SAT Writing : SAT Writing

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for SAT Writing

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Example Questions

Example Question #3641 : Sat Writing

Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.

Although the students had studied hard they found that the answers to many of the questions eluded them. No error

Possible Answers:

questions eluded

No error

answers to many 

hard they found

Although the students 

Correct answer:

hard they found

Explanation:

An introductory phrase must always be separated from the rest of the sentence by comma. Introductory phrases are phrases that provide information about, or modify, the subject of the main clause, but are not essential to the grammatical structure of the sentence. In this sentence, the phrase "Although the students had studied hard" acts as the introductory phrase, so it must be followed by a comma. This makes the correct answer "hard they found."

Example Question #3642 : Sat Writing

Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.

Niko couldn't understand why, even though he had been so good his mother still wouldn't let him go over to Jimmy's house. No error

Possible Answers:

Niko couldn't

why, even though

wouldn't let him

so good his mother

No error

Correct answer:

so good his mother

Explanation:

The phrase "even though he had been so good" is a non-essential interrupting phrase. The sentence would still be correct even if it were deleted. Therefore, there must be commas before and after the phrase, which means that the the correct answer is "so good his mother."

Example Question #3643 : Sat Writing

Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.

Because Corrine the former vice president of the club, had attended every single meeting, Amanda vowed that she would do the same. No error

Possible Answers:

Corrine the former

club, had attended

she would do

meeting, Amanda

No error

Correct answer:

Corrine the former

Explanation:

In the sentence above, the phrase "the former vice president" is an appositive phrase that renames Corrine. Because commas are required before and after an appositive phrase, "the former vice president" must have commas before it and after it. This means that the correct answer is "Corrine the former."

Example Question #3644 : Sat Writing

Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.

As luck would have it there were no open appointments on Kendra's only day off from work. No error

Possible Answers:

appointments on Kendra's

No error

As luck

day off

have it there

Correct answer:

have it there

Explanation:

In this sentence, the phrase "As luck would have it" is an introductory phrase. Because an introductory phrase must be followed by a comma, the sentence should read "As luck would have it, there were no open appointments on Kendra's only day off from work." This makes the correct selection "have it there."

Example Question #3645 : Sat Writing

Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.

Just as the students had feared their teacher presented them with a pop-quiz to make sure they had completed last night's reading assignment. No error

Possible Answers:

last night's reading

No error

Just as the students

feared their teacher

pop-quiz to

Correct answer:

feared their teacher

Explanation:

An introductory phrase must always be followed by a comma. In this sentence, the phrase "Just as the students had feared" acts as an introductory phrase, so it must be followed by a comma.

Example Question #3646 : Sat Writing

Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.

If you're going to be staying here long I must insist that you treat our employees with at least a modicum of respect. No error

Possible Answers:

that you

long I must

No error

with at least a modicum of respect.

If you're going

Correct answer:

long I must

Explanation:

In the example sentence "If you're going to be staying here long" is clearly a dependent clause (big clue being the "if") because this clause provides context and precedes the main clause, it is called an introductory clause. The only correct way to punctuate an introductory clause is to add a comma after the last word in the phrase, which in this case is "long."

Example Question #3647 : Sat Writing

Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.

If Paula, one of the smartest young women I have ever met can't comprehend what Professor Pyg is talking about, I strongly suspect that no one can. No error

Possible Answers:

No error

met can't 

Professor Pyg is talking about,

no one can.

If Paula,

Correct answer:

met can't 

Explanation:

Interrupting phrases are subordinate and add information to a sentence, but are not necessary to the sentence being grammatically complete. Such phrases must be separated from the rest of the sentence by commas at the beginning and end of the phrase. In the example sentence "one of the smartest young women I have ever met" acts as an interrupting phrase, so the portion of the sentence above that needs to be corrected is, "met can't."

Example Question #3648 : Sat Writing

Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.

Mithridates commonly known as the Poison King, was a phenomenal enemy of ancient Rome. No error

Possible Answers:

Mithridates commonly

ancient Rome.

phenomenal enemy

No error

Poison King,

Correct answer:

Mithridates commonly

Explanation:

In the example sentence "commonly known as the Poison King" is a grammatically unnecessary (but contextually useful) phrase that must be separated from the clause it interrupts with commas. The sentence above is missing a comma between "Mithridates" and "commonly." The rest of the sentence is grammatically correct and complete.

Example Question #3649 : Sat Writing

Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.

Pontus, a relatively rich kingdom on the Black Sea is famous for its extraordinary plant life. No error

Possible Answers:

Black Sea is

No error

kingdom on

its extraordinary

Pontus, a relatively 

Correct answer:

Black Sea is

Explanation:

The fundamental grammatical structure of the example sentence reads, "Pontus is famous for its extraordinary plant life." "Pontus" is the subject, while "is" functions as the verb. So, we know that the words excluded from this fundamental subject-verb-object structure must be an interrupting phrase, and as such must be separated with commas at the beginning and end of the phrase. The example sentence is missing a comma after "Sea."

Example Question #3650 : Sat Writing

Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.

Every morning when Kent comes to school he has an apple for his teacher. No error

Possible Answers:

No error

school he

Every morning

comes

his teacher.

Correct answer:

school he

Explanation:

Introductory phrases are subordinate and add information to a sentence. These phrases are not necessary to the sentence being grammatically complete, and thus must be separated from the rest of the sentence by commas. In this sentence "Every morning when Kent comes to school" acts an introductory clause, and must be punctuated with a coma after "school." The portion of the sentence above that needs to be corrected is, "school he"

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