SAT Writing : Identifying Sentence Errors

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for SAT Writing

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Example Questions

Example Question #441 : 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.

Despite the terrible dress rehearsal the night before, the opening performance of Romeo and Juliet went really goodNo error

Possible Answers:

really good

No error

Despite

went

of

Correct answer:

really good

Explanation:

The word "good" is an adjective and should describe a noun. Here, it describes the verb "went" and is grammatically incorrect. Changing "good" to the adverb "well" corrects the sentence's error. The corrected sentence reads, "Despite the terrible dress rehearsal the night before, the opening performance of Romeo and Juliet went really well."

Example Question #442 : 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.

Tom had a terrible sense of direction but a wonderful sense of humor; he consistently headed off in the complete wrong direction but laughed about it later. No error

Possible Answers:

he

complete

headed

laughed about it

No error

Correct answer:

complete

Explanation:

This sentence uses an adjective (“complete”) to describe another adjective (“wrong”). An adverb is the correct part of speech in this context. The corrected sentence reads: "Tom had a terrible sense of direction but a wonderful sense of humor; he consistently headed off in the completely wrong direction but laughed about it later."

Example Question #27 : Identifying Adjective And Adverb Errors

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

May dragged on painful; Dorothy was counting the hours until graduation, and they couldn’t pass fast enough. No error

Possible Answers:

they

was counting

graduation, and

painful

No error

Correct answer:

painful

Explanation:

In this sentence, the adjective “painful” is used to describe the verb “dragged on.” As adjectives only describe nouns and pronouns, "painful" contains the sentence's error, and the adverb "painfully" would be a grammatically correct choice. The corrected sentence reads, "May dragged on painfully; Dorothy was counting the hours until graduation, and they couldn’t pass fast enough."

Example Question #31 : Identifying Adjective And Adverb Errors

Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English.

The little girl could never sit still for longer then five minutes.

Possible Answers:

The little girl could never sit still for longer then five minutes.

The little girl could never sit still for longer than five minutes.

The little girl could never sit still for long then five minutes.

The little girl could never sit still of longer then five minutes.

The little girl could never sat still for longer then five minute.

Correct answer:

The little girl could never sit still for longer than five minutes.

Explanation:

"Then" is an adverb that means at that particular moment, and "than" is an adverb used to compare two things, as in the sentence, "My fall coat is less heavy than my winter coat." So, "then" is being used incorrectly in this sentence and should be replaced with "than" in order to correct the sentence's error.

Example Question #443 : 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.

Because the oven did not heat up properly, Megan's cupcakes baked uneven; some were burnt and overdone, while others were raw and runny. No error

Possible Answers:

properly

raw

No error

uneven

while

Correct answer:

uneven

Explanation:

In this sentence, "uneven" is meant to modify the verb "baked." Therefore, an adverb is needed. However, "uneven" is an adjective. The adverbial form is "unevenly," so the correct sentence would read, "Because the oven did not heat properly, Megan's cupcakes baked unevenly; some were burnt and overdone, while others were still raw and runny." Remember that adjectives only modify nouns, and adverbs modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs.

Example Question #444 : 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.

The sloth crept slow across the roadway, risking life and limb in its determination to explore the world on the other sideNo error

Possible Answers:

on the other side

in his determination

slow

No error

risking

Correct answer:

slow

Explanation:

In this sentence, the adjective “slow” is used to modify the verb “crept.” Adjectives should only modify nouns and pronouns, so to correct the sentence's error, the adjective "slow" should be replaced with the adverb “slowly." The corrected sentence reads, "The sloth crept slowly across the roadway, risking life and limb in his determination to explore the world on the other side."

Example Question #445 : 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.

Chad’s political views took an abrupt swing to the left; afterwards, he had to find a way to remove bumper stickers quickNo error

Possible Answers:

a way to

afterwards, he

took

quick

No error

Correct answer:

quick

Explanation:

In this sentence, the adjective “quick” describes the verb “remove.” An adverb would be more appropriate. The corrected sentence reads: Chad’s political views took an abrupt swing to the left, and he had to find a way to remove bumper stickers quickly.

Example Question #446 : 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.

Brayden carried the basket from the coop to the house careful and slow, mindful not to break any of the eggs within itNo error

Possible Answers:

it

No error

carried

of the eggs

careful and slow

Correct answer:

careful and slow

Explanation:

the words "careful and slow" are describing the verb "carried," and so should be adverbs instead of adjectives. The correction would be "carefully and slowly."

Example Question #445 : 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.

I could never distinguish between the two Johnson twins, and their mother did not help matters by dressing them similar.

Possible Answers:

similar

and

No error

between

did not help

Correct answer:

similar

Explanation:

In this sentence, the adjective “similar” modifies the verb “dressing.” As adjectives can only modify nouns and pronouns, an adverb should be used instead. The corrected sentence reads, "I could never distinguish between the two Johnson twins, and their mother did not help matters by dressing them similarly."

Example Question #448 : 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.

Playing a brass or woodwind instrument good requires one to have good postureNo error

Possible Answers:

good

a brass or woodwind instrument

good posture

No error

requires one

Correct answer:

good

Explanation:

In this sentence, the first "good" (in "Playing a brass or woodwind instrument good") is incorrect; "good" is an adjective, and this "good" is used to describe the way in which one plays a brass or woodwind instrument, so it needs to be changed to "well," which is an adverb, because adjectives cannot describe verbs, but adverbs can.

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