SAT Writing : Identifying Verb Errors
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Example Questions
Example Question #11 : Identifying Verb Tense Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Earlier this morning, I was walking to the bus station, when I suddenly was realizing that I forgot my bus pass, so I had to go home to retrieve it. No error
had to go
forgot
was walking
No error
was realizing
was realizing
"Was realizing" is grammatically incorrect and awkward. "Was realizing" implies a gradual process of realizing, when this is not the case; we can especially tell that this is true because of the sentence's use of "suddenly," which suggests a definite, one-time action in the past, not something that happened over time. So, to correct the sentence's error, the past progressive verb "was realizing" should be changed to the simple past tense verb "realized."
Example Question #291 : 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.
Prior to accepting the post of head developer in London, Mrs. Reynolds has been spending time in France. No error
has been spending
Prior to
of
accepting
No error
has been spending
The verb "has been spending" does not work with the timeline of the sentence because Mrs. Reynolds is no longer in France. The verb should be a past participle instead. Changing "has been spending" to "had been spending" corrects the sentence's error. The corrected sentence reads, "Prior to accepting the post of head developer, Mrs. Reynolds had been spending time in France."
Example Question #111 : Identifying Usage Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Margaret carried her dog, which was often clad in a pink and white argyle sweater, everywhere she goes. No error
often
clad
she goes
pink and white argyle sweater
No error
she goes
The first part of the sentence is in the past tense ("carried"), but the second is in the present ("goes"). These should be kept consistent. Changing "goes" to "went" corrects the sentence's error. The corrected sentence reads, "Margaret carried her dog, which was often clad in a pink and white argyle sweater, everywhere she went."
Example Question #361 : 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 man peered around the corner, checked to see if the coast was clear. No error
if
corner, checked
No error
peered
was
corner, checked
The verb "checked" is written in the simple past tense, and the following phrase is not coordinated correctly with the rest of the sentence. This can be fixed by turning it into a gerund: "The man peered around the corner, checking to see if the coast was clear."
Example Question #163 : Identifying Word Usage Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
As he resigned himself to eating instant noodles for the rest of the month, Alex thinks longingly of prime rib. No error
himself
for the rest of
thinks
No error
of
thinks
This sentence switches tense from past ("as he resigned") to present ("thinks") in the middle of the sentence. In the logical timeline of events, these should both be in the past: "As he resigned himself to eating instant noodles for the rest of the month, Alex thought longingly of prime rib."
Example Question #362 : 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.
Jose did not understand how a lecture on sea turtles is relevant to a course on the politics of the Middle East. No error
how
No error
lecture on
relevant to
is
is
This sentence uses inconsistent verb tenses. It starts out in the past ("did not understand") and switches to the present ("is relevant"). Changing "is" to "was" corrects the sentence's error. The corrected sentence reads, "Jose did not understand how a lecture on sea turtles was relevant to a course on Middle-Eastern politics."
Example Question #363 : 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.
Testing the new model rocket would not be possible since it was being a rainy day. No error
Testing
was being
No error
since
would not
was being
The second phrase of this sentence is needlessly in the progressive tense. It sounds clearer and more concise to put this in the simple past: "Testing the new model rocket would not be possible since it was a rainy day."
Example Question #364 : 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 his initial skepticism, Rory found the conference on urban chicken raising being fascinating, informative, and inspirational. No error
Despite
being
the conference on
and inspirational
No error
being
This sentence uses the wrong form of the verb “to be.” Since "being" follows another verb, "raising," it needs to be in the infintive form, "to be." The corrected sentence reads: "Despite his initial skepticism, Rory found the conference on urban chicken raising to be fascinating, informative, and inspirational."
Example Question #365 : 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 the canoe flipped over and the provisions were lost, the campers are declaring the trip a disaster. No error
the canoe
are declaring
lost
and
No error
are declaring
This sentence has a problem with verb tense. Since the first part of the sentence, "After the canoe flipped over and the provisions were lost," uses two past-tense verbs ("flipped" and "were"), the rest of the sentence needs to be in past tense too, since it is describing events that took place at the same time as those described earlier in the sentence. "Are declaring" is in the present progressive tense, so it contains the sentence's error. You could correct the sentence by changing "are declaring" to "declared," yielding the sentence, "After the canoe flipped over and the provisions were lost, the campers declared the trip a disaster."
Example Question #33 : Identifying Verb Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
It can be difficult to hear the approaching of cars running on electric engines. No error
approaching
to hear
No error
running on
It can be difficult
approaching
This sentence uses the gerund "approaching" when the noun "approach" already exists. Changing "approaching" to "approach" clarifies the sentence. The corrected sentence reads, "It can be difficult to hear the approach of cars running on electric engines."
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