SAT Writing : Identifying Conjunction Errors
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Example Question #1 :Identifying Conjunction Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
My library normally only allowspatrons to check out three books at atime, andwhen I explained that I needed to check out more than thatbecause I was working on a term paper,they allowed me to do so.No error
My library normally only allows
No error
they allowed me to do so
when I explained that I needed to check out more than that
time, and
time, and
This sentence's error is one that has to do with the logic of conjunctions. The conjunction "and" is used to join two sentences that do not contradict each other. This is not the case with these two sentences: based on the first sentence, you would think that the speaker would only be allowed to check out three books, but this is not the case. So, "and" is not the correct conjunction to use; changing "and" to "but" would correct the sentence's error.
Example Question #2 :Identifying Conjunction Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Iwouldbake more cookies,andevery time I do, my ovenburnsthem.No error
would
No error
and
every time I do, my oven
them
and
This sentence begins with "I would bake more cookies" but then the speaker gives a reason why he or she does not bake more cookies, "every time [he or she] tries to bake cookies, [his or her] oven burns them." So, "and" is not the correct conjunction to use in this sentence. A conjunction like "but" is needed to contrast the two parts of the sentence and convey why the speaker does not bake more cookies even though he or she "would."
Example Question #1 :Identifying Conjunction Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Jonathan was adevotedfan of music ofalmost anykind,andhe justcould not toleratereggae.No error
could not tolerate
and
devoted
almost any
No error
and
This sentence is not coordinated correctly. Logically, the second half contradicts the message of the first, so the conjunction “but” would be more appropriate. The corrected sentence reads:Jonathan was a devoted fan of music of almost any kind, but he just could not tolerate reggae.
Example Question #4 :Identifying Conjunction Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Only six studentsattendedthe football gameonSaturday,andmany students went insteadtothe school dance.No error
to
No error
and
on
attended
and
This sentence contains an error in the logical expression of ideas. The original text uses the conjunction "and," which fails to capture the cause and effect relationship between low attendance at the football game and students going to the dance instead. A better conjunction to express the cause and effect relationship would be "because."
Example Question #5 :Identifying Conjunction Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Jack was一个who got us into thisdangeroussituation,buthe has absolutely no rightto complain.No error
to complain
but
dangerous
No error
一个
but
这句话不正确协调. The conjunction “but” does not describe the logical connection between the two parts of the sentence. A better alternative would be, "John was the one who got us into this dangerous situation, so he has absolutely no right to complain."
Example Question #1 :Identifying Conjunction Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Ashis friends cut the triple layer chocolate cake, the authorfeltcheerfulbutnewly energized.No error
but
As
No error
newly energized
felt
but
This sentence uses the wrong coordinating conjunction. Since “cheerful” and “newly energized” are similar, the conjunction “and” should be used. The corrected sentence reads, "As his friends cut the triple layer chocolate cake, the author felt cheerful and newly energized."
Example Question #2 :Identifying Conjunction Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Unlikehismentor,acheivingthe title of "partner" by the time he was thirty years old, Jon does not think thathe will acheivethis position until he isat leastforty years old.No error
he will acheive
his
No error
acheiving
at least
acheiving
的错误存在于下划线部分sentence, "achieving." In order to explain the background of who the mentor is, it is not sufficient to place a comma after "mentor" without a transition, such as "who achieved." Simply using the word "achieving" is not sufficient. Therefore, "achieving" is the correct answer.
Example Question #8 :Identifying Conjunction Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Neither the teachers or the students weretold thatthe famous actor and actress would be visitingthe schooluntil the day before the visit; it was hard to tellwhich group wasthe more excited onewhen everyone found out.No error
the more excited one
No error
the famous actor and actress would be visiting
until the day before the visit; it was hard to tell
Neither the teachers or the students were
Neither the teachers or the students were
When using the word "neither" to introduce one of two things in a negative fashion, one needs to introduce the other thing using the word "nor," not "or." So, the correct answer is, "Neither the teachers nor the students were told that the famous actor and actress would be visiting the school until the day before the visit; it was hard to tell which group was the more excited one when everyone found out."
Example Question #41 :Identifying Phrase, Clause, And 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.
Neither the alienswhowere invadingorthe people whowere beinginvaded really understoodwhat was happening.No error
No error
or
were being
what was happening
who
or
This sentence has a problem with coordinators. If “neither” is used, it triggers the use of “nor.” The corrected sentence reads:Neither the aliens who were invading nor the people who were being invaded really understood what was happening.
Example Question #42 :Identifying Phrase, Clause, And 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.
Neither the dogorthe cat could climb the treesoutside the house, for the treesweretoo tall.No error
or
too tall
outside the house
were
no error
or
The proper conjunction here would be "nor," as it agrees with "neither."
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