SAT Writing : SAT Writing
Study concepts, example questions & explanations for SAT Writing
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Example Questions
Example Question #931 : 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.
The nurse adjusted the bandages softly and gentle, as she knew the wound beneath them was very tender. No error
adjusted
No error
beneath
knew
gentle
gentle
In this sentence, the adjective “gentle” modifies the verb “adjusted.” Given that adverbs can only modify verbs, the proper word would instead be “gently,” which is an adverb.
Example Question #932 : 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.
Many people find the appearance of the potoo, a small brown bird, to be extremely amusing due to the large of its round, yellow eyes. No error
large
to be extremely amusing
round, yellow eyes
No error
the potoo, a small brown bird,
large
You can spot this sentence's error by realizing that the adjective "large" needs to be a noun because it is preceded by the definite article "the," which refers to nouns, not adjectives. Changing "large" to "largeness" would correct the sentence's error.
Example Question #933 : 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'm sorry that I'm running late for dinner," I said to my mother on the phone, "but I'll be home real soon." No error
that
No error
said
running
real
real
The word "real" here is meant to modify the adjective "soon," which means that an adverb is needed. The adverb form of the word "real" is "really," so the sentence should say, "I'm sorry that I'm running late for dinner," I said to my mother on the phone, "but I'll be home really soon." People might use the word "real" as an adverb during everyday conversation, but that slang form is grammatically incorrect.
Example Question #934 : 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.
Though the dog had been washed by the petsitter just yesterday, he continued to smell badly. No error
had been
smell badly
yesterday,
continued to
No error
smell badly
This sentence's error is that it uses an adverb in the place of an adjective. "Badly," as an adverb, is referencing not the quality of the dog's odor, but its poor ability to smell.
Example Question #935 : 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.
Sarah, Emilie, and Jenn competed against one another in the four hundred meter hurdle event, and they both scored similarly. No error
No error
both
one another
event, and
similarly
both
This sentence has three subjects: "Sarah," "Emilie," and "Jenn." Because of this, the sentence requires a form of the word "both" that is used to refer to groups of three or more. "Both" would be correct if only two of the girls were racing. However, since all three are racing, we need to use the adverb "all" instead of "both." The corrected sentence would read "Sarah, Emilie, and Jenn competed against one another in the four hundred meter hurdle event, and they all scored similarly."
Example Question #936 : 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.
Many popular books and movies are inspired by folktales that were original passed down orally from generation to generation. No error
from generation to generation
inspired by
No error
original
that were
original
The word "original" is an adjective and should modify a noun. Here, it modifies the verb "passed". An adverb would be correct: "Many popular books and movies are inspired by folktales that were originally passed down orally from generation to generation."
Example Question #937 : 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.
Despite the terrible dress rehearsal the night before, the opening performance of Romeo and Juliet went really good. No error
No error
of
Despite
really good
went
really good
The word "good" is an adjective and should describe a noun. Here, it describes the verb "went" and is grammatically incorrect. Changing "good" to the adverb "well" corrects the sentence's error. The corrected sentence reads, "Despite the terrible dress rehearsal the night before, the opening performance of Romeo and Juliet went really well."
Example Question #938 : 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.
Tom had a terrible sense of direction but a wonderful sense of humor; he consistently headed off in the complete wrong direction but laughed about it later. No error
complete
No error
headed
he
laughed about it
complete
This sentence uses an adjective (“complete”) to describe another adjective (“wrong”). An adverb is the correct part of speech in this context. The corrected sentence reads: "Tom had a terrible sense of direction but a wonderful sense of humor; he consistently headed off in the completely wrong direction but laughed about it later."
Example Question #939 : 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.
May dragged on painful; Dorothy was counting the hours until graduation, and they couldn’t pass fast enough. No error
painful
graduation, and
they
No error
was counting
painful
In this sentence, the adjective “painful” is used to describe the verb “dragged on.” As adjectives only describe nouns and pronouns, "painful" contains the sentence's error, and the adverb "painfully" would be a grammatically correct choice. The corrected sentence reads, "May dragged on painfully; Dorothy was counting the hours until graduation, and they couldn’t pass fast enough."
Example Question #940 : Sat Writing
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 little girl could never sit still for longer then five minutes.
The little girl could never sit still for long then five minutes.
The little girl could never sit still for longer then five minutes.
The little girl could never sit still for longer than five minutes.
The little girl could never sit still of longer then five minutes.
The little girl could never sat still for longer then five minute.
The little girl could never sit still for longer than five minutes.
"Then" is an adverb that means at that particular moment, and "than" is an adverb used to compare two things, as in the sentence, "My fall coat is less heavy than my winter coat." So, "then" is being used incorrectly in this sentence and should be replaced with "than" in order to correct the sentence's error.
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