SAT Writing : Correcting Other Errors and Recognizing No Errors

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for SAT Writing

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Example Questions

Example Question #21 : Recognizing Sentences That Contain No Errors

He hardly ever did anything to indulge himself.

Possible Answers:

 to indulge himself.

 to have indulged himself.

indulging himself.

 to indulge themselves.

 to indulge him.

Correct answer:

 to indulge himself.

Explanation:

The underlined portion of the sentence is actually perfectly grammatically correct. The infinitive verb form, "to indulge," and the referential pronoun, "myself," are the best choice in the sentence.

Example Question #22 : Recognizing Sentences That Contain No Errors

Few ever took the typically jovial boy seriously, which made it hard for him to be understood in the moment.

Possible Answers:

the typically jovial boy seriously

the typically jovial boy seriousness

the typical jovial boy seriously

the typically jovial boy of serious

typically jovial boy seriously

Correct answer:

the typically jovial boy seriously

Explanation:

The sentence is actually perfectly correct as it is written, and needs no changes to be made correct. Additionally, all the other answer choices are either incorrect grammatically or change the meaning of the sentence.

Example Question #21 : Correcting Other Errors And Recognizing No Errors

The massive effort to clean up the mess from the storm was a months long process.

Possible Answers:

to clean up the storm and mess

to cleanse up the mess from the storm

to clean up mess from storm

to cleaning up the mess from the storm

to clean up the mess from the storm

Correct answer:

to clean up the mess from the storm

Explanation:

While the underlined section of the sentence is rather wordy, and not perfectly stated, it is absolutely grammatically correct. More importantly, none of the other answer choices are grammatically correct. The best choice is to leave it as written.

Example Question #22 : Correcting Other Errors And Recognizing No Errors

Keeping track of the different machinations of the politician was a difficult job for the reporters assigned to the beat.

Possible Answers:

Keeping track of the different machinations of the politician

Keeping track of the difference machinations of the politician

Keeping track of the different machinations of the politician's

Keeping track of the machinations different for the politician

Keep track of the different machinations of the politician

Correct answer:

Keeping track of the different machinations of the politician

Explanation:

Although the sentence as written is a little too wordy, and could be slightly simplified, there is nothing inherently wrong grammatically. Overall, the best choice among the answers is to leave the sentence as written.

Example Question #23 : Correcting Other Errors And Recognizing No Errors

The boy was easily excitable, often getting so amped up he would harm himself.

Possible Answers:

The boy was easily excitable often getting so amped up he would harm himself.

The boy was easily excitable, often getting so amped up he would harm himself.

The boy was easily excitably, often getting so amped up he would harm himself.

The boy, was easily excitable, often getting so amped up he would harm himself.

The boy was easily excitable, often getting so amped up he would harm him.

Correct answer:

The boy was easily excitable, often getting so amped up he would harm himself.

Explanation:

The sentence is perfectly correct as written, with appropriate comma usage, verb tenses, and appropriate use of the reflexive pronoun "himself." All the other choices actually make the sentence grammatically incorrect in one way or another.

Example Question #26 : Recognizing Sentences That Contain No Errors

With each passing year, the memories of her grew less and less emotional.

Possible Answers:

With each passing year, the memories of her grew lesser emotional.

With each passing year the memories of her grew less and less emotional.

With each passing year, the memories of her grew less and less emotional.

With each passing year, the memories of her grew less and less emotion.

With each passing year, the memories of herself grew less and less emotional.

Correct answer:

With each passing year, the memories of her grew less and less emotional.

Explanation:

The sentence is absolutely correct as written, with appropriate comma, pronoun, and word usage. All answer choices that do change some element of the sentence actually make the sentence grammatically incorrect.

Example Question #24 : Correcting Other Errors And Recognizing No Errors

Journalists had complained about the group's stonewalling over the issue for years.

Possible Answers:

Journalists had complained about the group is stonewalling over the issue for years.

Journalist's had complained about the group's stonewalling over the issue for years.

Journalists had complained about the group's stonewalled over the issue for years.

Journalists had complained about the group's stonewalling over the issue for years.

Journalists having complained about the group's stonewalling over the issue for years.

Correct answer:

Journalists had complained about the group's stonewalling over the issue for years.

Explanation:

The sentence is absolutely correct as written, with no issues in it whatsoever. Additionally, all the other answer choices make the sentence grammatically incorrect in one way or another. The correct answer choice is to leave the sentence as it is.

Example Question #25 : Correcting Other Errors And Recognizing No Errors

For the married people, the organization held separate meetings from the main group's gatherings.

Possible Answers:

For the married people the organization held separate meetings from the main group's gatherings.

For the married people, the organization held separate meetings from the main group's gatherings.

For the married people, the organization held separate meetings from the main groups gatherings.

For the married people, the organization held separate meetings from the main group's gathering's.

 For the married people, the organization held separate meetings for the main group's gatherings.

Correct answer:

For the married people, the organization held separate meetings from the main group's gatherings.

Explanation:

The sentence is perfectly correct as it is written in the question. Additionally, every single change made in the answer choices makes the sentence grammatically incorrect in some way. The best choice is to leave the sentence as is.

Example Question #26 : Correcting Other Errors And Recognizing No Errors

Such large deficits are rarely made up by a team at this point in the season.

Possible Answers:

Such large deficits being rarely made up by a team at this point in the season.

Such large deficits is rarely made up by a team at this point in the season.

Such large deficits are rarely made up by a team at this point in a season.

Such large deficits are rarely made up by a team at this point in the season.

Such large deficits are rarely made up by a team, at this point in the season.

Correct answer:

Such large deficits are rarely made up by a team at this point in the season.

Explanation:

The sentence is perfectly correct as written, and needs no improvements made to it. Additionally, the other answer choices that do change some aspect of the sentence make it grammatically incorrect.

Example Question #27 : Correcting Other Errors And Recognizing No Errors

Professional journalists have to be extremely conscious of professional ethics at all times in their work.

Possible Answers:

Professional journalists having to be extremely conscious of professional ethics at all times in their work.

Professional journalists have being extremely conscious of professional ethics at all times in their work.

Professional journalists have to be extremely conscious of professional ethics at all times, in their work.

Professional journalists have to be extremely conscious for professional ethics at all times in their work.

Professional journalists have to be extremely conscious of professional ethics at all times in their work.

Correct answer:

Professional journalists have to be extremely conscious of professional ethics at all times in their work.

Explanation:

The sentence is perfectly correct as written and needs no changes to make it more grammatically correct. Additionally, all of the other answer choices make the sentence problematic grammatically. The best answer choice is to leave the sentence as it is written.

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