SAT Writing : Identifying Sentence Errors
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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
No error
asked,
have to sleep
wouldn't have
had booked
have to sleep
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
I've ever seen
I don't think
No error
I began volunteering
a wide array
I've ever seen
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
No error
suppose to
restrooms, and
According to our boss,
before we finish our shifts.
suppose to
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
wouldn’t of known
in modern hospitals
deleterious
No error
midwifery,
wouldn’t of known
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
road;
No error
I can't hardly see
obscured
while beautiful and sparkly,
I can't hardly see
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
No error
juvenile
The triplets didn't rest
they had drove
their bickering,
they had drove
Here we have another error with the present perfect. The correct conjugation is “they had driven,” not “they had drove.”
Example Question #2 : 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.
Before meeting my best friend, Ana, I had never eaten sushi, climbed a mountain, or went on a roller coaster. No error
went
never eaten sushi,
No error
Ana,
friend,
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 #3 : 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.
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
opinion,
was doing well with its
shouldn't of hired
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 #4 : 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.
Without Jeff’s encouragement, guidance, and support, I couldn’t have graduated with high honors. No error
and
I couldn't have
No error
encouragement,
guidance,
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 #3524 : 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.
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
my English class
No error
in the spelling bee,
I been
Ever since the fifth grade,
I been
Here we have an error with the present perfect tense. The correct conjugation is “I have been,” not “I been.”
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