All SAT Writing Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #601 : Usage 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.
The new law was specifically targeted people making over one million dollars each year.
specific targeted people
specifically targeted of people
specifically targeted people
specifically targeting people
specific targeting of people
specifically targeting people
Whlie one might say that something "was targeted," one cannot say that something "was targeted" something else and be grammatically correct. As only "targeted" is underlined, and not "was," it needs to be changed. Of all the answer choices, only "specifically targeting people" corrects the sentence's error without introducing new errors or extraneous words.
Example Question #2451 : Act English
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.
The soldiers keeping watch through the whole night as ordered.
The soldiers keeping watch
The soldiers keep watch
The soldiers keeping watching
The soldier's keeping watch
The soldiers keeping watch
The soldiers keep watch
The use of "keeping" in the sentence is incorrect, as "keeping" needs some version of the verb "to be" to form a functioning verb. (In the phrase "the soldiers keeping watch," "keeping" is a participle.) The verb must be changed to a form that can work in the sentence. The only choice that does this and keeps the intended meaning is "The soldiers keep watch."
Example Question #132 : Correcting Usage 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.
The tiny force holding down the fort until help came three days later.
The tiny force held down the fort
The tiny force holding down the fort
The tiny force holds down the fort
The tiny force that holding down the fort
The tiny force, holding down the fort,
The tiny force held down the fort
The use of the participle "holding" means that there is no actual verb in the sentence. Not only does the form have to change, but the use of "came" later in the sentence means the verb form needs to be the past tense. "The tiny force held down the fort" is the only answer choice that uses the correct tense.
Example Question #133 : Correcting Usage 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.
The athlete obsessing over his team's loss for the entire offseason.
The athlete obsessing around
The athlete obsessed over
The athlete obsessing over
The athlete being obsessing over
The athlete to obsess over
The athlete obsessed over
The use of the participle "obsessing" actually makes the sentence have no verb, as a participle cannot stand as a verb without some form of the verb "to be." "Obsessing" needs to be changed to an appropriate verb form to make the sentence complete. The only answer choice that uses a correct verb form is "The athlete obsessed over."
Example Question #2452 : Act English
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.
The child considering the model truck his favorite toy as soon as he played with it.
The child considering the model truck
The child considering that model truck
The child considered the model truck
The child's considering the model truck
The child considering of the model truck
The child considered the model truck
The use of the participle form "considering" in the sentence actually causes the sentence to not have a verb. A participle needs some form of the verb "to be" to make a complete verb phrase. "The child considered the model truck," which uses a simple past tense verb, is the only answer choice that corrects this issue.
Example Question #141 : Correcting Word Usage 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.
The old woman keeping mementos throughout her entire life.
The old woman kept
The old woman is keeping
The old woman keeping
The old woman keeps
The old woman keep
The old woman kept
The use of "keeping" as the only verb in the sentence is wrong, as "keeping" is a present participle, and a present participle always needs some form of the verb "to be" to precede it to create a verbal phrase. Additionally, the sentence needs to employ a past tense verb because its action takes place in the past. As such, the only answer choice that fulfills these requirements is "The old woman kept."
Example Question #531 : Correcting Word Usage 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.
The new CEO was astonishing at the state of the company's finances.
The new CEO astonishing
The new CEO were astonishing
The new CEO was astonishing
The new CEO was astonished
The new CEO is astonishing
The new CEO was astonished
The verbal phrase "was astonishing" is structured as though the CEO is astonishing the company's finances. The only answer choice that fixes this issue is "The new CEO was astonished."
Example Question #142 : Correcting Word Usage 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.
The woman hoarding animals in unsafe conditions, which got her charged by the animal control services.
The woman hoarding animals in unsafe condition,
The woman hoarding animals in the unsafe conditions,
The woman was hoarding animals in unsafe conditions,
The woman hoarding animals in unsafe conditions,
The woman hoard animals in unsafe conditions,
The woman was hoarding animals in unsafe conditions,
The use of "hoarding" makes the sentence contain no actual verb, as the present participle "hoarding" needs to be preceded by some form of the verb "to be" to make a complete verb phrase. "The woman was hoarding animals in unsafe conditions," is the only answer choice that inserts the appropriate word.
Example Question #532 : Correcting Word Usage 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.
Many psychologists now argue that vacations being one of the best ways for people to reduce their stress.
being one the best ways
being one of the best way
are one of the best ways
being one of the best ways
being one for the best ways
are one of the best ways
The use of "being" makes the sentence actually not have a verb, as "being" is a gerund, or a verb form that is used as a noun. The sentence needs to be changed so that it contains a verb. The only answer choice that corrects the issue is "are one of the best ways."
Example Question #251 : 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.
The young boy holding onto his teddy bear throughout the stressful trip.
The young boy holding to his teddy bear
The young boy holding on his teddy bear
The young boy holding onto his' teddy bear
The young boy holding onto his teddy bear
The young boy held onto his teddy bear
The young boy held onto his teddy bear
The use of the participle form "holding" makes the sentence actually have no practical verb, as a participle needs some form of the verb "to be" in order to function as the verb in the sentence. Either a version of "to be" needs to be put in the sentence, or "holding" should be changed to a proper verb form. "The young boy held onto his teddy bear" is the only answer choice that does either.
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