SAT Writing : Identifying Sentence Errors
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Example Question #691 : 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.
Alyssa asked all of her friends to become a member of the new intramural volleyball team, even though some of them were not good athletes. No error
a member
even though
were
No error
all of
a member
The correct answer is "a member." Because Alyssa is asking "her friends," which is plural, the corresponding noun should also be plural—"members" instead of "member."
Example Question #692 : 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.
Elena, Laura, and May want to go to the movie theater, but they don't have enough money to buy a ticket. No error
movie theater, but
enough
Elena, Laura, and May
No error
a ticket
a ticket
Since the sentence uses a compound subject—"Elena, Laura, and May" —the corresponding noun of "ticket" should be plural, since the three girls will need multiple tickets.
Example Question #693 : 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.
Many people have great ideas, but without plans those ideas are just a harmless notion. No error
a harmless notion
people
No error
but
plans
a harmless notion
Because the plural "ideas" and the singular "a dream" have the same referent, both should be either singular or plural. Therefore, the best way to correct this sentence is to pluralize "a harmless notion."
Example Question #694 : 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.
All of the farmer's chickens proved to be an excellent producer of eggs; he made quite a large profit due to their productivity. No error
No error
due to their productivity
proved
eggs; he
All of the
All of the
"All of the" is inconsistent with the rest of that sentence, specifically "an excellent producer." These two nouns must agree in number, but they do not here. "All" should be changed to "Each" in order to maintain agreement with "an excellent producer," and the corrected sentence would read: "Each of the farmer's chickens proved to be an excellent producer..."
Example Question #695 : 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.
Reading, writing, and arithmetic are essential skill to learn in elementary school. No error
are
No error
in elementary school
skill
and
skill
There is a discrepancy in the agreement of nouns in this sentence. "Reading, writing and arithmetic" require the plural form of "skill," "skills." Multiple subjects require a plural predicate to match their form. "Reading, writing, and arithmetic" are not being discussed as a unified group (which is an exception requiring a singular predicate), so the agreement must be plural, because several subjects are being discussed.
Example Question #696 : 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.
Passionate about computers, Kevin and Roy decided to become a software engineer and start a company in their hometown. No error
in their hometown
a software engineer
decided to
Passionate about computers
No error
a software engineer
The phrase "a software engineer" is incorrect because there are two subjects in the sentence. The subject is plural, so the phrase must also be plural. The correct phrase would be "software engineers."
Example Question #697 : 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.
Watching the Olympic 5000m final, Bob was amazed at the runners' combination of endurance and running quickly. No error
runners'
Watching the Olympic 500m final
running quickly
No error
was amazed
running quickly
The phrase "running quickly" does not have parallel structure with "endurance." In order for this sentence to be correct, and for the structure to be correctly parallel, the "runners' combination" must either be two traits, like "endurance and fortitude," or two verbs in the same tense.
Example Question #698 : Identifying Sentence 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.
The five best friends all vowed to become a great lawyer when they got older. NO ERROR
older.
The five
vowed
NO ERROR
a great lawyer
a great lawyer
"The five best friends" are plural at the beginning of the sentence, we know that while each of them individually might become "a great lawyer" as a group, they would be vowing to become "great lawyers." As such, that part of the sentence should be corrected.
Example Question #699 : 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.
After Emily picked out a dress, tights, and a pair of shoes in the newly opened store, she paid for it at the counter. No error
it
newly opened
picked out
a pair of shoes
No error
it
This question is looking for agreement between the nouns in the sentence—"a dress, tights, and a pair of shoes" and "it." Since Emily is buying multiple items, "a dress, tights, and a pair of shoes" is plural and the corresponding noun of "it" should be as well. "It" is singular and therefore incorrect; the second half of the sentence should be fixed to "she paid for them at the counter."
Example Question #700 : Identifying Sentence Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences may contain no error at all.
Most bears have really large claw and can climb trees at extremely well. No error
Most
No error
climb
extremely
claw
claw
The "bears" (plural), many of them, have more than one claw each. "Claw" must be replaced with the singular "claw."
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