SAT Writing : Improving Sentences
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Example Question #93 : Correcting Punctuation Errors: Commas For Introductory Or Interrupting Phrases
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.
Finding the best location the treasure hunters began digging furiously.
Finding the best location for the treasure hunters began digging furiously.
Finding the best location, the treasure hunters began digging furiously.
Finding the best location the treasure hunters began digging furious.
Finding the best location the treasure hunters began to dig furiously.
Finding the best location the treasure hunters began digging furiously.
Finding the best location, the treasure hunters began digging furiously.
"Finding the best location" is an introductory phrase in the sentence, meaning that it conditions the action of the main portion of the sentence. All introductory phrases must be set apart from the main part of the sentence by a comma. The only answer choice that does this is "Finding the best location, the treasure hunters began digging furiously."
Example Question #94 : Correcting Punctuation Errors: Commas For Introductory Or Interrupting Phrases
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.
Under the old rules that kind of shot was perfectly legal.
Under the old rules that kind of shot was perfectly legal.
Under the old rules that kind of shot was perfect legal.
Under the old rules this kind of shot was perfectly legal.
Under the old rules that kind of shot is perfectly legal.
Under the old rules, that kind of shot was perfectly legal.
Under the old rules, that kind of shot was perfectly legal.
The phrase "Under the old rules" is an introductory phrase, one that conditions the meaning of the sentence but remains apart from its structure. All introductory phrases must be set off by a comma. The only answer choice that inserts such a comma is "Under the old rules, that kind of shot was perfectly legal."
Example Question #241 : Correcting Punctuation Errors: Commas
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 soldier, a mercenary from a foreign country was distrusted by the army's commanders.
The soldier, a mercenary from a foreign country were
The soldier a mercenary from a foreign country were
The soldier, a mercenary from a foreign country was
The soldier a mercenary from a foreign country was
The soldier, a mercenary from a foreign country, was
The soldier, a mercenary from a foreign country, was
In the sentence, the phrase "a mercenary from a foreign country" is an interrupting phrase, one that provides information but is not critical to the structure of the sentence. All such phrases need to be set apart from the sentence by a comma; therefore, the correct answer is "The soldier, a mercenary from a foreign country, was."
Example Question #95 : Correcting Punctuation Errors: Commas For Introductory Or Interrupting Phrases
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 soldiers tired from their long march, gladly settled down for the night.
The soldiers tired from their long march gladly settled
The soldiers, tired from their long march, gladly settled
The soldiers tired from their long march, gladly settled
The soldiers tired from their long march gladly settles
The soldiers' tired from their long march, gladly settled
The soldiers, tired from their long march, gladly settled
The phrase "tired from their long march" is a non-restrictive interrupting phrase, a phrase the provides information, but is not necessary in the sentence. Such phrases always must be set off by commas. Therefore, "The soldiers, tired from their long march, gladly settled" is the correct answer choice.
Example Question #443 : Correcting Grammatical 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.
Under the old regime the action was perfectly legal and undertaken quite often.
Under the old regime the action had been
Under, the old regime the action was
Under the old regime the action was
Under, the old regime, the action was
Under, the old regime the action was
Under the old regime, the action was
Under the old regime the action was
Under the old regime, the action was
Under, the old regime, the action was
Under the old regime the action had been
Under the old regime, the action was
The phrase "Under the old regime" is what is called a conditional phrase, as it gives the conditions which make the main body of the sentence possible. Such phrases always need to be set off from the main part of the sentence by a comma; therefore, "Under the old regime, the action was," is the correct answer choice.
Example Question #444 : Correcting Grammatical 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 general prone to overly assertive maneuvers, found his army caught out in front of the main lines.
The general prone, to overly assertive maneuvers,
The general prone to overly assertive maneuvers,
The general prone, to overly assertive maneuvers,
The general, prone to overly assertive maneuvers,
The general, prone to overly assertive maneuvers
The general, prone to overly assertive maneuvers,
The underlined portion of the sentence contains an interrupting phrase, "prone to overly assertive maneuvers." All interrupting phrases must be set apart by commas from the rest of the sentence. Therefore, the correct answer is, "The general, prone to overly assertive maneuvers,."
Example Question #445 : Correcting Grammatical 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 executive a shrewd negotiator, always waited to make sure he knew his opponent's strengths and weaknesses.
The executive, a shrewd negotiator, always
The executive a shrewd negotiator always
The executive, a shrewd negotiator always
The executive a shrewd negotiator, always
The executive a shrewd negotiator, always
The executive, a shrewd negotiator, always
The phrase "a shrewd negotiator" is an interrupting phrase, a phrase that has no bearing on the construction of the sentence but provides additional information. All interrupting phrases must be set apart by commas; therefore, the correct answer choice is "The executive, a shrewd negotiator, always."
Example Question #446 : Correcting Grammatical 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 students anxious about their grades were pestering their teacher about the test.
The students, anxious about their grades, were
The students anxious about their grades, were
The students' anxious about their grades were
The students anxious about their grades were
The students, anxious about their grades were
The students, anxious about their grades, were
The phrase "anxious about their grades" is an interrupting phrase, or one that provides extra information, but is not crucial to the structure of the sentence. All interrupting phrases need to be set apart from the rest of the sentence by commas. The only answer choice that does this is "The students, anxious about their grades, were."
Example Question #101 : Correcting Punctuation Errors: Commas For Introductory Or Interrupting Phrases
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.
While I can empathize with the plight of your lizard I find it hard to weep for a reptile.
While I can empathize with the plight of your lizard; I find
While I can empathize with the plight of your lizard I find
While I can empathize with the plight of your lizard: I find
While I can empathize with the plight of your lizard, I find,
While I can empathize with the plight of your lizard, I find
While I can empathize with the plight of your lizard, I find
Introductory or interrupting phrases, i.e. phrases that are subordinate and add information to a sentence, but are not necessary to the grammatical completeness of the sentence, must be separated from the rest of the sentence by commas. The best way to correct the underlined portion of the sentence above is: "While I can empathize with the plight of your lizard, I find..."
Example Question #1751 : Improving Sentences
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.
Emmett, well known for his pugnacious nature was not a lot of fun to be around at parties.
Emmett well known for his pugnacious nature was
Emmett, well known for his pugnacious nature was
Emmett, well known for his pugnacious nature, was
Emmett, well known for his pugnacious nature was,
Emmett: well known for his pugnacious nature was
Emmett, well known for his pugnacious nature, was
Introductory or interrupting phrases, phrases that are subordinate and add information to a sentence, but are not necessary to the sentence being grammatically complete, must be separated from the rest of the sentence by commas. The best way to correct the underlined portion of the sentence above is: "Emmett, well known for his pugnacious nature, was"
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