All SAT Writing Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #1149 :Identifying Sentence Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Although heinitiallyrefused to go to the cinema, James finally saw themovie, thathis friendshad recommended.No error
refused to go to the cinema
movie, that
Although he
No error
had recommended
movie, that
Commas, gramatically speaking, should never be used before or after the word "that." The correct sentence would have: "James finally saw the movie that his friends . . ."
"Had recommended" could be changed to "recommended", for the sake of simplicity, but the comma error is more flagrant.
Example Question #1150 :Identifying Sentence Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Joey willreluctantlyeat broccoli andspinach but他最喜欢的绿色蔬菜arepeas and青豆.No error
青豆
spinach but
are
reluctantly
No error
spinach but
The sentence consists of two independent clauses ("Joey will reluctantly eat broccoli and spinach" and "his favorite green vegetables are peas and green beans") joined by a coordinating conjunction, "but." (Other coordinating conjunctions can include "and," "or," "nor," "yet," "so," and "for.") When two independent clauses are joined by a coordinating conjunction, a comma is required after the first clause immediately before the conjunction. The corrected sentence would read, "Joey will reluctantly eat broccoli and spinach, but his favorite green vegetables are peas and green beans."
Example Question #1 :Identifying Punctuation Errors: Commas For Dependent Clauses
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
While Iwouldlove togo to the beach withyou Ihave tostudy instead.No error
study instead
While I
No error
you I
love to
you I
“While I would love to go to the beach with you” is a dependent clause, which means that if it is removed from the sentence, the rest of the sentence (“I have to study instead”) will still be a complete sentence. Because commas are always used to separate a dependent clause from an independent clause when the dependent clause precedes the independent clause, a comma must appear between “with you” and “I have.”
Example Question #2 :Identifying Punctuation Errors: Commas For Dependent Clauses
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Wherevertheygo,theycan’t seemto find a vacationspot,that suits their needs.No error
Wherever
can't seem
go,
No error
spot,
spot,
“Wherever they go” is a dependent clause, so it must be separated from the rest of the sentence by a comma. However, commas generally don’t appear before or after the word “that,” so no comma is necessary there. (Specifically, commas are not generally needed to separate dependent clauses from independent clauses when the dependent clause follows the independent clause.)
Example Question #3 :Identifying Punctuation Errors: Commas For Dependent Clauses
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Being a strong mathstudentChris didn’t understand hisclassmates’confusion withprime numbers,logarithms,or exponents.No error
No error.
logarithms,
student
prime numbers,
classmates'
student
“Being a strong student” is a modifier that describes “Chris,” so a comma is needed to separate the two. The three items in the list are properly punctuated with commas, and since "classmates" is plural, the correct possessive is "classmates’."
Example Question #4 :Identifying Punctuation Errors: Commas For Dependent Clauses
Select the underlined word or words that need to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences may not contain an error.
Here’s thesituation:yourdog isn’t properly trained to be aroundchildren,adultsor other animals.No error
situation:
children,
No error
adults
Your
adults
Because “Here’s the situation” is an independent clause introducing another independent clause, a colon is the correct punctuation mark to use to separate them. A comma is required after “adults,” though, since it’s an item in a list.
Example Question #291 :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.
Janewanted togo parasailingovervacation but then, afierce storm rolled inandflooded the harbor.No error
vacation but then, a
and
No error
wanted to
over
vacation but then, a
The placement of the comma in this sentence between "then" and "a" is incorrect. The comma should instead appear between "vacation" and "but" in order to correctly connect the compound sentence's two independent clauses using a comma followed by a conjunction.
Example Question #292 :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 crowd jumpedout oftheir seats and cheeredloudly, whenthe home team scored thegame-winningshotatthe buzzer.No error.
No error
at
out of
game-winning
loudly, when
loudly, when
The comma between "loudly" and "when" is unnecessary, creating and punctuation error in the sentence.
Example Question #293 :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.
AlthoughDanny was not the bestswimmer hisfriendsalways saidhethrewthe best pool parties.No error.
always said
threw
swimmer his
Although
No error
swimmer his
The sentence requires a comma after "swimmer" in order to correctly join its dependent and independent clauses ("Although Danny was not the best swimmer" and "his friends always said he threw the best pool parties").
Example Question #131 :Identifying Punctuation Errors: Commas
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
WhileI don't agree with your opinionabouthow life on Earthbegan Ido respectyour rightto believe it.No error.
While
your right
began I
No error
about
began I
The sentence consists of two separate clauses ("While I don't agree with your opinion about how life on Earth began" and "I do respect your right to believe it"); therefore, the sentence requires a comma after "began" to properly separate the clauses.
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