SAT Writing : Identifying Errors Involving Commonly Confused Words
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Example Question #388 :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.
Geese are animalswhoare known fortheirloyalty; a male goosewill never abandonitspartner, even under the most extreme circumstances.No error
loyalty; a male goose
No error
its
their
who
who
“Who” should be replaced by “that” because geese are not human, and the pronoun "who" is only used to refer to humans.
Example Question #389 :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.
Even thoughthe libraryhada number of fantasy novels,itdid not have the onewhichBill was looking for.No error
it
Even though
which
No error
had
which
“它”是用来说明修改to a phrase when the modification comes after a comma. “That” is used to show that there is a modification to a phrase in which a comma does not follow the subject being modified. Here, "which" is not preceded by a comma, so "that" is the more appropriate choice.
Example Question #390 :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.
The chefwasfrustrated to see that his assistantshad notreplaced the saffron,thatis averyexpensive spice.No error
was
No error
very
had not
that
that
“它”是用来说明修改to a phrase when the modification comes after a comma. “That” is used to show that there is a modification to a phrase in which there is not a comma after the subject being modified. Here, “saffron” is being modified by the part of the sentence after the comma. Therefore, “which” is appropriate, not“that.”
Example Question #31 :Identifying Errors Involving Commonly Confused Words
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Jaredwasvery happywhenhis parents said thattheyenjoyed the independent film,thatBill had helped to produce.No error
that
was
when
they
No error
that
“它”是用来说明修改to a phrase when the modification comes after a comma. “That” is used to show that there is a modification to a phrase in which there is not a comma after the subject being modified. Here, “independent film” is being modified by the part of the sentence that follows the comma. Therefore, “which” is appropriate, not “that.”
Example Question #32 :Identifying Errors Involving Commonly Confused Words
Identifying sentence errors. Identify any error you find in an underlined portion of the passage. If you can find no errors, select "no error" as your answer choice.
Thestate ofCalifornia,thatis large,has millionsofresidents.No error
that
No error
has millions
residents
state of
that
Instead of "that," in this sentence the word "which" would be appropriate, since this is a non-restrictive relative clause. A non-restrictive relative clause has a noun that is already fully identified, but then adds additional information. Here, we already know that we're discussing the state of California, so its largeness is non-restrictive. "That" only works in restrictive clauses, i.e. those that refer to the noun, and which are never set off by commas.
Example Question #33 :Identifying Errors Involving Commonly Confused Words
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
My cat,thathasorange and white stripes, enjoysconsumingfood made for human beings,likebread and noodles.No error
that
No error
like
has
consuming
that
In this sentence, "that" should be replaced with "which" because the phrase it introduces ("has orange and white stripes") is non-essential—that is, the phrase can be removed from the sentence without altering its meaning. "That" should be used with essential words or phrases, meaning that such phrases mustbe in the sentence for a reader's to understand it properly. An example of an essential phrase would be "The painting that the thief stole last night is still missing." To say "The painting is still missing" would leave out essential information - that it's missing because a thief stole it last night.
Example Question #34 :Identifying Errors Involving Commonly Confused Words
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
The house on the cornernear the evergreenshasa gabled roof,thathas always appealedto Anna.No error
to Anna
that
near the evergreens
has
No error
that
Information that is added in a phrase that follows a comma should begin with "which," not "that." "That" is used at the start of a phrase not preceded by a comma that, if removed from a sentence, causes the sentence to not make sense. "Which," on the other hand, is used to begin a phrase that is set apart from the sentence by a comma and can be removed from the sentence without causing it to not make sense. IN this case, "that" should be changed to "which," since omitting the comma is not an option.
Example Question #35 :Identifying Errors Involving Commonly Confused Words
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
They werevery excitedbecause theyhad bakedtheir friend a triple layer chocolate cakewhichthey knew hewas going to love.No error
very excited
was going to love
No error
had baked
which
which
Use “which” for added information after a comma. “That” is for cases like this, where the information is an important part of the sentence and there is no comma. The corrected sentence reads, "They were very excited because they had baked their friend a triple layer chocolate cake that they knew he was going to love."
Example Question #31 :Identifying Errors Involving Commonly Confused Words
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Maria's favorite cupcakewasthe onewhichwas topped with coconut frostingand had papayawedgesin the middle.No error
in the middle
which
No error
was
and papaya
which
“Which” is used to signal modification to a phrase when the modifying dependent clause comes after a comma. “That” is used to signal modification to a phrase in which there is not a comma after the subject being modified. Here, the subject being modified ("one" in reference to the cupcake) does not have a comma after it. Therefore, “that” is appropriate, not “which.”
Example Question #37 :Identifying Errors Involving Commonly Confused Words
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
I knew all of the informationexcept forthe materialonthe Civil War,thatof coursewasthe focus of the exam.No error
No error
that
was
on
except for
that
This sentence confuses the words “that” and “which.” "That" is used to begin restrictive clauses—clauses that provide necessary information about the sentence's subject and are not set apart from the rest of the sentence by commas. (An example of this would be, "The kitten that had a spot on its nose was Marlene's favorite.") "Which" is used to begin nonrestrictive clauses—clauses that are introduced by commas and provide extra information that could be omitted from the sentence without significantly altering its meaning. (An example would be "The kitten, which had a spot on its nose, slept peacefully.")
In the given sentence, the information "that of course was the focus of the exam" follows a comma, signaling that it is a nonrestrictive clause and should begin with "which," not "that." You could correct the sentence by changing "that" to "which," making it, "I knew all of the information except for the material on the Civil War, which of course was the focus of the exam."
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