”
Example Question #423 : 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.
Without Jeff’s encouragement, guidance, and support, I couldn’t have graduated with high honors. No error
No error
guidance,
and
I couldn't have
encouragement,
No error
This sentence is correctly punctuated and contains no errors. “I couldn’t have” is the proper form of the past perfect. Each item in the list is correctly separated by a comma, and the dependent clause is correctly separated from the main clause by a comma.
Example Question #421 : 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.
Ever since the fifth grade, when I beat all my classmates in the spelling bee, I been the best student in my English class. No error
No error
Ever since the fifth grade,
my English class
in the spelling bee,
I been
I been
Here we have an error with the present perfect tense. The correct conjugation is “I have been,” not “I been.”
Example Question #3521 : 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.
Even though the runners were clearly exhausted and had even begun to limp, the coach wouldn’t let them rest until they had ran the entire course. No error
limp,
Even though
No error
had even begun
they had ran
they had ran
Here we have an error with the present perfect. The correct conjugation is “they had run,” not “they had ran.”
Example Question #3522 : 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.
Although the weather had became terribly cold and dry of late, a warm front with showers was on its way. No error
No error
Although
was
of late
had became
had became
The error here lies in the verb agreement. Because the past participle is called for, the verb should employ both the past form of the verb "have" (i.e., "had," as it does) and the present form of the verb "become" (i.e., "become," as it does not). Thus, the past form of "become" is incorrect and must be changed to the present form.
Example Question #3523 : Sat Writing
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no errors at all.
We anticipated that John and Michael would want to quickly solve the assigned problems so that they could go home and rest. No error
quickly
No error
anticipated
and
problems
quickly
The phrase "to quickly solve" is an example of what is called a split infinitive: the infinitive form of the verb ("to solve") interrupted by another word. In general, modifiers should not interrupt the infinitive structure. The phrase should be corrected to move the word "quickly" to a new position in the sentence (eg., "...John and Michael would want to solve the assigned problems quickly...").
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