All SAT Writing Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #1 :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.
The recent discovery of the short filmsandthe personal diaryof the renowned inventorallowhistorians to appreciate his geniuseven more.没有错误
没有错误
and
allow
of the renowned inventor
even more
allow
This sentence features an error of subject-verb agreement. The subject of this sentence is singular: "the recent discovery," though the following elaboration of short films and a personal diary can be misleading they do not change the grammatical subject of the sentence. Therefore the verb should be "allows."
Example Question #2 :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.
Looking downfrom the summit, Stacy'sfriends'faceswereblurry as they smiled upat her.没有错误
were
Looking down
friends'
at her
没有错误
Looking down
"Looking down" is the correct answer.
The subject of the main clause (after the comma) is "faces" (particularly "Stacy's friends' faces"), which cannot logically be the subject of the first clause. This disagreement creates a dangling clause. It must be the subject (of the whole sentence) who is "looking down," but one can infer that it is Stacy who is at the summit, because her "friends' faces" "smiled up at her."
Example Question #3 :Identifying Sentence Errors
While I appreciate your effortsto ensure thatthe event runs smoothly,it isinterfering withmy ability to give the artists the flexibilitytheyrequire.
没有错误
it is
interfering with
they
to ensure that
it is
In this sentence, the pronoun “it” does not agree in number with its antecedent “efforts.” The corrected sentence reads:While I appreciate your efforts to ensure that the event runs smoothly, they are interfering with my ability to give the artists the flexibility they require.
Example Question #4 :Identifying Sentence Errors
The buzzing noisesemitting fromthe alarm clockmakesme cringeevery timethat I hearthem.
every time
them
emitting from
makes
没有错误
makes
This sentence has a problem with subject-verb agreement. The verb “makes” does not agree with the plural subject “noises.” The corrected sentence reads:The buzzing noises emitting from the alarm clock make me cringe every time that I hear them.
Example Question #5 :Identifying Sentence Errors
Haroldhad always foundthe specializedjargon ofartisanal coffee shopsbeingconfusingandintimidating.
jargon of
being
had always found
没有错误
and
being
This sentence does not use the correct form of the verb that follows “found.” The corrected sentence reads:Harold had always found the specialized jargon of artisanal coffee shops to be confusing and intimidating.
Example Question #6 :Identifying Sentence Errors
His family grew up eating asteady dietof meat and potatoes, and now theyare beingreluctantto trynew foodslike enchiladas and kale chips.
没有错误
steady diet
are being
to try
like enchiladas and kale chips
are being
This sentence uses a clunky progressive tense when it is not needed. The corrected sentence reads:His family grew up eating a steady diet of meat and potatoes, and now they are reluctant to try new foods like enchiladas and kale chips.
Example Question #7 :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.
The new budgetwas not determinedentirelybythe Board of Directors, buttheycertainlyhada lot of influence.没有错误
没有错误
was not determined
they
had
by
they
The correct answer is "they."
This is a case of subject-pronoun disagreement. Although the subject in the first clause is "the budget," the subject becomes "the Board of Directors" in the second clause. Therefore, the pronoun must be replacing that subject, and the subject is singular ("theBoard of Directors"), while "they" is plural, so it is a definite error. While there are several people, at least more than one, in a Board of Directors, the subject is not the directors, it is the entity itself— the Board. There is only one Board.
Though "was not decided" is in the passive voice, it is not grammatically wrong, just weaker writing. "By" is the correct usage, "and had" is a verb-verb agreement, both are in past tense.
Example Question #8 :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.
Lauren sulkedall duringschool because she felt"left out," but the conversation wasbetween Jenny and I, and I had every rightto keep it that way.没有错误
keep it that way
all during
between Jenny and I
没有错误
"left out,"
between Jenny and I
"Between Jenny and I" is incorrect. In this case, the sentence should say, "Lauren sulked all during school because she felt 'left out,' but the conversation was between Jenny and me, and I had every right to keep it that way." This sentence has a pronoun case error. Since Jenny and the speaker are objects (grammatically) within the sentence, the objective case pronoun ("me") is required, instead of the subjective case pronoun ("I"). In order to better understand these situations, when the phrase includes a noun and a pronoun simply remove the noun before the pronoun, for example, remove "Jenny and." Once you do that, you will much more easily identify the correct pronoun.
Another example: "Dad bought Roger and I a bicycle."As opposed to: "Dad bought (Roger and) I a bicycle."One would not say: "Dad bought I a bicycle."
Example Question #9 :Identifying Sentence Errors
Members of the blue team travel around the citycollecting buttons, anditwill not be able tocommunicate with the red teamat any time.
it
没有错误
will not be able to
at any time
collecting buttons
it
In this sentence, the pronoun “it” does not match in number with its antecedent “Members.” The corrected sentence reads:Members of the blue team travel around the city collecting buttons, and they will not be able to communicate with the red team at any time.
Example Question #10 :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.
Susan's term paperwasdefinitely themost thoroughresearched workshe had doneall year, but she was still worried that the teacher wouldn't likeit.没有错误
she'd done
was
it
没有错误
most thorough
most thorough
The error here is "most thorough." Since "thorough" is followed by a verb it is an adverb, and thus must become "thoroughly." The correct way to write this would be "the most thoroughly researched." Adding the "-ly" to an adjective usually makes it an adverb, and every time and adjective is describing another adjective or a verb it must become an adverb. The "it" at the end is the correct pronoun, as "it" is referring to the paper.
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