SAT Writing : Identifying Conjunction Errors
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Example Questions
Example Question #1 :我dentifying Subordinate 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.
Vincent van Goghsoldonly a few paintings during his lifetime,but yethe is considered one of thegreatestpaintersof all time.No error
sold
greatest
but yet
No error
of all time
but yet
这sentence contains a redundancy error. The conjunctions "but" and "yet" are synonyms; they mean the same thing, so only one or the other is necessary to convey the intended meaning of the sentence.
The answer choice "sold" is correct because it contains the simple past tense, which is correct for events that happened in the past and don't continue into the present.
The answer choice "greatest" is correct because it uses the superlative form (the "-est" form) of the adjective great, which is appropriate for comparisons involving more than two items.
The answer choice "of all time" is a perfectly correct use of an idiomatic expression.
Example Question #2 :我dentifying Subordinate 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.
Once我learned how toswim,我would nevergo in the waterfor fear ofdrowning.No error
for fear of
我would never
No error
Once
swim,
Once
“Once” is the incorrect subordinate conjunction; it should be replaced by “until,” which is the only logical conjunction for the sentence.
Example Question #3 :我dentifying Subordinate 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.
Whether or northey were inlove,John decided he needed tobreak upwith his long-distancegirlfriend;the time apart was just too difficult.No error
break up
Whether or nor
love,
No error
girlfriend;
Whether or nor
The proper form of the subordinating conjunction is “whether or not,” not “whether or nor.”
Example Question #4 :我dentifying Subordinate Conjunction Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed in order to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Anna is an amazing lawyer,but howevershehas manypersonal issues thatoften getin the wayof herprofessional work.No error.
No error
but however
often get
has many
of her
but however
The sentence features a redundancy error—since "but" comes first in the sentence, there is no need to include the synonym "however."
Example Question #5 :我dentifying Subordinate 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.
Untilmy friends went ice skating, Iwould alwaysstay at homefor fear offalling downon the ice.No error
on the ice
would always
No error
for fear of
Until
Until
The sentences uses the incorrect subordinate conjunction "Until"—"When" or "Whenever" would be better choices for the correct subordinate conjunction.
Example Question #6 :我dentifying Subordinate 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.
Whether and notthe citizens agreed withthe final decisions,the politicians felt thatitwas their responsibility to set laws that were fairfor everyone.No error
No error
Whether and not
it
for everyone
the final decisions
Whether and not
The form of the subordinating conjunction used here is incorrect—it should be "Whether or not" instead of "Whether and not."
Example Question #7 :我dentifying Subordinate 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.
Bob,an insurance agent,wishes he had thekind ofjob that allowed him totravel,whenever hewanted.No error
an insurance agent,
wanted.
No error
kind of
travel,
travel,
Since “whenever” is a subordinating conjunction linking a dependent and independent clause, no comma is needed before it. Commas are required before coordinating conjunctions, but not subordinating conjunctions.
Example Question #8 :我dentifying Subordinate 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.
Provided byshe was paidovertime,Kara agreedto cleanthe golf coursebeforeshe left for the day.No error
Provided by
overtime
before
No error
to clean
Provided by
这question is checking for understanding of the subordinate conjunction "provided that." If it helps, "provided that" can be thought of as equivalent to "on the condition that." The only error in the sentence is that "provided by" is used instead of "provided that." "Provided by" has a different use (as a regular verb) and is not a subordinate conjunction.
An example of "provided by" used correctly: "Her cell phone service was provided by her local cell phone company."
An example of "provided that" used correctly: "Provided that she was paid overtime, Kara agreed to clean the golf course before she left for the day."
Example Question #9 :我dentifying Subordinate 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.
When wheneverwe had enough to eat when我was younger,mywhole familywascompletely overjoyed.No error
whole family
When whenever
我was younger,
No error
completely overjoyed
When whenever
我n the sentence above, the words "when" and "whenever" are being used to cause the second portion of the sentence to be a subordinate clause: they are subordinate conjunctions. They also mean roughly the same thing, so using both is redundant. One of the conjunctions should remain in the sentence, and the other should be deleted. The best way to correct the sentence above is:
"When we had enough to eat when I was younger, my whole family was completely overjoyed."
OR
"Whenever we had enough to eat when I was younger, my whole family was completely overjoyed."
Example Question #10 :我dentifying Subordinate 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.
There's an old saying,"great men are rarely good men,"but yetmanyof myfavorite heroes from historywere exceedingly kind.No error
of my
but yet
"great men are rarely good men,"
were exceedingly kind.
No error
but yet
我n the sentence above, the words "but" and "yet" are being as subordinate conjunctions. They also mean roughly the same thing. Only one of them is necessary, and the other should be deleted. The best way to correct the sentence above is:
There's an old saying, "great men are rarely good men," yet many of my favorite heroes from history were exceedingly kind.
OR
There's an old saying, "great men are rarely good men," but many of my favorite heroes from history were exceedingly kind.
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