SAT Writing : SAT Writing
Study concepts, example questions & explanations for SAT Writing
All SAT Writing Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #621 : 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.
Smoking is a really bad habit: you must stop doing it soon. No error
that soon.
habit:
must stop
No error
Smoking is
No error
Colons serve two primary purposes. The first is to precede a list of three or more things in a sentence, and the second is to join two clauses, where the first clause is an independent, and the second clause is a dependent clause that explains the main clause. If being used to connect two clauses, the first clause must always be a independent clause.
The sentence above is correct as written.
Example Question #622 : 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.
I need: flour, sugar, butter, and rum to make my Grandmother's cake. No error
flour, sugar, butter, and rum
I need:
Grandmother's cake.
No error
make
I need:
Colons serve two main purposes. The first is to precede a list of three or more things in a sentence, and the second is to join two clauses of a sentence. For the first purpose, however, you should avoid using a colon after a verb or a preposition. The best way to correct the sentence above is to delete the colon.
Example Question #623 : 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.
I need: the following three things from the camp goods store: a backpack, a tent, and a flashlight. No error
following three things from the camp goods
No error
I need:
and a flashlight.
store:
I need:
Colons serve primarily two purposes. The first is to precede a list of three or more things in a sentence, and the second is to join two clauses of a sentence. For the first purpose, however, you should avoid using a colon after a verb or a preposition. The best way to correct the sentence above is to delete the first colon; the second one is correct and necessary, but the first is both redundant, and directly follows a verb.
Example Question #624 : 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.
I am incredibly angry with you: you didn't follow a single one of my instructions. No error
No error
I am incredibly angry
instructions.
single one
you:
No error
Colons serve two main purposes. The first is to precede a list of three or more things in a sentence, and the second is to join two clauses of a sentence. For the second purpose, however, you may only use a colon where a period might otherwise be used. Because the first clause in the sentence above could easily stand on its own, and could terminate in a period, the use of the colon above is correct and proper. The sentence contains no error and is correct as it is written.
Example Question #2 : Identifying Punctuation Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
The boy's teacher had forgotten to correct their homework; she had spent the entire night planning the new geography lesson. No error
planning
The boy's
had forgotten
homework; she
No error
The boy's
Be watchful of possessive plural nouns: here, the correct apostrophe will be at the end of the word: "boys'" is correct because the subject is plural.
Example Question #1 : Identifying Apostrophe Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Alyssa collected hundreds of childrens' hats, scarves, gloves, and coats for the local shelter's winter clothing drive. No error
shelter's
gloves and,
No error
childrens'
hundreds of
childrens'
The correct possessive form for "children" is "children's," not "childrens." "Children" is a noun that changes form in plural, from "child" to "children" instead of "childs." In irregular plural nouns that do not end in "s," you need to add an apostrophe followed by an "s" to form the possessive form of the word. For plural nouns ending in "s" such as "girls," you need to add the apostrophe at the end, but not an "s." For example, the possessive of "girls" is "girls'."
Example Question #2 : Identifying Apostrophe Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
More often than not, we could expect to find Larry with the Davis's family in their new swimming pool. No error.
their
No error
More often than not
the Davis's
could expect
the Davis's
The above sentence's error is "the Davis's," as "Davis" is not a possessive noun in this case and therefore does not need an apostrophe.
Example Question #2 : Identifying Apostrophe Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
The girl's swim coach was always at least 30 minutes early for practice; they could always count on her to be ready as soon as they walked in. No error.
practice; they
as soon as
No error
at least
girl's
girl's
The sentence indicates that there is more than one girl on the team by using the word "they;" therefore, "the girl's" needs to be changed to "the girls'" in order to reflect the correct possessive plural form.
Example Question #3 : Identifying Apostrophe Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
The teachers made it a point every day to address the childrens' behavior appropriately; they gave rewards to the students who followed expectations and demerits to those who did not. No error.
No error
who followed expectations
they
childrens'
those who
childrens'
The correct possessive form for "children" is always "children's" and never "childrens'."
Example Question #4 : Identifying Apostrophe Errors
Select the underlined word or words that need to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences may not contain an error.
Scientists have been tracking the Canadian geeses’ migratory patterns for the better part of thirty years, and they have begun to notice some unusual habits. No error.
No error.
geeses'
the better
have been tracking
have begun
geeses'
The plural of goose is “geese,” not “geeses,” so the correct possessive form would be “geese’s.” "The better part of" is a commonly used phrase, and "have been tracking" and "have begun" are both the correct forms of the present perfect.
Certified Tutor
All SAT Writing Resources
