SAT Writing : Correcting Phrase, Clause, and Sentence Errors
Study concepts, example questions & explanations for SAT Writing
All SAT Writing Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #91 : Phrase, Clause, And Sentence 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.
My mother begins each day by drinking coffee, watching the news, and plans the rest of her day.
watching the news, and planning the rest of her day.
watched the news, and planned the rest of her day.
watches the news, and planning the rest of her day.
watches the news, and plans the rest of her day.
watching the news, and plans the rest of her day.
watching the news, and planning the rest of her day.
The tense of all verbs must be parallel, and since the given verb “drinking” is a present participle, the only appropriate options are “watching” and “planning.”
You can therefore eliminate options in which "watch" and "plan" don't agree with each other, as well as options in which those verbs don't agree with "drinking." You are left only with "My mother begins each day by drinking coffee, watching the news, and planning the rest of her day," which is the correct answer.
Example Question #63 : Correcting Other Phrase, Clause, And Sentence 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.
When one compares the works of Edgar Degas to other Impressionist painters, one grasps the uniqueness of his brushstrokes.
When one compares the works of Edgar Degas to those of other Impressionist painters, one grasps the uniqueness of his brushstrokes.
When one compares the works of Edgar Degas to other Impressionist painters, one grasps the uniqueness of his brushstrokes.
If one compares the works of Edgar Degas to other Impressionist painters, one grasps the uniqueness of his brushstrokes.
When one compares the works of Edgar Degas to the other Impressionist painters, one grasps the uniqueness of his brushstrokes.
When one compares the works of Edgar Degas to other Impressionist painters, one would grasp the uniqueness of his brushstrokes.
When one compares the works of Edgar Degas to those of other Impressionist painters, one grasps the uniqueness of his brushstrokes.
One cannot compare “works” to “painters.” One must compare the works of Degas to those of other painters.
Example Question #71 : Correcting Other Phrase, Clause, And Sentence 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.
Artistic ability is an inborn skill, but always needs to be developed to become a truly great artist.
Artistic ability is an inborn skill, but always needs to be developed, to become a truly great artist.
Artistic ability is an inborn skill, but always needs to be developed to become a truly great artist.
Artistic ability is an inborn skill, but always needs to be developed for someone to become a truly great artist.
Artistic ability is an inborn skill but always needs to be developed to become a truly great artist.
Artistic ability is an inborn skill, but always needing to be developed to become a truly great artist.
Artistic ability is an inborn skill, but always needs to be developed for someone to become a truly great artist.
The last phrase of the sentence is confusing, as it is unclear exactly who is becoming "a truly great artist." The sentence is best served by making it clear who can become the "truly great artist." The answer choice that best fixes the issue is "Artistic ability is an inborn skill, but always needs to be developed for someone to become a truly great artist."
Example Question #121 : Correcting Phrase, Clause, And Sentence Errors
Athletes frequently find the hardest period of their lives is when they can no longer perform the tasks they could as young.
they could be as young.
they could do young.
they could as young as they were.
they could as young.
they could when they were young.
they could when they were young.
The problem with the end of the sentence is that the underlined phrase has an unclear reference. "They could as young" does not have an obvious comparison being made. The answer choice "they could when they were young," is the best improvement on the sentence.
Example Question #71 : Correcting Parallel Structure Errors
Alexander held his intelligence in high regard, and so he believed that his grades should be higher than the other students in the class.
would have to be the highest among
should be higher
should be higher than those of
would necessitate being highest among
should cause his being higher
should be higher than those of
The initial sentence contains an illogical comparison. Her grades cannot be higher than the other students. They can only be higher than the grades of the other students. In this sentence, the pronoun those can stand in for grades.
Example Question #81 : Correcting Parallel Structure Errors
Select the best answer from the choices given.
Excited by the prospect of starting a yoga studio, Kim's first decision needed to be where she could rent mats and space.
Kim first had to decide where to rent mats and space.
Kim's first decision had to be regarding renting mats and space and where it would be.
Kim's first decision needed to be where she could rent mats and space.
Kim first had to decide where it was to rent mats and space.
renting mats and space had to be what Kim's first decision was about.
Kim first had to decide where to rent mats and space.
The participle "excited" modifies the subject of the main clause of the sentence, but it's still illogical to say that a decision is excited. The only logical subject is Kim, but "Kim first had to decide where it was to rent mats and space" is awkward and unidiomatic, so the best choice is "Kim first had to decide where to rent mats and space."
Example Question #82 : Correcting Parallel Structure 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 repeats the underlined portion as it is written.
Most animals have a less impressive sense of vision than humans did.
for humans.
than humans had.
than humans did.
from humans.
than humans.
than humans.
The underlined phrase functions as a comparison in the sentence, between humans and "most animals." Thus, the phrase needs to appropriately compare in the same manner as the other mention of the trait in the sentence. "Than humans" is the correct answer choice. The "did" is an extraneous verb that introduces an error by being in the past tense when the verb that appears prior to it in the sentence, "have," is in the present tense.
Example Question #101 : Other Phrase, Clause, And Sentence 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.
Thomas Jefferson was a lawyer in Virginia, a member of the House of Burgesses, and he wrote the Declaration of Independence.
and the writer of the Declaration of Independence.
and was the writer of the Declaration of Independence.
and writing the Declaration of Independence.
and he wrote the Declaration of Independence.
and the one who wrote the Declaration of Independence.
and the writer of the Declaration of Independence.
The correct answer best follows the laws of parallelism. Like “a lawyer” and “a member,” “the writer” is a noun preceded by an article.
Example Question #71 : Correcting Parallel Structure 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.
Neither hunting nor a trapped animal ensures a guaranteed succesful trip for an outdoorsman.
Neither hunting or a trapped animal ensures
Neither hunting nor a trapped animal ensured
Neither hunting nor a trapped animal ensures
Either hunting nor a trapped animal ensures
Neither hunting nor trapping an animal ensures
Neither hunting nor trapping an animal ensures
In any "Neither...nor" phrase, each element described must be of a similar nature, so the phrase is describing similar objects. The sentence has two dissimilar objects in the phrase as it is written. The only answer choice that has an appropriate parallel structure is "Neither hunting nor trapping an animal ensures."
Example Question #103 : Parallel Structure 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.
To alleviate stress, Margaret liked to bake chocolate cakes and swim laps but never to be practicing yoga.
more than to practice yoga.
rather than be practicing yoga.
but never to be practicing yoga.
and not to be practicing yoga.
rather than practice yoga.
rather than practice yoga.
The cleanest and most logical coordinator here is “rather than,” and the verb should be in the same grammatical format as the ones before it.
All SAT Writing Resources
