SAT Writing : Recognizing Sentences That Contain No Errors

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for SAT Writing

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Example Questions

Example Question #1261 : 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.

The team played quite sloppily, making a variety of mistakes in every part of the game.

Possible Answers:

The team played quite sloppily making a variety of mistakes in every part of the game.

The team played quite sloppily, making a variety of mistakes in every part of the game.

The team playing quite sloppily, making a variety of mistakes in every part of the game.

The team played quite sloppily, making a variety of mistakes in every part from the game.

The team played quite sloppily, making a variety of mistake's in every part of the game.

Correct answer:

The team played quite sloppily, making a variety of mistakes in every part of the game.

Explanation:

The sentence is correct as written; no changes need to be made to it. Additionally, every answer choice that does make a change also makes the sentence grammatically incorrect in some way. The best choice is to leave the sentence alone.

Example Question #42 : Recognizing Sentences That Contain No 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.

He was only with the company for three months before moving on to a different job in the same industry.

Possible Answers:

He was only with the company for three months before moving on to a different job in the same industry.

He was only with the company for three months before moving on to a different job in the similar industry.

He was only with the company for three-months before moving on to a different job in the same industry.

He was only with the company for three months, before moving on to a different job, in the same industry.

He was with only the company, for three months, before moving on to a different job in the same industry.

Correct answer:

He was only with the company for three months before moving on to a different job in the same industry.

Explanation:

The sentence is correct as written; no changes need to be made to it. All of the answer choices that change the sentence introduce errors, so the best answer choice is the one that keeps the sentence the same.

Example Question #1611 : Sentence Correction

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 conflict lasted for some twenty years, nine of which saw heavy fighting.

Possible Answers:

nine of which saw heavy of the fighting.

nine of which saw heavy fighting.

nine of them which saw heavy fighting.

the nine of which saw heavy fighting.

nine of which see heavy fighting.

Correct answer:

nine of which saw heavy fighting.

Explanation:

The sentence is correct as written; no changes need to be made to it. Additionally, all the answer choice that do change the sentence make it grammatically incorrect.

Example Question #54 : Correcting Other Errors And Recognizing Correct 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.

No matter how talented an athlete may be, playing professional sports is an extremely difficult occupation in which success is rare.

Possible Answers:

No matter how talented an athlete is being, playing professional sports is an extremely difficult occupation in which success is rare.

No matter how talented an athlete may be, playing professional sports, is an extremely difficult occupation in which success is rare.

No matter how talented an athlete may be, playing professional sports is an extremely difficult occupation in which success is rare.

No matter how talented an athlete may be playing professional sports is an extremely difficult occupation in which success is rare.

No matter how talent an athlete may be, playing professional sports is an extremely difficult occupation in which success is rare.

Correct answer:

No matter how talented an athlete may be, playing professional sports is an extremely difficult occupation in which success is rare.

Explanation:

The sentence is completely correct as it is written; no changes need to be made to it. Additionally, the answer choices that do make a change make the sentence grammatically incorrect. The correct answer choice is to leave the sentence as it is.

Example Question #44 : Correcting Other Errors And Recognizing No 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.

Unlike his competitors, the student was already an experienced actor.

Possible Answers:

Unlike his competitors the student was already an experienced actor.

Unlike his competitors, the student was already an experienced actor.

Unlike his competitors, the student was already an experiencing actor.

Unlike his competitors, the student, was already an experienced actor.

Unlike his competitors, the student already an experienced actor.

Correct answer:

Unlike his competitors, the student was already an experienced actor.

Explanation:

The sentence is grammatically correct as it is written. Additionally, all the answer choices that do make some change to the sentence make the sentence grammatically incorrect. The best choice is to leave the sentence as it is.

Example Question #41 : Correcting Other Errors And Recognizing No 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.

Louis XIV of France ruled for seventy-two years, and managed to outlive all his male heirs except his great-grandson, who became Louis XV.

Possible Answers:

Louis XIV of France ruled for seventy-two years, and managed to outlive all his male heirs except his great-grandson who became Louis XV.

Louis XIV of France ruling for seventy-two years, and managed to outlive all his male heirs except his great-grandson, who became Louis XV.

Louis XIV of France ruled for seventy-two years, and managing to outlive all his male heirs except his great-grandson, who became Louis XV.

Louis XIV of France ruled for seventy-two years and managed to outlive all his male heirs except his great-grandson who became Louis XV.

Louis XIV of France ruled for seventy-two years, and managed to outlive all his male heirs except his great-grandson, who became Louis XV.

Correct answer:

Louis XIV of France ruled for seventy-two years, and managed to outlive all his male heirs except his great-grandson, who became Louis XV.

Explanation:

The sentence is perfectly correct as written, and needs no changes to make it grammatically correct. Every other answer choice actually makes the sentence in some way incorrect. The best choice is to leave the sentence as it is written.

Example Question #44 : Recognizing Sentences That Contain No Errors

For six thousand years, humans in the region lived largely the same lifestyle generation after generation.

Possible Answers:

For six thousand years, humans in the region lived largely the same lifestyle generation after generation.

For six thousand years, humans in the region, lived largely the same lifestyle generation after generation.

For six thousand years humans in the region lived largely the same lifestyle generation after generation.

For six thousand years, humans in the region lived large the same lifestyle generation after generation.

For six thousand years, humans in the region lived largely the same, lifestyle generation after generation.

Correct answer:

For six thousand years, humans in the region lived largely the same lifestyle generation after generation.

Explanation:

The sentence is correct as written. Additionally, all of the other answer choices make the sentence grammatically incorrect. The best answer choice is to leave the sentence as it is written.

Example Question #58 : Correcting Other Errors And Recognizing Correct 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.

Making amends for his past, the former criminal sought out every one of his victims and made an apology face to face.

Possible Answers:

Making amends for his past, the former criminal seeking out every one of his victims and made an apology face to face.

Making amends for his past, the former criminal sought out every one of his victims and made an apology in face to face.

Making amends for his past, the former criminal sought out every one of his victims to have made an apology face to face.

Making amends for his past, the former criminal sought out every one of his victims and made an apology face to face.

Making amends for his past, the former criminal sought out every one his victims and made an apology face to face.

Correct answer:

Making amends for his past, the former criminal sought out every one of his victims and made an apology face to face.

Explanation:

The sentence is perfectly correct as written, and needs nothing done to it to improve it. The answer choices that do make changes actually make the sentence confusing, grammatically incorrect, or oddly phrased. The best choice is to leave the sentence as it is.

Example Question #41 : Recognizing Sentences That Contain No 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.

For reasons only he would know, the general moved his troops into an unconventional formation right before attacking his opponent.

Possible Answers:

For reasons only he would know, the general moved his troops, into an unconventional formation, right before attacking his opponent.

For reasons only he would know, the general moved his troops into an unconventional formation right before attacking his opponent.

For reasons only he would know, the general, moved his troops into an unconventional formation right before attacking his opponent.

For reasons only he would know, the general moved his troops, into an unconventional formation right before attacking his opponent.

For reasons only he would know the general moved his troops into an unconventional formation right before attacking his opponent.

Correct answer:

For reasons only he would know, the general moved his troops into an unconventional formation right before attacking his opponent.

Explanation:

The sentence is perfectly correct as written; nothing needs to be done to improve it grammatically or mechanically. The answer choices that do make a punctuation change actually make the sentence grammatically incorrect. The best answer choice is to leave the sentence as it is written.

Example Question #60 : Correcting Other Errors And Recognizing Correct 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.

Working hard just to get by, the young mother had three jobs, including dishwashing, housekeeping, and waiting tables.

Possible Answers:

Working hard just to get by, the young mother had three jobs, including dishwashing, housekeeping, and waiting tables.

Working hard just to get by the young mother had three jobs including dishwashing, housekeeping, and waiting tables.

Working hard just to get by, the young mother had three jobs, including dishwashing housekeeping and waiting tables.

Working hard just to get by the young mother had three jobs, including dishwashing, housekeeping, and waiting tables.

Working hard just to get by the young mother had three jobs including dishwashing housekeeping and waiting tables.

Correct answer:

Working hard just to get by, the young mother had three jobs, including dishwashing, housekeeping, and waiting tables.

Explanation:

The sentence is perfectly correct, and properly punctuated as it is given in the question. All of the answer choices that change the punctuation make the sentence grammatically incorrect. The correct answer choice is to leave the sentence as it is written.

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