SAT Writing : Identifying Agreement Errors

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for SAT Writing

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Example Questions

Example Question #2 : Identifying Modifier Word Modified Agreement Errors

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

Let's not get caught up in all this problems; we should solve them and move forward. No error

Possible Answers:

No error

forward

this

Let's not

we should

Correct answer:

this

Explanation:

The use of "this" needs to be plural since it refers to multiple problems: "these problems" would be correct.

Example Question #3 : Identifying Modifier Word Modified Agreement Errors

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

Jon's mother did not let him organize a garage sale for the family because she did not like the idea of strangers being able to peruse their many belongingNo error

Possible Answers:

idea of

for

belonging

No error

let him 

Correct answer:

belonging

Explanation:

Given that the descriptor "many" is used to describe "belonging," "belonging" should be plural. Therefore "belonging" should actually be "belongings."

Example Question #4 : Identifying Modifier Word Modified Agreement Errors

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

After learning that many experts believe that fear is a healthy evolutionary responses, he felt significantly less afraid of the dark. No error

Possible Answers:

No error

believe

less

responses

After learning

Correct answer:

responses

Explanation:

"Responses" is incorrect in this sentence as it is part of the phrase "a healthy evolutionary responses." The use of the singular indefinite article "a" means that the noun to which it refers has to be singular for the phrase to be grammatically correct. Changing "responses" to "response" would correct the sentence's error.

Example Question #3 : Identifying Modifier Word Modified Agreement Errors

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

Even though many people think of them as needy and time-consuming, a cat is actually a self-reliant and easygoing pet to own. No error

Possible Answers:

No Error

easygoing

is actually

them

many people

Correct answer:

them

Explanation:

In the above sentence, the plural pronoun "them" is incorrectly used to modify the singular antecedent "cat."

Example Question #5 : Identifying Modifier Word Modified Agreement Errors

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

Sarah didn't end up buying this pizza, but instead chose those pizza over there. No error

Possible Answers:

those

end up

No error

over there

this

Correct answer:

those

Explanation:

The sentence incorrectly uses the plural demonstrative pronoun "those" to modify the singular noun "pizza." Changing "those" to "that" would correct the sentence's error.

Example Question #111 : Identifying Agreement Errors

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

She runs very fast; sometimes it's quite uncanny. No error

Possible Answers:

fast

No error

it's

very

uncanny

Correct answer:

fast

Explanation:

In the example sentence, the word "fast" is used to describe how the subject of the sentence runs, and the word "very" is being used to modify this description. Therefore, it is correct should use an adverb (for instance swiftly or quickly) in place of "fast." Anytime the manner in which an action is performed is described it is correct to use an adverb, rather than a modified adjective (or any adjective at all). Adverbs describe some of the most important aspects of life, not merely the subject and the verb that subject did, but the way that thing was done.

Example Question #7 : Identifying Modifier Word Modified Agreement Errors

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

"That blond man is real suspicious," said John. No error

Possible Answers:

blond

No error

is

real

suspicious," said

Correct answer:

real

Explanation:

Here, the world "real" is being used to describe "the blonde man's" level of suspicion, and it seeks to do so by modifying the verb "is." Given that the word in question should be an adverb, you need to replace it with a word such as "really."

Example Question #3 : Identifying Modifier Word Modified Agreement Errors

The football coach took being fired really serious. No error

Possible Answers:

No error

The

coach

serious.

being

Correct answer:

serious.

Explanation:

In the sentence above, "serious" is intended to describe how the coach reacted to his firing, therefore "seriously" is required.

Example Question #8 : Identifying Modifier Word Modified Agreement 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 replacement referee is supposedly just as good as the regular Mr. Peterson, but I don't trust them. No error

Possible Answers:

replacement

as good as

No error

them.

is

Correct answer:

them.

Explanation:

In the example sentence, the plural pronoun "them" is used to incorrectly refer to the singular "replacement referee." To fix this sentence, "them" should be switched to "him."

Example Question #11 : Identifying Modifier Word Modified Agreement Errors

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

Although many think of them as incredibly fast, my cheetah runs less than half as fast as my pet falcon flies. No error

Possible Answers:

as fast as

No error

less than

my pet

them

Correct answer:

them

Explanation:

"A cheetah" is singular, which does not match with the pronoun "them" used to refer to the cheetah in the preceding clause.

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