SAT Writing : Correcting Word Usage Errors
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Example Questions
Example Question #1 : Correcting Verb Tense Errors
By the time Bobby and Elvis sat in their seats, the opposing team scored four touchdowns.
the scoring of four touchdowns by the opposing team happened
the opposing team had scored four touchdowns
the opposing team were scoring four touchdowns
the four touchdowns were scored by the opposing team
the opposing team scored four touchdowns
the opposing team had scored four touchdowns
This sentence contains two different past tense verbs: sat and scored. One verb was completed before the other (scored before sat); therefore, scored needs to be put in the past perfect tense: had scored.
Example Question #1 : Correcting Verb Tense Errors
Less than five people attend the event that took place six months ago.
attended
attends
attend
attending
attendance
attended
The underlined word in the sentence is in the incorrect tense for the sentence, best indicated by the fact the event "took place six months ago;" therefore, the sentence needs a past tense verb, so "attended" is the correct answer choice.
Example Question #1 : Correcting Verb Tense Errors
Musicians frequently discuss the ability to play without thinking, let the music flow right out of them.
lets music flow right out of them.
let the music flow right out of them.
letting the music flow right out of them.
let music flow out of them.
letting so that music flows right out of them.
letting the music flow right out of them.
The underlined portion of the sentence is a dependent clause, a complete thought that cannot stand alone, but is reliant on the other part of the sentence. A dependent clause cannot have an active verb form, as it has no connection to the previous portion of the sentence. "Letting the music flow right out of them" is the answer choice that best solves this issue.
Example Question #1 : Correcting Verb Tense Errors
Unbeknownst to her colleagues, she was suffered from a serious illness.
she was suffered from
she was suffering from
she suffering from
she being suffering from
she had been suffered from
she was suffering from
The use of the past tense verb "suffered" is incorrect in this construction. Being paired with "was," the verb needs to become a gerund, a verb from that can function as a noun. "She was suffering from" is the only answer choice that correctly uses the gerund form.
Example Question #1 : Correcting Verb Tense Errors
The old path worn out, to the point that no vegetation would grow on it.
wearing out
worn out
worn around
was worn out
worn through
was worn out
The use of the verb phrase "worn out" is incorrect, as the past tense verb "worn" coupled with the preposition "out" is actually used as an adverb to describe the path. The sentence can be made correct by adding a form of the verb "to be," and "was worn out" is the only answer choice that does this.
Example Question #11 : Correcting Verb Tense Errors
In contrast to his father he had an impetuous streak that often got him into trouble.
In contrast to his father, he had
In contrast to his father he had
In contrast to his father he has
In contrast, to his father he had
In contrast, to his father, he had
In contrast to his father, he had
The phrase "In contrast to his father" is an introductory clause, which is not essential to the structure of the sentence but conditions its meaning. Introductory phrases must always be set apart from the rest of the sentence by a comma; therefore, "In contrast to his father, he had" is the correct answer choice.
Example Question #121 : Verb Formation Errors
Traffic problems have been plagued the city for decades.
have been plagued
have plague
have plagued
plaguing have been
have plaguing
have plagued
The use of "been" with the past tense verb "plagued" is awkward and incorrect in the sentence. Either the use of a form of "be" should be removed or the past tense should be changed; therefore "have plagued" is the correct answer choice.
Example Question #13 : Correcting Verb Tense Errors
The tallest boys on the team were always tasked with playing near the rim, no matter how skilled they are at the game.
no matter how skilled they having been at a game.
not mattering how skilled they are at the game.
no matter how skillful they are at the game.
no matter how skilled they are at the game.
no matter how skilled they were at the game.
no matter how skilled they were at the game.
The use of the verb "are," a present tense verb, to describe actions already placed in the past by the use of the verb "were" is confusing and improper. To correct this, the verbs should be made to match; therefore, the correct answer is "no matter how skilled they were at the game."
Example Question #121 : Verb Formation Errors
While the opposing army sleeps, the general had his troops take positions to make a surprise attack.
The opposing army slept,
While the opposing army sleeps,
While the opposing army slept,
While the opposing army sleeping,
The opposing army sleeps,
While the opposing army slept,
The non-underlined portion of the sentence uses a past tense verb, "took," to describe the general's actions; therefore, the verb in the underlined portion needs to paralllel the form of "took." The correct answer is "While the opposing army slept," as it is the only grammatically correct choice in the past tense.
Example Question #122 : Verb Formation Errors
The boys fighting every single day for the past three weeks.
The boys fighting, every single day for the past three weeks.
The boys fighting for every single day for the past three weeks.
The boys were fighting every single day for the past three weeks.
The boy's fighting every single day for the past three weeks.
The boys fighting every single day for the past three weeks.
The boys were fighting every single day for the past three weeks.
The use of "fighting," a participle form, in the sentence makes the sentence not have a proper verb. To be a functional verb, the participle must be used with some form of the verb "to be." The only answer choice that does this is "The boys were fighting every single day for the past three weeks."
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