SAT Writing : Identifying Sentence Errors
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Example Questions
Example Question #211 : Identifying Punctuation 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 Día de los Muertos event at school featured a dinner consisting of a burrito bar a taco station, and three varieties of flan. No error
No error
featured
three varieties
consisting of
bar a
bar a
The list of features of the event is missing a comma between "bar" and "a" that would correctly distinguish all three features.
Example Question #57 : Identifying Punctuation Errors: Commas
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
The large fish, the turtles, and the small fish, all got along well in the same tank; there were no attacks of any sort by one species against another. No error
tank; there
No error
turtles, and
small fish, all
by one species against another
small fish, all
A comma should never end a list. The corrected first clause of the sentence would read: "The large fish, the turtles, and the small fish all got along well." A semicolon is appropriate in this sentence to separate the two independent clauses.
Example Question #58 : Identifying Punctuation Errors: Commas
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Math, physics, and biology are Marco's three favorite subjects in school. No error
in
Marco's
Math, physics, and biology
No error
favorite
No error
Whenever you have a list of more than two items in a sentence, each item in the list needs to be separated by commas. An apostrophe is correctly used to indicate that the preferences are "Marco's." "In" is the correct preposition in this context. This sentence is correct as it is written.
Example Question #217 : Identifying Punctuation 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 really hate three chores in particular: cleaning, doing laundry and mowing the lawn. No error
particular:
No error
three chores
I
cleaning, doing laundry and mowing the lawn.
cleaning, doing laundry and mowing the lawn.
Whenever you have a list of more than two items in a sentence each item in that list needs to be separated by commas. The best way to correct the sentence above is, "I really hate three chores in particular: cleaning, doing laundry, and mowing the lawn." Note that "doing laundry" and "mowing the lawn" constitute single items in the list. Also note that parallel structure must be maintained within the list.
Example Question #221 : Identifying Punctuation Errors
Select the underlined portion of the sentence below that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
There are three qualities that make a truly great tennis player: coordination athleticism, and discipline. NO ERROR
coordination athleticism, and discipline.
are
NO ERROR
tennis player:
great
coordination athleticism, and discipline.
Whenever you have a list of three or more things in a sentence, each item of the list should be separated by a comma. As such, there should be a comma between "coordination" and "athleticism" in the sentence above.
Example Question #222 : Identifying Punctuation 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 restaurant's ice cream selection was quite unconventional; the only three flavors they offered were, peanut butter, blackberry, and grass. No error
unconventional;
restaurant's
was
were,
No error
were,
There should be no comma directly after "were." Commas are used to separate items in a list but not to introduce the list. No punctuation is necessary here.
Example Question #61 : Identifying Punctuation Errors: Commas
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
On her summer road trip, Kayli visited Boston, and New York for a week each, and she stayed in Baltimore for three days. No error
trip,
stayed in
No error
a week each,
Boston,
Boston,
This question tests knowledge of commas in lists. In Standard American English, it is convention to not put commas in lists if there are only two items and to put them in if there are three or more items. Since there are only two cities in the first part of the sentence (Boston and New York), there is no need for a comma. A corrected sentence would be "On her summer road trip, Kayli visited Boston and New York for a week each, and she stayed in Baltimore for three days."
Example Question #221 : Identifying Punctuation Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error.
For the Fourth of July picnic on the White House lawn, Luke's father packed salads, sandwiches with peanut butter and pickles for the children, but unfortunately, he forgot to pack water. No error
Fourth of July
children,
unfortunately
No error
and pickles
and pickles
This sentence is testing knowledge of the use of commas in lists. The standard practice is to use commas after the first and second items in a third (or more) item list. Sometimes the comma is omitted after the second item, but this omission can be confusing because it can suggest a unintended connection between the second and third items, as it does in this sentence. Presumably the father is not packing sandwiches with peanut butter as well as pickles on them, and instead he is packing sandwiches with peanut butter as well as pickles seperately. Therefore, the sentence should read: "For the Fourth of July picnic on the White House lawn, Luke's father packed salads, sandwiches with peanut butter, and pickles for the children, but unfortunately, he forgot to pack water."
Example Question #3594 : Sat Writing
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences may contain no error at all.
Max took his dog out to play walk, and ride the bike. No error
play
No error
Max
ride
took
play
Since there is a list in the sentence, there needs to be a comma after "play." Without a comma, the reader would read "play walk" as one activity.
Example Question #221 : Identifying Punctuation Errors
Please choose the part of the sentence that needs to be corrected. Some sentences may have no error at all.
My grandmother taught us the importance of listening to others, being compassionate, and remaining quiet when needed. No error
grandmother
us
, and
No error
to others
No error
This sentence has no error. Commas correctly separate all items in the list, and there are no other grammatical errors.
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