SAT Writing : Improving and Correcting Sentences
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Example Questions
Example Question #64 : Correcting Grammatical Errors In A Sentence Fragment
1 While maybe he wasn’t as well known as Bluebeard or Captain Kidd, Bill Johnston was still known as a feared pirate and river smuggler in his day.2 That day being the War of 1812. 3 You see, he came from a British Loyalist family and settled in Upper Canada before beginning a career as a Lake Ontario schooner captain, he carried legal cargo as well as smuggled tea and rum into Canada. 4 When the War of 1812 began he spied on the British for several years. 5 In 1838, his most famous escapade occurred: in the capture and burning of the enemy ship Sir Robert Peel. 6 Because Johnston was arrested many times during his life (including for this crime against the Sir Robert Peel), he always either escaped jail or was not convicted because of juries sympathetic view of his activities. 7 Many people do not know that another name for pirate is “corsair.” 8 Nevertheless, Johnston played many roles in his lifetime – everything from fugitive and corsair, criminal and hero.
In Sentence 8, what punctuation mark could not stand replace the em dash ( – )?
Colon
Comma
Semicolon
All of these punctuation marks could be used.
Em dash
Semicolon
Here, a colon, comma, and em dash would all be correct to separate the independent clause from the additional information at the end of the sentence. Because this end of the sentence is not another independent clause, however, the semicolon would not be correct.
Example Question #71 : Correcting Grammatical Errors In A Sentence Fragment
1 No one wants to live in the swamp. 2 But swamps are an incredibly important part of the Earth’s ecosystem. 3 They are defined as forested wetlands and can be found from Africa and Asia and in Europe and the Americas. 4 In fact: the only continent to not contained swamps is Antarctica. 5 Because swamps are rarely arid, meaning able to be farmed, and because it usually is not conducive to hunting, they are undervalued by human society. 6 In swamps, a portion of dry land that protects from the water is known as a “hammock.” 7 Moreover, swamps are actually integrity to our world, providing clean water and oxygen for people as well as breeding grounds for animals big and small.
In Sentence 4, what punctuation mark should replace the colon?
Semicolon
Hyphen
Question mark
It should not be replaced
Comma
Comma
Generally, we only use a colon if the part of the sentence preceding it is an independent clause. A comma would correctly separate this introductory phrase from the rest of its sentence.
Example Question #92 : Rewriting A Sentence Fragment
1 No one wants to live in the swamp. 2 But swamps are an incredibly important part of the Earth’s ecosystem. 3 They are defined as forested wetlands and can be found from Africa and Asia and in Europe and the Americas. 4 In fact: the only continent to not contained swamps is Antarctica. 5 Because swamps are rarely arid, meaning able to be farmed, and because it usually is not conducive to hunting, they are undervalued by human society. 6 In swamps, a portion of dry land that protects from the water is known as a “hammock.” 7 Moreover, swamps are actually integrity to our world, providing clean water and oxygen for people as well as breeding grounds for animals big and small.
How should the underlined portion of Sentence 3 be rewritten?
found from Africa and Asia and in Europe and the Americas. (no change)
found from Africa and Asia, and into Europe and the Americas.
found from Africa and Asia to Europe and the Americas.
found from Africa and Asia, to Europe and the Americas.
found in Africa and Asia, to Europe and the Americas.
found from Africa and Asia to Europe and the Americas.
We could rewrite this kind of phrase in two ways: either “found from __________ to __________” or “found in __________ and in __________.” Combining the two, however, will not work.
Example Question #72 : Correcting Grammatical Errors In A Sentence Fragment
1 Many people have an imminent dislike of crows, few know much at all about the bird. 2 “Crow” actually refers to a genus not a species that includes jackdaws, ravens, rooks and other birds. 3 Their dark color, striated cries, and appearance in horror movies all make it seem very omnivorous. 4 The truth about this genus is that the birds in it are incredibly intelligent – often nearly so as some apes. 5 Appearing on all continents except South America and Antarctica. 6 These perspicacious birds were once thought to predict the future, including weather and war plans. 7 Today, they are used for scientific research, hunting, or even being kept as pets.
How should the underlined portion of Sentence 4 be rewritten?
often nearly so as some apes. (no change)
often much so as intelligent apes.
often, nearly so intelligent as much apes.
often nearly so much so as some apes.
often nearly as intelligent as some apes.
often nearly as intelligent as some apes.
To improve the flow and clarity of the sentence, we need to add the adjective (“intelligent”) back into the comparison.
Example Question #73 : Correcting Grammatical Errors In A Sentence Fragment
1 Many people have an imminent dislike of crows, few know much at all about the bird. 2 “Crow” actually refers to a genus not a species that includes jackdaws, ravens, rooks and other birds. 3 Their dark color, striated cries, and appearance in horror movies all make it seem very omnivorous. 4 The truth about this genus is that the birds in it are incredibly intelligent – often nearly so as some apes. 5 Appearing on all continents except South America and Antarctica. 6 These perspicacious birds were once thought to predict the future, including weather and war plans. 7 Today, they are used for scientific research, hunting, or even being kept as pets.
How should the underlined portion of Sentence 3 be rewritten?
all make them seem very omnivorous
all make it seem very omnivorous
all make it seem, very omnivorous
all makes it seem very omnivorous
all makes them seem, very omnivorous
all make them seem very omnivorous
In order to be grammatically correct, we need to make sure all our pronouns agree. Since the beginning of the sentence uses the plural pronoun “they,” we should use the corresponding pronoun “them” here.
Example Question #74 : Correcting Grammatical Errors In A Sentence Fragment
1 One of America’s most inflammatory early disasters, the Johnstown Flood. 2 It was occurring in 1889 after the collapse of the South Fork Dam in Johnstown, Pennsylvania. 3 Heavy rainfall invigorated a reservoir upriver, causing the dam to burst and more than 20 million tons of water pouring down the Conemaugh River. 4 The Johnstown Flood has been immortalized in poems, novels, songs, and films. 5 The committal flood killed more than 2,000 people and it required the attention of the American Red Cross, Clara Barton, and various lawsuits. 6 Compounding the disaster was the Stone Bridge, causing a fire that killed at least 80 people when burning debris caught fire. 7 Later people would fault the rich business tycoons who had weakened the reservoir for their own leisure, building cottages and a spillway along the dam to create the swarthy South Fork Fishing and Hunting Club.8 Nearly $4 million would be donated to relief funds, for Pennsylvanians the true horror never preceded.
How should the underlined portion of Sentence 5 be rewritten?
and it required the attention of the (no change)
and requiring the attention of the
and, requiring the attention of the
and, required the attention of the
and required the attention of the
and required the attention of the
Because there is no comma before this conjunction (“and”), we know that the part of the sentence following the conjunction must not be an independent clause. We must remove the subject (“it”) in order to keep it from being an independent clause. No comma is necessary after the conjunction.
Example Question #95 : Rewriting A Sentence Fragment
1 One of America’s most inflammatory early disasters, the Johnstown Flood. 2 It was occurring in 1889 after the collapse of the South Fork Dam in Johnstown, Pennsylvania. 3 Heavy rainfall invigorated a reservoir upriver, causing the dam to burst and more than 20 million tons of water pouring down the Conemaugh River. 4 The Johnstown Flood has been immortalized in poems, novels, songs, and films. 5 The committal flood killed more than 2,000 people and it required the attention of the American Red Cross, Clara Barton, and various lawsuits. 6 Compounding the disaster was the Stone Bridge, causing a fire that killed at least 80 people when burning debris caught fire. 7 Later people would fault the rich business tycoons who had weakened the reservoir for their own leisure, building cottages and a spillway along the dam to create the swarthy South Fork Fishing and Hunting Club.8 Nearly $4 million would be donated to relief funds, for Pennsylvanians the true horror never preceded.
How should the underlined portion of Sentence 3 be rewritten?
causing the dam to burst and more than 20 million tons of water poured down the Conemaugh River
causing the dam to burst and more than 20 million tons of water pouring down the Conemaugh River (no change)
causing the dam to burst and more than 20 million tons of water to pour down the Conemaugh River
causing the dam to burst, more than 20 million tons of water poured down the Conemaugh River
causing the dam to burst and more than 20 million tons of water came pouring down the Conemaugh River
causing the dam to burst and more than 20 million tons of water to pour down the Conemaugh River
In order to create proper parallelism, we must change “pouring” to “to pour” so that it matches the form of “to burst.”
Example Question #74 : Correcting Grammatical Errors In A Sentence Fragment
1 Many cultures have a tradition of mythical creatures.2 Some malicious, others benefactors, with a variety of powers and special attributes. 3 The ancient Greeks had centaurs and harpies, the Assyrians had mermaids, and the German elves. 4 These creatures remain prevaricate today, to appear in fantasy novels, movies, and even university courses.
How should the underlined portion of Sentence 3 be rewritten?
the Assyrians had mermaids, and the German’s elves.
the Assyrians had mermaids, and the German elves. (no change)
the Assyrians had mermaids; the Germans, elves.
the Assyrians had mermaids, and the Germans had elves.
the Assyrians had mermaids; and the German elves.
the Assyrians had mermaids, and the Germans had elves.
In order to maintain parallelism in this list, we need to add a verb to “the German elves.”
Example Question #75 : Correcting Grammatical Errors In A Sentence Fragment
1 Old fashioned candy also known as penny candy or pick ‘n’ mix was once sold in bulk at soda fountains and five-and-dime stores across the United States and England. 2 Penny candy includes many varieties of convections. 3 These varieties, such as lollipops, string licorice, ribbon candy, jelly beans, chocolate coins, taffy, wax lips, sour balls, and candy cigarettes and necklaces. 4 Many people think fondly on their childhood candy stores with wistfulness.
How should the underlined portion of Sentence 1 be rewritten?
Old fashioned candy, also known as penny candy, or,
Old fashioned candy also known as penny candy, or
Old fashioned candy also known as penny candy or,
Old fashioned candy, also known as penny candy, or
Old fashioned candy also known as penny candy or (no change)
Old fashioned candy, also known as penny candy, or
The phrase “also known as penny candy” is a parenthetical clause that must be separated from the rest of the sentence with a comma on each side. Grammatically speaking the sentence could read: "Old fashioned candy or pick 'n' mix was once sold..."
Example Question #98 : Rewriting A Sentence Fragment
1 Old fashioned candy also known as penny candy or pick ‘n’ mix was once sold in bulk at soda fountains and five-and-dime stores across the United States and England. 2 Penny candy includes many varieties of convections. 3 These varieties, such as lollipops, string licorice, ribbon candy, jelly beans, chocolate coins, taffy, wax lips, sour balls, and candy cigarettes and necklaces. 4 Many people think fondly on their childhood candy stores with wistfulness.
How should the underlined portion of Sentence 1 be rewritten?
was once sold in bulk, at soda fountains and five-and-dime stores across the United States and England.
was once sold in bulk, at soda fountains, and five-and-dime stores across the United States and England.
was once sold in bulk at soda fountains and five-and-dime stores, across the United States and England.
was once sold in bulk at soda fountains, and five-and-dime stores, across the United States and England.
was once sold in bulk at soda fountains and five-and-dime stores across the United States and England. (no change)
was once sold in bulk at soda fountains and five-and-dime stores across the United States and England. (no change)
While long, this portion of the sentence contains no grammatical errors and requires no additional punctuation. All of the other answer options create, rather than resolve errors in this sentence.
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