SAT Writing : Correcting Word Usage Errors

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for SAT Writing

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Example Questions

Example Question #28 : Correcting Other Adjective And Adverb 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 I asked John why he'd been absent from the party, he told me that he wasn't feeling good at the time.

Possible Answers:

When I asked John why he'd been absent from the party, and he told me that he wasn't feeling well at the time.

When I asked John why he'd been absent from the party, but he told me that he wasn't feeling good at the time.

When I asked John why he'd been absent from the party, and he told me that he wasn't feeling good at the time.

When I asked John why he'd been absent from the party, he told me that he wasn't feeling good at the time.

When I asked John why he'd been absent from the party, he told me that he wasn't feeling well at the time.

Correct answer:

When I asked John why he'd been absent from the party, he told me that he wasn't feeling well at the time.

Explanation:

Adjectives describe nouns, and adverbs describe verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs. Always ensure that you are using the correct one for describing a particular word. The best way to correct the underlined portion of the sentence above is, "When I asked John why he'd been absent from the party, he told me that he wasn't feeling well at the time."

Example Question #22 : Correcting Other Adjective And Adverb 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.

I appreciate the plight of the less fortunate, but it doesn't make me feel bad all the time.

Possible Answers:

I appreciate the plight of the less fortunate, but it doesn't make me feel badly all the time.

I appreciate the plight of the less fortunate, but it doesn't make me feel bad all the time.

I appreciate the plight of the less fortunate, but it doesn't make me feel most bad all the time.

I appreciate the plight of the less fortunate, but it doesn't make me feel more bad all the time.

I appreciate the plight of the less fortunate, but it doesn't make me feel baddest all the time.

Correct answer:

I appreciate the plight of the less fortunate, but it doesn't make me feel badly all the time.

Explanation:

Adjectives describe nouns, and adverbs describe verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs. Always ensure that you are using the correct one for describing a particular word. Since the word being modified is the verb "feel," the adverbial form of "bad" is required. The best way to correct the sentence above is, "I appreciate the plight of those less fortunate, but it doesn't make me feel badly all the time."

Example Question #30 : Correcting Other Adjective And Adverb 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.

One thing that Feudalism did real well was keep the populace stagnant: this helped cut down on violent uprisings.

Possible Answers:

One thing that Feudalism did real great was keep the populace stagnant: this helped cut down on violent uprisings.

One thing that Feudalism did really well was keep the populace stagnant: this helped cut down on violent uprisings.

One thing that Feudalism did very good was keep the populace stagnant: this helped cut down on violently uprisings.

One thing that Feudalism did real greatly was keep the populace stagnant: this helped cut down on violent uprisings.

One thing that Feudalism did real well was keep the populace stagnant: this helped cut down on violent uprisings.

Correct answer:

One thing that Feudalism did really well was keep the populace stagnant: this helped cut down on violent uprisings.

Explanation:

Adjectives describe nouns, and adverbs describe verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs. Always ensure that you are using the correct one for describing a particular word. Here, the word being modified is the verb "did," so the adverbial form of "real well" is required. The best way to correct the underlined sentence above is, "One thing that Feudalism did really well was keep the populace stagnant: this helped cut down on violent uprisings."

Example Question #31 : Correcting Other Adjective And Adverb 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.

I think John is a really well human being: he always puts others before himself.

Possible Answers:

I think John is a really well human being: he always puts others before himself.

I think John is a really decently human being: he always puts others before himself.

I think John is a really goodly human being: he always puts others before himself.

I think John is a really good human being: he always puts others before himself.

I think John is a really nicely human being: he always puts others before himself.

Correct answer:

I think John is a really good human being: he always puts others before himself.

Explanation:

Adjectives describe nouns, and adverbs describe verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs. Always ensure that you are using the correct one for describing a particular word. Since the word being described is "human being," a noun, we know that an adjective is required, not an adverb. The best way to correct the underlined portion of the sentence above is, "I think John is a really good human being: he always puts others before himself."

Example Question #32 : Correcting Other Adjective And Adverb 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 gentleman in the suit is able to talk a lot more loud than anyone else in the field, but that doesn't mean he is more eloquent.

Possible Answers:

The gentleman in the suit is able to talk a lot more loud than anyone else in the field, but that doesn't mean he is more eloquent spoken.

The gentleman in the suit is able to talk a lot more loudly than anyone else in the field, but that doesn't mean he is more eloquent.

The gentleman in the suit is able to talk a lot more loud than anyone else in the field, but that doesn't mean he is more eloquently.

The gentleman in the suit is able to talk a lot more loudly than anyone else in the field, but that doesn't mean he is more eloquently.

The gentleman in the suit is able to talk a lot more loud than anyone else in the field, but that doesn't mean he is more eloquent.

Correct answer:

The gentleman in the suit is able to talk a lot more loudly than anyone else in the field, but that doesn't mean he is more eloquent.

Explanation:

Adjectives describe nouns, and adverbs describe verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs. Always ensure that you are using the correct one for describing a particular word. In the example sentence the verb "talk" is being described, not a noun, so an adverbial form is required. The best way to correct the underlined portion of the sentence above is, "The gentleman in the suit is able to talk a lot more loudly than anyone else in the field, but that doesn't mean he is more eloquent."

Example Question #33 : Correcting Other Adjective And Adverb 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.

Frankie and Jean are both very quickly runners: they really blew the crowd away at the track meet.

Possible Answers:

Frankie and Jean are both very quickly runners, and they really blew the crowd away at the track meet.

Frankie and Jean are both very quickly runners: they really blew the crowd away at the track meet.

Frankie and Jean are both very fast runners: they really blew the crowd away at the track meet.

Frankie and Jean are both very quickly runners, but they really blew the crowd away at the track meet.

Frankie and Jean are both very quicker runners; they really blew the crowd away at the track meet.

Correct answer:

Frankie and Jean are both very fast runners: they really blew the crowd away at the track meet.

Explanation:

Adjectives describe nouns, and adverbs describe verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs. Always ensure that you are using the correct one for describing a particular word. In this sentence the noun "runners" is being described, so an adjective rather than an adverb is needed. The best way to correct the underlined portion of the sentence above is, "Frankie and Jean are both very fast runners: they really blew the crowd away at the track meet."

Example Question #34 : Correcting Other Adjective And Adverb 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.

John is able to think a lot more clear than Paulina, but Paulina is better at making intuitive leaps.

Possible Answers:

John is able to think a lot more clearer than Paulina, but Paulina is the best at making intuitive leaps.

John is able to think a lot more clearly than Paulina, but Paulina is best at making intuitive leaps.

John is able to think a lot more clear than Paulina, but Paulina is best at making intuitive leaps.

John is able to think a lot more clear than Paulina, but Paulina is better at making intuitive leaps.

John is able to think a lot more clearly than Paulina, but Paulina is better at making intuitive leaps.

Correct answer:

John is able to think a lot more clearly than Paulina, but Paulina is better at making intuitive leaps.

Explanation:

Adjectives describe nouns, and adverbs describe verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs. Always ensure that you are using the correct one for describing a particular word. In the example sentence what is being described by "clearly" is actually John's "thinking," which is acting as a verb in the sentence. The best way to correct the underlined portion of the sentence above is, "John is able to think a lot more clearly than Paulina, but Paulina is better at making intuitive leaps."

Example Question #31 : Correcting Adjective And Adverb 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.

I am not feeling very good today; I might just stay in bed all day.

Possible Answers:

I am not feeling very well today, I might just stay in bed all day.

I am not feeling very good today; I might just stay in bed all day.

I am not feeling very good today; and I might just stay in bed all day.

I am not feeling very well today; I might just stay in bed all day.

I am not feeling very good today, I might just stay in bed all day.

Correct answer:

I am not feeling very well today; I might just stay in bed all day.

Explanation:

Adjectives describe nouns, and adverbs describe verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs. Always ensure that you are using the correct one for describing a particular word. Since the verb "feeling" is being described in this sentence, the adverbial form "well" is required. The best way to correct the underlined portion of the sentence above is, "I am not feeling very well today; I might just stay in bed all day."

Example Question #31 : Correcting Adjective And Adverb 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.

Paul was speaking very excited; it was hard to understand him.

Possible Answers:

Paul was speaking very excited; it was hard to understand him.

Paul was speaking very excitedly it was hard to understand him.

Paul was speaking very excited, it was hard to understand him.

Paul was speaking very excitedly, it was hard to understand him.

Paul was speaking very excitedly; it was hard to understand him.

Correct answer:

Paul was speaking very excitedly; it was hard to understand him.

Explanation:

Adjectives describe nouns, and adverbs describe verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs. Always ensure that you are using the correct one for describing a particular word. The word being modified in the example sentence is the verb "speaking," so the best way to correct the underlined portion of the sentence above is, "Paul was speaking very excitedly; it was hard to understand him."

Example Question #33 : Correcting Adjective And Adverb 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.

Franklin can run a lot faster than Gina, but Gina has much more endurance.

Possible Answers:

Franklin can run a lot more quickly than Gina, but Gina has much more endurance.

Franklin can run a lot faster than Gina, but Gina has much more endurance.

Franklin can run a lot faster than Gina, and Gina has much more endurance.

Franklin can run a lot faster than Gina, though Gina has much more endurance.

Franklin can run a lot faster than Gina, while Gina has much more endurance.

Correct answer:

Franklin can run a lot more quickly than Gina, but Gina has much more endurance.

Explanation:

Adjectives describe nouns, and adverbs describe verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs. Always ensure that you are using the correct one for describing a particular word. Since the verb "run" is being described here, the adverbial form is required. The best way to correct the underlined portion of the sentence above is, "Franklin can run a lot more quickly than Gina, but Gina has much more endurance."

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