SAT Writing : Correcting Phrase, Clause, and Sentence Errors
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Example Questions
Example Question #2033 : Act English
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.
Publically, the school admitted no wrongdoing, secretly was investigating the accusations.
secretly investigate
but secretly, it was investigating
secretly, was investigating
secretly investigated
but investigate secretly
but secretly, it was investigating
The construction of the sentence means the second phrase, featuring the underlined portion, needs to draw a contrast with the opening clause. The correct answer must have a conjunction to separate the two parts, and still show the school's actions. Thus, "but secretly, it was investigating" is the best choice among the answers.
Example Question #141 : Correcting 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.
Although Vladimir Nabokov, who is best known for his novels, he also published numerous scientific articles about butterflies.
Nabokov wrote novels for which he is best known, he
Nabokov, who is best known for his novels, he
Nabokov, whose novels are best known, he
Nabokov’s novels are what is best known, he
Nabokov is best known for his novels, he
Nabokov is best known for his novels, he
The initial sentence contains an incomplete thought. The correct answer is by far the most direct, concise, and complete.
Example Question #31 : Correcting Sentence Fragment And Sentence Combination 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.
Philosophers believe their musings are deeply valuable to the public but they often put them in such complicated language they are hard to understand.
to the public and they often
to the public, but they often
to the public but they often
to the public they often
to the public, they often
to the public, but they often
The sentence is written as a compound sentence, one that joins two complete thoughts together to show the relationship between them. A compound sentence always needs to be joined either by a comma and a conjunction or a semicolon. "[T]o the public, but they often" is the only answer choice that does this appropriately.
Example Question #142 : Correcting 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.
The administrators no longer wanted to listen to the protestors, they were tired of hearing their demands.
The administrators no longer wanted to listen to the protestors (they were tired of hearing their demands).
The administrators no longer wanted to listen to the protestors, so they were tired of hearing their demands.
The administrators no longer wanted to listen to the protestors, but they were tired of hearing their demands.
The administrators no longer wanted to listen to the protestors; they were tired of hearing their demands.
The administrators no longer wanted to listen to the protestors they were tired of hearing their demands.
The administrators no longer wanted to listen to the protestors; they were tired of hearing their demands.
The sentence in question contains a comma splice, or two independent clauses connected by a comma. Independent clauses should be connected using a semicolon or a comma followed by a conjunction. We can ignore the answer choice that uses a parenthetical to enclose the second clause because it does not use a semicolon or a comma followed by a conjunction, and the resulting sentence is awkward. While "protestors, but they" and "protestor, so they" each employ a comma followed by a conjunction, the word "but" sets the two clauses in opposition to one another, which is not an accurate representation of the sentence's content, and the word "so" introduces a cause-and-effect relationship between the two clauses that does not work with the sentence's content either. So, the best answer choice is "protestors; they."
Example Question #32 : Correcting Sentence Fragment And Sentence Combination 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.
The quetzal is a tropical bird that is famous for its vivid plumage it is also important in Mayan mythology.
The quetzal is a tropical bird that is famous for its vivid plumage it was also important in Mayan mythology.
The quetzal is a tropical bird that is famous for its vivid plumage; it is also important in Mayan mythology.
The quetzal is—a tropical bird that is famous for its vivid plumage—it is also important in Mayan mythology.
The quetzal is a tropical bird that is famous for its vivid plumage, it is also important in Mayan mythology.
The quetzal, is a tropical bird, that is famous for its vivid plumage it is also important in Mayan mythology.
The quetzal is a tropical bird that is famous for its vivid plumage; it is also important in Mayan mythology.
This sentence is a run-on sentence because it contains two independent clauses, "The quetzal is a tropical bird that is famous for its vivid plumage" and "it is also important in Mayan mythology." To correctly connect these two sentences, you can use a semicolon or a comma followed by a conjunction. (Writing the independent clauses as two separate sentences would also be a way to correct the error.) The only answer choice that correctly uses one of these methods is "The quetzal is a tropical bird that is famous for its vivid plumage; it is also important in Mayan mythology."
Example Question #33 : Correcting Sentence Fragment And Sentence Combination 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.
He was a renowned scientist, many students that studied with him.
and many students studied with him.
and many students would study with.
many students for to study with him.
and would many students study with him.
many students that studied with him.
and many students studied with him.
A sentence with two independent clauses must have both clauses be able to stand as complete sentences, and be connected to each other in meaning through a conjunction. "And many students studied with him," is the only choice that fits those parameters.
Example Question #1102 : Improving Sentences
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.
Published in 1926, The Weary Blues was the first book written by poet Langston Hughes; and even today, it is widely regarded as one of the most influential works in American history.
written by poet Langston Hughes; and even today, it is widely regarded to be one of the most influential works
written by poet Langston Hughes; and even today, it is widely regarded as one of the most influential works
written by poet Langston Hughes, and even today, it is widely regarded as one of the most influential works
written by poet Langston Hughes, even today, it is widely regarded as one of the most influential works
written by poet Langston Hughes, it is widely regarded, even today, as one of the most influential works
written by poet Langston Hughes, and even today, it is widely regarded as one of the most influential works
The answer choice "written by poet Langston Hughes, and even today, it is widely regarded as one of the most influential works" is correct because it results in a sentence in which two independent clauses are separated by a conjunction followed by a comma.
The original text and answer choice "written by poet Langston Hughes; and even today, it is widely regarded to be one of the most influential works" uses a semicolon incorrectly. Sentences can be combined with a comma followed by a conjunction or with a semicolon, but not with a semicolon followed by a conjunction.
The answer choices "written by poet Langston Hughes, even today, it is widely regarded as one of the most influential works" and "written by poet Langston Hughes, it is widely regarded, even today, as one of the most influential works" create run-on sentences and are therefore incorrect.
Example Question #34 : Correcting Sentence Fragment And Sentence Combination 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.
The neighbor down the street who spent months caring for his lawn only to see it destroyed by the storm.
The neighbor down the street he spent months caring for his lawn only to see it destroyed by the storm.
The neighbor down the street spent months caring for his lawn only to see it destroyed by the storm.
The neighbor down the street who spent months caring for his lawn only to see it destroyed by the storm.
The neighbor down the street, who spent months caring for his lawn only to see it destroyed by the storm.
The neighbor down the street, spent months caring for his lawn only to see it destroyed by the storm.
The neighbor down the street spent months caring for his lawn only to see it destroyed by the storm.
"Who" in the original sentence is used as a relative pronoun, meaning everything in that following clause is part of a relative clause. As such, the original sentence has no predicate to accompany the subject—it is a fragment. Removing "who" gets rid of the relative pronoun, and "spent" can be used appropriately as the main verb of the sentence.
Example Question #41 : Sentence Fragment And Sentence Combination 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.
Weddings have become big business in recent years, vendors finding their profits increasing with each event.
vendors finding their profits increasing with each event.
vendors finding profits increasing with each event.
with vendors finding their profits increasing with each event.
vendors finding there profits increasing with each event.
vendors find their profits increasing with each event.
with vendors finding their profits increasing with each event.
The underlined portion of the sentence stands oddly next to the preceding phrase, as it is in no way connected to the preceding phrase. The phrase needs to be changed so that it appropriately links with the first part of the sentence. "With vendors finding their profits increasing with each event" is the correct answer choice.
Example Question #141 : Correcting 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 repeats the underlined portion as it is written.
However many people attend a music festival, promoters will always want to attend more people.
people want to attend more
want more people to attend
want to attend people more
want to attend more people
want attend more people
want more people to attend
The underlined portion of the sentence is awkwardly and confusingly worded, especially as concerns verb transitivity. The way the sentence is written makes it seem as if the promoters want to attend more people instead of them wanting more people to attend any given music festival. To make the sentence clear and sensible, the words can be rearranged to make it more understandable. "Want more people to attend" is the best choice among the answers.
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