SAT Writing : Correcting Word Usage Errors
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Example Question #82 : Correcting Verb 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.
Coastal communities are hoping a mild winter makes summer arrive sooner, bring more tourists.
more tourists brought.
bring more tourists.
bring many tourists.
bringing more tourists.
more tourists bringing.
bringing more tourists.
The underlined portion of the sentence is a dependent clause that relies on the rest of the sentence for its meaning. As such, the verb form "bring" does not appropriately connect to the rest of the sentence. "Bringing more tourists, featuring the gerundive is the best answer choice.
Example Question #164 : Verb Formation 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.
American history littered with tales of prospective candidates who flopped in a Presidential election.
American history littered
American history is littered
American history is littering
American history litters
American history littering
American history is littered
The construction of the sentence makes it clear the "litter" is taking place throughout "American history." This means the verb should take the passive voice. "American history is littered" is therefore the correct answer choice.
Example Question #165 : Verb Formation 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.
Few people understand the depth of the deception from the Governor at the time.
Few persons understand
Few people understood
Fewer people understand
Few people understand
Few understand
Few people understood
The sentence describes what happened "at the time," or in the past; therefore, the verb usage must indicate the action taking place in the past, with a past tense verb. "Few people understood" is the correct answer choice.
Example Question #301 : Correcting Word Usage Errors
Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice 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.
David forgot that the popcorn was on the stove top and left it there for several minutes, burning the kernels severely and filled the room with a rather foul stench.
is filling
fills
filling
filled
he filled
filling
The progressive tense "filling" is correct here. This verb should be consistent with "burning," which precedes it in the list. Always think of descriptions of actions as scenes, and assess the logical viability of the scene painted (with grammar!). In this case, it doesn't really make sense that you would be "burning" the kernels but have "filled" the room with an odor since these two things occurred at the same time.
Example Question #302 : Correcting Word Usage Errors
Making things more difficult, the boy deciding to throw a tantrum right after his brother threw one.
the boy deciding to throw a tantrum
the boy deciding throwing a tantrum
the boy's decision to throw a tantrum
the boy deciding to throwing a tantrum
the boy decided to throw a tantrum
the boy decided to throw a tantrum
The underlined phrase contains an incorrect verb form. The present participle "deciding" describes an action taking place, and does not make a complete sentence. The correct answer is "the boy decided to throw a tantrum," using the past tense form.
Example Question #2 : Correcting Verb Mood 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.
Victory is the ultimate goal of any general, but too precise a focus can clouds a leader's judgement.
can cloud a leader's judgement.
can clouds leader's judgement.
can cloud a leaders judgement.
can clouds a leader's judgement.
can clouds a leader's judgements.
can cloud a leader's judgement.
The phrase underlined in the sentence uses the modal verb "can," which conditions what might happen in the future. The verb form "clouds" is incorrect as the verb after "can" still needs to feature the singular form necessary with the subject "focus." "Can cloud a leader's judgement" is the best choice among the answer.
Example Question #201 : Verb Formation 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 said he wouldn’t have jumped into the murky lake if someone else hasn’t jumped before him.
if someone else hasn’t jumped before him.
if someone else was not to have jumped before him.
if someone else would not to have jumped before him.
if someone else were not to have jumped before him.
if someone else hadn’t jumped before him.
if someone else hadn’t jumped before him.
This sentence will try to trick you into using the subjunctive mood, but remember that the subjunctive is only used to describe hypothetical situations and dreams. Because the character actually did jump into the murky lake, the correct mood is simply the past indicative: “He said he wouldn’t have jumped into the murky lake if someone else hadn’t jumped before him.”
Example Question #3 : Correcting Verb Mood 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.
In order to correcting John's essay, the professor needed to examine a very obscure theory on paleontology.
In order to corrected John's essay
In order to John's essay correcting
In order to John's essay correct
In order to correcting John's essay
In order to correct John's essay
In order to correct John's essay
The phrase "to correcting" is grammatically incorrect in standard written English, and needs to be "to correct" in the underlined phrase.
Example Question #1 : Correcting Verb Mood 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.
It's interesting to think of how my life would have changed had I choose to go to that college instead of the one I attended.
had I choose to go
had I chosed to go
had I choosed to go
had I chosen to go
had I choosing to go
had I chosen to go
The sentence indicates that the phrase "had I choose to go" should be in the past subjunctive mood, as it refers to an alternate present that would have stemmed from a hypothetical past choice. Therefore, the correct phrasing replaces "choose" with "chosen"—"had I chosen to go."
Example Question #2 : Correcting Verb Mood 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.
We tell Rachel all the time that her choices today can impacts how she feels tomorrow.
can impacting how she feels tomorrow.
could impacts how she feels tomorrow.
can impacts how she feels tomorrow.
can impact how she feels tomorrow.
can impacted how she feels tomorrow.
can impact how she feels tomorrow.
In the underlined phrase, the modal verb "can" needs to be followed by a form of "impact" that properly reflects the plural noun "choices." Therefore, we need to replace the singular verb form "impacts" with "impact" to correctly refer to "choices."
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