SAT Writing : Identifying Sentence 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 #123 : 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.

While I would love to go to the beach with you I have to study instead. No error

Possible Answers:

No error

study instead

love to

you I

While I

Correct answer:

you I

Explanation:

“While I would love to go to the beach with you” is a dependent clause, which means that if it is removed from the sentence, the rest of the sentence (“I have to study instead”) will still be a complete sentence. Because commas are always used to separate a dependent clause from an independent clause when the dependent clause precedes the independent clause, a comma must appear between “with you” and “I have.”

Example Question #124 : 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.

Wherever they go, they can’t seem to find a vacation spot, that suits their needs. No error

Possible Answers:

go,

can't seem

No error

Wherever

spot,

Correct answer:

spot,

Explanation:

“Wherever they go” is a dependent clause, so it must be separated from the rest of the sentence by a comma. However, commas generally don’t appear before or after the word “that,” so no comma is necessary there. (Specifically, commas are not generally needed to separate dependent clauses from independent clauses when the dependent clause follows the independent clause.)

Example Question #125 : 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.

Being a strong math student Chris didn’t understand his classmates’ confusion with prime numbers, logarithms, or exponents. No error

Possible Answers:

logarithms,

student

No error.

prime numbers,

classmates'

Correct answer:

student

Explanation:

“Being a strong student” is a modifier that describes “Chris,” so a comma is needed to separate the two. The three items in the list are properly punctuated with commas, and since "classmates" is plural, the correct possessive is "classmates’."

Example Question #1 : Identifying Punctuation Errors: Commas For Dependent Clauses

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

Here’s the situation: your dog isn’t properly trained to be around children, adults or other animals. No error

Possible Answers:

adults

Your

No error

situation:

children,

Correct answer:

adults

Explanation:

Because “Here’s the situation” is an independent clause introducing another independent clause, a colon is the correct punctuation mark to use to separate them. A comma is required after “adults,” though, since it’s an item in a list.

Example Question #7 : Identifying Punctuation Errors: Commas For Dependent Clauses

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

Jane wanted to go parasailing over vacation but then, a fierce storm rolled in and flooded the harbor. No error

Possible Answers:

and

No error

vacation but then, a

over

wanted to

Correct answer:

vacation but then, a

Explanation:

The placement of the comma in this sentence between "then" and "a" is incorrect. The comma should instead appear between "vacation" and "but" in order to correctly connect the compound sentence's two independent clauses using a comma followed by a conjunction.

Example Question #2 : Identifying Punctuation Errors: Commas For Dependent Clauses

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

The crowd jumped out of their seats and cheered loudly, when the home team scored the game-winning shot at the buzzer. No error.  

Possible Answers:

loudly, when

out of 

No error

at

game-winning

Correct answer:

loudly, when

Explanation:

The comma between "loudly" and "when" is unnecessary, creating and punctuation error in the sentence.

Example Question #291 : 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. 

Although Danny was not the best swimmer his friends always said he threw the best pool parties. No error

Possible Answers:

always said

swimmer his

Although 

No error

threw

Correct answer:

swimmer his

Explanation:

The sentence requires a comma after "swimmer" in order to correctly join its dependent and independent clauses ("Although Danny was not the best swimmer" and "his friends always said he threw the best pool parties"). 

Example Question #1151 : 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. 

While I don't agree with your opinion about how life on Earth began I do respect your right to believe it. No error

Possible Answers:

began I 

While

about

No error

your right

Correct answer:

began I 

Explanation:

The sentence consists of two separate clauses ("While I don't agree with your opinion about how life on Earth began" and "I do respect your right to believe it"); therefore, the sentence requires a comma after "began" to properly separate the clauses. 

Example Question #292 : 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.

Although she studied diligently for her chemistry final exam, there was still fear and doubt in Amy's mind as she walked into the room. No error

Possible Answers:

diligently

No error

as she walked

final exam, 

Although

Correct answer:

No error

Explanation:

There is no error in this sentence. "Although" is a subordinate conjunction correctly linking an independent clause to a dependent one, "diligently" is an adverb correctly modifying a verb (studied), and "as she walked" correctly indicates an action that occurs simultaneously (to her fear and doubt).

Example Question #293 : Identifying Punctuation Errors

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

Our friend, before calling the police, ensured that everyone at the scene of the accident was calm and unhurt. No error

Possible Answers:

police,

friend,

ensured

No error

calm and

Correct answer:

No error

Explanation:

Here, “before calling the police” is an interrupting or parenthetical (dependent) clause and can be removed from the sentence without making a sentence fragment. For this reason, it has to be set apart by commas. No comma is needed before the conjunction (“and”), since it is not breaking up two independent clauses. The sentence is correct as written.

Learning Tools by Varsity Tutors