All SAT Writing Resources
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 good. No error
really good
No error
Despite
went
of
really good
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
he
complete
headed
laughed about it
No error
complete
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
they
was counting
graduation, and
painful
No error
painful
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.
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.
The little girl could never sit still for longer than five minutes.
"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
properly
raw
No error
uneven
while
uneven
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 side. No error
on the other side
in his determination
slow
No error
risking
slow
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 quick. No error
a way to
afterwards, he
took
quick
No error
quick
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 it. No error
it
No error
carried
of the eggs
careful and slow
careful and slow
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.
similar
and
No error
between
did not help
similar
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 posture. No error
good
a brass or woodwind instrument
good posture
No error
requires one
good
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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