SAT Writing : Identifying Sentence Errors
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Example Questions
Example Question #7 : Identifying Pronoun Errors: Case
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
At the start of the soccer season, Coach Stan paid a visit to my parents and I to explain why I was cut from varsity. No error
No error
why
parents and I
paid a visit
At
parents and I
"Parents and I" is the object of the preposition "to," so it should instead be "parents and me."
Example Question #11 : Identifying Pronoun Errors: Case
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
My sister took my hand and solemnly swore that nothing would ever come between her and I. No error
her and I
solemnly
would ever come
hand and
No error
her and I
In this sentence, the wrong pronoun case is used. “I” is a subject, but here it appears as the object of a preposition. The corrected sentence reads: My sister took my hand and solemnly swore that nothing would ever come between her and me.
Example Question #12 : Identifying Pronoun Errors: Case
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
In that novel, the author poetically describes the experiences of immigrants whom venture to the United States in search of better lives. No error
better lives
in search of
whom
No error
poetically describes
whom
“Whom” should be replaced by “who” because here, it acts as a subject instead of an object.
Example Question #13 : Identifying Pronoun Errors: Case
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
The judges, who were responsible for choosing the winner of the science fair, were trying to decide between he and her. No error.
No error.
who
were trying
responsible for
he and her
he and her
When the preposition "between" and pronouns are used in a prepositional phrase, the pronouns must be in the objective case, since they are objects of the prepositional phrase. "Her" is in the objective case (as opposed to the subjective case pronoun "she") in this sentence, so it is correct, but "he" is a subjective-case pronoun that is incorrectly used. The objective-case pronoun "him" should be used instead to correct the sentence's error.
Example Question #311 : 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.
Even though Arnold and his wife had never been to Hawaii, them were sure they would have fun there. No error
them
would have
No error
had never been
Even though
them
This sentence incorrectly uses the objective pronoun "them" where it should use the subjective pronoun "they." Since the pronoun in question is acting as the subject of the independent clause "(pronoun) were sure they would have fun there," it needs to be in its subjective form. Objective pronouns, on the other hand, are used when the pronoun in question is acting as a direct object or the object of a preposition, e.g. the exchange "To whom did you give the cake?" "I gave it to them." Here, both the pronouns "whom" and "them" are in their objective forms because each is funcitoning as the object of the preposition "to."
Example Question #312 : 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.
Even though it did not have a history of biting, the dog that lived next door always made me feel uneasy; I didn't like the way it snarled at Jason and I. No error
No error
Even though it did not have a history of biting
dog that lived next door
uneasy;
Jason and I
Jason and I
There is an issue with the prepositional phrase "at Jason and I." "I" is a subjective pronoun, but the objective pronoun "me" should be used in this instance, since it is the object of the preposition "at."
Example Question #313 : 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.
Samantha walked over to me and whispered, "Just between you and I, I don't think we can trust him to keep this secret." No error
to keep
him
to me
No error
you and I
you and I
This first person pronoun following "between" is an object of the preposition, and therefore should be the object pronoun "me" as opposed to the subject pronoun "I."
Example Question #17 : Identifying Pronoun Errors: Case
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
The teacher awarded extra credit to only Diana and I; the other students had not done a satisfactory job on the assignment. No error
satisfactory
No error
to only
Diana and I
had not done
Diana and I
"Diana and I" are the objects of the preposition "to" and therefore must be in the objective case. "I" is in subjective case; the correct form of the first person pronoun here would be "me." "The teacher awarded extra credit to only Diana and me..."
Example Question #18 : Identifying Pronoun Errors: Case
Select the underlined portion of the sentence that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
We heard some strange sounds coming from above; seconds later, a branch fell down and hit the ground right between me and Rodney. No error
No error
me and Rodney
later,
coming
above; seconds
No error
There is no error in this sentence. The semicolon is appropriate, as the two clauses are both independent and there is no conjunction linking them. There is no preposition case error ("me" is correct because it is the object of the preposition "between"). The pronoun should be in objective case, which it is.
Example Question #314 : Identifying Sentence Errors
Select the underlined portion of the sentence that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
The puppy ran all the way down to the river, splashed around for a bit, and returned to where me and Alicia were waiting. No error
me and Alicia
No error
bit, and
river,
ran
me and Alicia
The first person pronoun here should be in subjective case, "I," as opposed to objective case, "me."
A quick and easy way to test this is to simplify it as much as possible. Temporarily remove other nouns from this part of the sentence - would "where me was waiting" sound correct? No, so "me and Alicia" wouldn't be right either. "Where I was waiting" sounds fine, and it is - "Alicia and I" would be the correct replacement.
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