All SAT Writing Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #11 :Identifying Errors Involving Commonly Confused Words
年代elect the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
They'rereally excitedthattheirare so many flavorstochoose from for the birthday cake.No error
to
that
their
No error
They're
their
"Their" is a possessive pronoun that means "belonging to them," but nothing is being possessed by anyone here; the flavors do not belong to anyone in this sentence. "There" would be more appropriate.
Example Question #12 :Identifying Errors Involving Commonly Confused Words
年代elect the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Randy warnedhis气ldren thatthey’refamily would stand outoncethey moved to Tokyo, simply because ofhowdifferent they would look compared to many other people in Japan.No error
No error
they're
how
his
once
they're
“They’re” is used to abbreviate the phrase “they are,” while “their” is used to show possession. Since possession is being shown, “their” should be used, not “they’re.”
Example Question #13 :Identifying Errors Involving Commonly Confused Words
年代elect the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Eventhough年代arah knewthatgoing to the basketball gameinstead ofstudying was whatleadto her bad grade on her math test, she felt it was worth it.No error
though
lead
instead of
that
No error
lead
“Lead” is the present tense form of the verb “to lead” for a plural noun. However, the appropriate form of the verb for the singular subject (Sarah) in the past tense is “led.”
Example Question #14 :Identifying Errors Involving Commonly Confused Words
年代elect the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Overexposure to ultraviolet rayshas been linkedto types of skin cancer,soifyourstaying outside for a long time, apply sunscreenregularly.No error
No error
regularly
so
your
has been linked
your
"Your" is a possessive pronoun. It should be replaced in the sentence with the contraction for "you are," which is "you're."
Example Question #15 :Identifying Errors Involving Commonly Confused Words
年代elect the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Weather or not you like stormy whether,I enjoylistening to the thunder, watching the lightning, and hearing the rainplunkingagainstmy house's tin roof.No error
listening to the thunder, watching the lightning, and hearing the rain
against
No error
Weather or not your like stormy whether,
my house's tin roof
Weather or not your like stormy whether,
"Weather or not you like stormy whether" contains the sentence's errors. "Weather" is a noun that meansatmospheric phenomena like rain, snow, orsleet, and "whether" is a conjunction that presents two options, as in the sentence, "I couldn't decide whether or not to wear my heavy coat that day, because the weather was supposed to start off freezing warm up drastically." So, to correct this sentence's errors, "weather" and "whether" should be switched around, resulting in the sentence, "Whetheror not you like stormy weather,I enjoylistening to the thunder, watching the lightning, and hearing the rainplunkingagainstmy house's tin roof."
Example Question #16 :Identifying Errors Involving Commonly Confused Words
年代elect the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
My father came homefromaparticularlygrueling day at work anddecidedto watch the baseball game on television ratherthengo for his nightly walk.No error
then
decided
No error
from
particularly
then
To answer this question correctly, you must understand the distinction between the homonyms "then" and "than." "Then" refers to an event that happens after something, as in the sentence, "He came home from work and thenwatched television.""Than" compares two words or phrases, as in the sentence, "I like chocolate chip cookies more than peanut butter cookies." So, "than" is the correct word to use in this situation, and "then" should be changed to "than" to correct the sentence's error.
Example Question #17 :Identifying Errors Involving Commonly Confused Words
年代elect the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
That is ahotlycontested issue in American politics, and politicians oftenexacerbatethe debate withthereinflammatoryspeeches.No error
there
hotly
No error
inflammatory
exacerbate
there
The sentence uses "there" incorrectly. This is an easy mistake to look over since "there," "their," and "they're" are all homonyms—words that sound the same but have different meanings. The speeches politicians make about the issue belong to the politicians, so the proper form is "their," the possessive pronoun.
Example Question #18 :Identifying Errors Involving Commonly Confused Words
年代elect the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Yourmother'ssignature cookie recipe is incredibly delicious, and I'm incredibly jealous thatyourlucky enoughtoenjoy those sweet treatswheneveryou want them!No error
your
to
No error
mother's
whenever
your
The key here is to distinguish between the homonyms "your" and "you're."
"Your" is a possessive pronoun identifying something that belongs to you. The first usage here is correct because "your mother" refers to the mother that belongs to you.
"You're"is a contraction that combines "you" and "are," and this would be the correct choice for the second usage, making the corrected sentence "Your mother's signature cookie recipe is incredibly delicious, and I'm incredibly jealous that you're lucky enough to enjoy those sweet treats whenever you want them!"
Example Question #19 :Identifying Errors Involving Commonly Confused Words
年代elect the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Even thoughitsonly February, I amalreadyexcited for summer break andwarmerweather.No error
No error
only February
already
its
warmer
its
This is an incorrect form of the word "its." Here, the sentence uses the possessive pronoun form of "its," but there is nothing being possessed here. Instead, this sentence needs to use "it's," the contracted form of "it is," to be grammatically correct. The corrected sentence reads, "Even though it's only February, I am already excited for summer break and warmer weather."
Example Question #20 :Identifying Errors Involving Commonly Confused Words
年代elect the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
It was sogreattoherefrom youlast weekend;we need to makethese luncheshappen more often!No error
so great
No error
here
last weekend
these lunches
here
"Here" is an adverb that meansin this current location, but the sentence is using it as if it were the verb "hear," which meansrecognize sounds fromorlisten to.
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