SAT Writing : Identifying Sentence Errors

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for SAT Writing

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Example Questions

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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

Possible Answers:

没有错误

and

allow

of the renowned inventor

even more

Correct answer:

allow

Explanation:

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

Possible Answers:

were

Looking down

friends'

at her

没有错误

Correct answer:

Looking down

Explanation:

"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.

Possible Answers:

没有错误

it is

interfering with

they

to ensure that

Correct answer:

it is

Explanation:

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.

Possible Answers:

every time

them

emitting from

makes

没有错误

Correct answer:

makes

Explanation:

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.

Possible Answers:

jargon of

being

had always found

没有错误

and

Correct answer:

being

Explanation:

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.

Possible Answers:

没有错误

steady diet

are being

to try

like enchiladas and kale chips

Correct answer:

are being

Explanation:

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

Possible Answers:

没有错误

was not determined

they

had

by

Correct answer:

they

Explanation:

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

Possible Answers:

keep it that way

all during

between Jenny and I

没有错误

"left out,"

Correct answer:

between Jenny and I

Explanation:

"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.

Possible Answers:

it

没有错误

will not be able to

at any time

collecting buttons

Correct answer:

it

Explanation:

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

Possible Answers:

she'd done

was

it

没有错误

most thorough

Correct answer:

most thorough

Explanation:

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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