SAT Writing : Correcting Word Usage Errors

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for SAT Writing

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Example Questions

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. One of the answer choices reproduces the underlined portion as it is written in the sentence.

In order to upgrading his computer, Tom had to delete many of his old downloaded movies to make space on his hard drive. 

Possible Answers:

In order to upgrading his computer

In order to upgrade his computer

In order to upgrades his computer

In order to upgraded his computer

In order to be upgraded his computer

Correct answer:

In order to upgrade his computer

Explanation:

The phrase "In order to upgrading" is incorrect in standard written English—"upgrading" needs to be replaced with the present verb form "upgrade."

Example Question #4 : 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.

In the middle of the drought, she looked out the window and thought, “Even if I were to lavish all my attention on the plants in the garden, they would still be killed by this heat.”

Possible Answers:

do

will

am to

were to

was to

Correct answer:

were to

Explanation:

This sentence is correct as it is. Here, the statement in quotation marks is a counterfactual statement. This means that it talks about something that isn't actually the case in reality. The narrator is thinking about what might happen if she lavished care on her plants, but in reality, she is not lavishing care on her plants. Counterfactual statements use the verbs in the subjunctive. “Were” is the subjunctive form of the English verb “to be” (or “am,” in this sentence).

Example Question #5 : 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.

If humans could fly, they will need gigantic wings and huge chest muscles to control those wings.

Possible Answers:

needed

will need

would need

may need

were needing

Correct answer:

would need

Explanation:

This sentence expresses a counterfactual statement, so it needs verbs in the subjunctive mood. “Could” can be thought of as a past subjunctive form of the verb “can,” so there is no problem with the first part of the sentence; however, the verb in the second part of the sentence, “will need,” is in the indicative mood, not the subjunctive. To correct this, we have to change “will need” to its past subjunctive form, “would need.”

Example Question #6 : 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.

According to the email that my boss sent, it is absolutely necessary that we all are on time to work.

Possible Answers:

be

being

are

were

will be

Correct answer:

be

Explanation:

In English, the subjunctive mood of verbs is often used after certain expressions like “it is necessary that” or “it is important that.” The subjunctive is used to talk about wishes, desires, or thoughts about things that aren't actually the case. In this sentence, the expression “it is necessary that” introduces a phrase that must use the subjunctive, because it expresses something that the boss desires. So, we have to change the verb “are,” which is in the indicative mood, to its subjunctive form, “be.”

Example Question #7 : 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.

The letter describes the young scientist as intelligent and hardworking, and says that he be the most promising researcher currently working in the field of infectious diseases.

Possible Answers:

will be

is

would be

be

was

Correct answer:

is

Explanation:

In this sentence, the phrase “he be the most promising researcher” uses the subjunctive “be"; however, in English, the subjunctive should only be used in a phrase that talks about a desire, wish, or counterfactual statement—not when the phrase reports true facts (or what the person saying the phrase thinks are true facts about the world). In the view of the person who wrote the letter, the young scientist is currently the most promising researcher. So, we should use the verb “is,” which is in the indicative mood. “Is” is also right because it is in the present tense, like the rest of the sentence.

Example Question #11 : 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.

So that Marie could get additional practice, Marie's tutor recommended that she look at additional practice questions.

Possible Answers:

looks

may look

looked

look

will look

Correct answer:

look

Explanation:

The phrase “Marie's tutor recommended that Marie look” contains the present-tense subjunctive verb “look,” and it is right as it is. This is because the subjunctive mood is used after expressions like “recommend that” and “advise that” to express someone's wishes and desires. “Looks,” “looked,” and “will look” are all in the indicative mood, so they are not correct.

Example Question #12 : 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.

If I was you, I wouldn't go jogging after dark.

Possible Answers:

am

would be

were

was

might be

Correct answer:

were

Explanation:

This sentence expresses a counterfactual statement, or a statement that does not match the way things are in reality. It is not actually the case that the narrator is the person she is talking to. Counterfactual sentences use subjunctive verbs. So, we need to change the verb “was,” which is in the indicative, to its subjunctive form, “were.”

Example Question #13 : 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.

The boss requests that one of his employees stands at the side of the road with a sign to attract more customers to the business.

Possible Answers:

to stand

may stand

stands

stand

ought to stand

Correct answer:

stand

Explanation:

Here, the words “requests that” introduce a phrase that requires the subjunctive mood. The subjunctive is used after phrases like “requires that” or “requests that” to express the wishes and desires of the person doing the requesting. In this sentence, the verb “stands” is in the indicative mood, but it should be changed to its subjunctive form, “stand.”

Example Question #14 : 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.

His mother wants him to be prepared for the spelling bee; she requires that he studies spelling for two hours every day.

Possible Answers:

study

studies

must be studying

would study

will study

Correct answer:

study

Explanation:

Here, the words “requires that” introduce a phrase that requires the subjunctive mood. The subjunctive is used after phrases like “requires that” or “requests that” to express the wishes and desires of the person doing the requesting. In this sentence, the verb “studies” is in the indicative mood, but it should be changed to its subjunctive form, “study.”

Example Question #15 : 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.

Bob's mother told me that Bob is very intelligent and that he be committed to studying for at least two hours every day.

Possible Answers:

commit himself

being committed

commit

be committed

is committed

Correct answer:

is committed

Explanation:

This sentence uses the subjunctive verb “be” in the phrase “he be committed”; however, in the way the sentence is written, this phrase was spoken by Bob's mother, who believes it to be true. It's not part of a phrase that expresses any kind of wish, desire, or counterfactual statement. To Bob's mother, the idea that Bob is committed to studying for two hours is a true fact about the world. Therefore, this fact should be expressed using the indicative mood, not the subjunctive. We should change the subjunctive verb “be” to its indicative form, “is.”

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