All SAT Writing Resources
Example Questions
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.No error
No error
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.No error
keep it that way
all during
between Jenny and I
No error
"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."而不是:“爸爸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
No error
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:蓝色的团队的成员环游这个城市有限公司llecting buttons, and they will not be able to communicate with the red team at any time.
Example Question #1 :Identifying Usage Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
比安卡和the sisterwere at oddsbecausealthough they were members of the same family, they feltdifferentlyabouttheirparents' divorce.No error
their
because
differently
No error
the sister
the sister
The error in this sentence arises where we are told that Bianca and her sister disagree over their parents' divorce, but her sister is presented abstractly; the correct usage of "her sister" allows the individual mentioned to be presented in relation to Bianca. Without the "her," we cannot be certain what the relation is, although it is clearly indicated elsewhere in the sentence.
Example Question #2 :Identifying Usage Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Since Mollywonfirst place and Meg won second,she washonoredatthe awards ceremonyafter dinner.No error
won
No error
she was
at
after dinner
she was
This sentence has an ambiguous pronoun. To whom does "she" refer? You could fix this either by referring to both women with "they," if it is indeed the case that both were honored at the awards ceremony after dinner, or by replacing "she" with the name of the woman being specified.
Example Question #1 :Identifying Pronoun Errors: Ambiguity
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Mr. Harris told Mr. Jarvins that at the latest staff meeting, the owner of the companyexpresseda stronginterest inpromotinghimto a seniorexecutiveposition.No error
interest in
expressed
executive
him
No error
him
This sentence contains an ambiguous pronoun. We don't know whether "him" refers to Mr. Harris or Mr. Jarvins, so "him" is the error in the sentence. If we wanted to fix the error, we would have to replace "him" with the unique name of the person—Mr. Harris or Mr. Jarvins—being considered for the promotion.
Example Question #4 :Identifying Usage Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Jim and Tommywerelate to work for the fourth time that week,sincetheyhad to pickherup at the airport and her flight was late.No error
her
they
No error
were
since
her
This is an ambiguous pronoun. We are not sure to whom "her" refers. The sentence should use her name.
Example Question #2 :Identifying Pronoun Errors: Ambiguity
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Many experts advocatechanginghow children learnto write,theorizingthattheywill have more success in the long run.No error
changing
to write
No error
theorizing
they
they
"They" is an ambiguous pronoun reference—it could refer to either "experts" or "children."
Example Question #21 :Identifying Word Usage Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
WhenSusanne and Patriciawere calledon stage asthe finalistsfor the debate competition,sheknew who was going to win.No error.
were called
When
the finalists
No error.
she
she
"She" contains this sentence's error. As Susanne and Patricia are both girls, the pronoun "she" is ambiguous. Also, the "she" could refer to another person—perhaps someone observing the competition in the audience. We don't know if the she refers to Susanne, Patricia, or someone else, and this makes the sentence's meaning unclear.
Example Question #22 :Identifying Word Usage Errors
Select the underlined word that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Jane and Annabelwereso focused on the music the DJwas playingthatshelost trackof time.No error
she
of time
was playing
No error
were
she
While the subjects of the sentence are "Jane and Annabel," the sentence later uses the pronoun "she," which could refer to either of the women. We can correct this ambiguity by replacing "she" with "they."
Certified Tutor
Certified Tutor