All SAT Writing Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #382 : Correcting Usage Errors
The man keeping up with the friends he made in childhood.
The man's keeping up with
The man who had kept up with
The man keeping up with
The man keeps up with
The man keeping with
The man keeps up with
The use of the past participle "keeping" is inappropriate as it needs either an infinitive or a version of "be" to be used as the verb in a sentence. "Keeping" needs to be changed to an appropriate verb form without changing the meaning of the sentence. The only answer choice that does both is "The man keeps up with."
Example Question #122 : Correcting Usage Errors
The power of monarchy in Renaissance Europe questioning by modern scholars.
questioning by modern scholars.
is questioning by modern scholars.
questionable by modern scholars.
questioned by modern scholars.
is questioned by modern scholars.
is questioned by modern scholars.
The use of the verb form "questioning," a gerund, makes the sentence confusing. The word should be changed to a form that properly reflects the "scholars" are questioning "the power of monarchy." The answer choice that best does this is "is questioned by modern scholars."
Example Question #11 : Correcting Other Verb Errors
Due to his condition, the professor keeping an extra pair of glasses by his podium.
keeping the extra pair of glasses
keeping extra pair of glasses
keeps an extra pair of glasses
keeping an extra pair of glasses
by keeping an extra pair of glasses
keeps an extra pair of glasses
The use of the participle form "keeping" is incorrect without a version of the verb "to be," and needs to either be changed to a non-participle or have the version of "to be" added. This is the only issue with the sentence as it is written. Therefore, the correct answer choice is "keeps an extra pair of glasses."
Example Question #2442 : Act English
The protesters moving into position to have a confrontation with the police.
The protesters moving in towards position
The protesters moving into position
The protesters moves into position
The protesters move into position
The protesters had moving into position
The protesters move into position
The use of the participle form "moving" makes the sentence have no actual verb, as any participle needs a form of the verb "to be" to function as the verb in a sentence. The form needs to to either have the active form "is" attached or be changed into the active form; therefore, "The protesters move into position" is the correct answer choice.
Example Question #3461 : Sat Writing
Under the terms of the treaty, the victorious nation keeping the territory it acquired during the war.
the victorious nation kept the territory
the victorious nation keeping the territory
the victorious nation having keeping the territory
the victorious nation keeping territory
the victorious nation keep the territory
the victorious nation kept the territory
The use of the verb "keeping," a participle, is incorrect and confusing in the sentence, as a participle always needs to function with a version of the form to be. Either one of these forms needs to be added in or the form should be changed. The only answer choice that appropriately does this is "the victorious nation kept the territory."
Example Question #3462 : Sat Writing
How long a person could live in outer space is a question scientists still debating.
debating.
debating still.
still debated.
still debate.
still debating.
still debate.
The underlined portion of the sentence needs to align with what it describes, the "scientists." To make it grammatically correct, the verb form of "debating" needs to be changed to a simple present form. "Still debate" is the correct answer choice.
Example Question #3463 : Sat Writing
The nervous woman making mistakes every time she tried to make cupcakes.
making mistakes
making the mistakes
making, mistakes
made mistakes
makes mistakes
made mistakes
The use of "making," a participle means the sentence has no verb, as a participle needs some form of "to be" to function as a full verb; therefore, a complete verb form needs to be used, and has to match the past tense usage of "tried." This makes the correct answer choice "made mistakes."
Example Question #21 : Correcting Other Verb Errors
His father was usually ready telling a joke to lighten the mood.
telling jokes
to tell a joke
telling a joking
telling a joke
telling the joke
to tell a joke
The use of "telling" in the sentence is strange and confusing, as the participle form appears to modify "ready." To appropriately explain what the father was "ready" for, an infinitive, which gives a sense of action; therefore, the correct answer choice is "to tell a joke."
Example Question #1461 : Improving Sentences
Most men feel very uncomfortable reveal their feelings to loved ones.
reveal they're feelings
revealed their feelings
reveal there feelings
reveal their feelings
revealing their feelings
revealing their feelings
The use of the present tense verb "reveal" is confusing in the sentence, as it essentially would act as a second verb in the sentence. The verb needs to be changed to a form that can function as a non-verb. The only answer choice that does this is "revealing their feelings," which uses the gerundive form.
Example Question #1462 : Improving Sentences
Politicians having grown increasingly aware of the proper way to deal with the media in recent years.
Politicians have grown increasingly aware
Politicians having grown increasing aware
Politicians having grown increasingly aware
Politicians growing increasingly aware
Politicians having grown increased aware
Politicians have grown increasingly aware
The use of "having grown" in the sentence actually makes the sentence not have a verb, because the use of that verb creates a verbal phrase. The sentence needs the phrase "having grown" to be turned into an actual verb. Therefore, the correct answer choice is "Politicians have grown increasingly aware."
Certified Tutor
Certified Tutor