SAT Writing : Identifying Sentence Errors
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Example Questions
Example Question #2711 : Sat Writing
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
The Statue of Liberty, perhaps the most recognizable symbol of American freedom, was actually constructed in France and given to the United States as a gift of friendship between the two nations. No error
a gift of friendship.
given to
was
Liberty, perhaps
No error
No error
There is no error in the sentence. Verb tenses are consistent for the timeline, and the descriptive—or interrupting—phrase is correctly separated by two commas.
Example Question #911 : 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.
One brave woman surreptitiously entered the aliens’ spaceship, hoping to discover their weaknesses and use the information to aid the defense. No error
No error
surreptitiously
brave
their weaknesses
hoping
No error
This sentence is correct as written.
Example Question #67 : Identifying Sentences That Contain No Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
One must not fault them for mistaking the date; it was, after all, leap year.
mistaking
One
No error
fault them for
it was
No error
This sentence is correct as written.
Example Question #912 : 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.
Though not Oscar-worthy fare, the silly comedy about a simian baseball player managed to make me and him laugh.
a simian
managed to
me and him
Though not
No error
No error
Young children often misuse "me" as the subject of a sentence ("Can me and Timmy watch a movie?"); however, sometimes we can be corrected for making this mistake so many times that we grow to fear using the word "me" at all—even when it's properly the object of a clause! In this sentence, the phrase "make me and him laugh" may sound funny, but it correct. "Comedy" is the subject, "make . . . laugh" the verbal phrase, and "me and him" is the object, so we use the object forms of the pronouns.
Example Question #69 : Identifying Sentences That Contain No 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. One of the answer choices reproduces the underlined portion as it is written in the sentence.
With excitement sparkling behind the tears in her eyes, Mary announced that her poodle, the pride and joy of her life, had just won the regional dog show.
announced
No error
had just won
behind
eyes, Mary
No error
This sentence is correct as written. “Behind” is the appropriate use of a preposition, the comma between “eyes” and “Mary” is grammatical, “announced” is a verb in the correct tense, and “had just won” is an appropriate combination of verb and adverb.
Example Question #111 : Psat Writing Skills
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Experts agree that one's likelihood of developing heart disease is proportionate to the amount of cholesterol one ingests in one's food. No error
developing
ingests
one's
proportionate
No error
No error
There are no mistakes in this sentence.
Example Question #94 : Identifying Other Errors Or No Error
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Spinning around to face the intruder, Jack stifled a cry of recognition. No error
a cry of recognition
Spinning
to face
No error
stifled
No error
This sentence is correct as written! "Spinning", "to face," and "stifled" are all the correct forms of the verbs, and "a cry of recognition" is a well-formed noun phrase.
Example Question #2712 : Sat Writing
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Although I already bought tickets to the upcoming football game, I suddenly fell ill this afternoon, and will have to miss the game. No error
suddenly fell ill
Although
No error
will have to
bought
No error
This sentence correctly uses verb tenses. The speaker describes previously purchasing tickets, and "bought" correctly conveys that event as taking place in the past. In the present, the speaker gets sick, which "suddenly fell ill" indicates. Finally, the speaker states he or she will have to miss the game in the future, as "will have to" correctly conveys.
Example Question #72 : Identifying No Errors Or Other Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
My family has had a long and storied history in this country, living off the land before eventually moving to the big city. No error
has had
off the land
storied
to the big city
No error
No error
Although "has had" may catch your eye because it is the same verb in two different tenses, it is actually correctly used in this sentence. Likewise, the word "storied" is being correctly used to modify the word "past"—although it may sound like a verb, "storied" is an adjective. There are actually no errors in this sentence.
Example Question #73 : Identifying No Errors Or Other Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Were it the case that the two political parties could set aside their differences, actual reforms would be sure to follow. No error
could set aside
Were it the case
reforms
their
No error
No error
Although it might sound odd, "Were it the case" is indeed grammatically correct; it is an inversion of the phrasing "If it were the case" in the subjunctive mood. Since the sentence refers to both political parties, it is appropriate to say "their" differences rather than "its" differences, since it is referring to both of them together rather than each separately. There are no grammatical problems in this sentence.
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