PSAT Writing › 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.
Although the eighth grade math bowl team did excellently in practice, the members performed terrible in the actual tournament. No error
terrible
Although
excellently
the members
No error
This sentence uses the adjective "terrible" to modify the verb "performed." An adverb is more appropriate. The corrected sentence reads, "Although the eighth grade math bowl team did excellently in practice, the members performed terribly in the actual tournament."
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
In particular, the audience’s worry that the vicious dogs might bite. No error.
the audience's worry
In particular
vicious
might bite
No error.
This sentence is a fragment, because it does not have a main verb. Changing the noun phrase “the audience’s worry” to a noun and verb fixes this nicely: "In particular, the audience worried that the vicious dogs might bite."
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Stooping down to tie her shoe, Margaret saw a tiny note scribbled onto the wall only a few inches above the floor. No error
No error
Stooping down
Stooping down
saw
saw
scribbled
scribbled
above the floor
above the floor
This sentence is correct as written. “Stooping down” uses a conventional combination of verb and preposition, “saw” is in the correct tense, “scribbled” is also in the correct tense, and “above the floor” is an appropriate prepositional phrase.
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
He could have chosen any profession in the world, but he decided that accounting was more interesting. No error
more
could have chosen
but
decided that
No error
This sentence uses the comparative “more,” which should be used when comparing only two things. As this sentence compares all professions, the superlative “most” should be used. The corrected sentence reads, "He could have chosen any profession in the world, but he decided that accounting was the most interesting."
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
When I worked for Mr. Tipler, my daily duties included running the cash register, cleaning the store, and records of inventory. No error.
records of inventory
When I worked
daily duties
cleaning
No error.
This sentence does not demonstrate proper parallel structure among the elements in the list. Each should be formatted similarly. So, because the first two elements in the list are gerunds ("running" and "cleaning"), the noun phrase "records of inventory" should be changed to a gerund as well. The corrected sentence reads, "When I worked for Mr. Tipler, my daily duties included running the cash register, cleaning the store, and recording inventory."
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
As soon as I bought an expensive patio umbrella I am finding them on clearance everywhere. No error
am finding
As soon as
expensive
everywhere
No error
This sentence has a problem with the timeline of verb tenses. Since the first half of the sentence is in the past, the second half has to be too. The corrected sentence reads, "As soon as I bought an expensive patio umbrella I found them on clearance everywhere."
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Maria had a gigantic bouncy castle at her birthday party, making it significantly more popular than Susie. No error
more popular than Susie
gigantic
at her
making
No error
In this sentence, there is an illogical comparison between Maria’s birthday party (a thing) and Susie (a person). Assuming that the comparison should be between two birthday parties, the corrected sentence reads: "Maria had a gigantic bouncy castle at her birthday party, making it significantly more popular than Susie’s party."
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Thomas had always struggled with trigonometry, he thought that circles should remain circles and let triangles and squiggles be their own shapes. No error
trigonometry, he
had always struggled
should remain
their
No error
This sentence is an example of a run-on or comma splice. It has two independent clauses separated only by a comma. One way to fix this is to change the comma to a semicolon; if this were to be done, the corrected sentence would read, "Thomas had always struggled with trigonometry; he thought that circles should remain circles and let triangles and squiggles be their own shapes."
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
As soon as I bought an expensive patio umbrella I am finding them on clearance everywhere. No error
am finding
As soon as
expensive
everywhere
No error
This sentence has a problem with the timeline of verb tenses. Since the first half of the sentence is in the past, the second half has to be too. The corrected sentence reads, "As soon as I bought an expensive patio umbrella I found them on clearance everywhere."
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Randy warned his children that they’re family would stand out once they moved to Tokyo, simply because of how different they would look compared to many other people in Japan. No error
they're
his
once
how
No error
“They’re” is used to abbreviate the phrase “they are,” while “their” is used to show possession. Since possession is being shown, “their” should be used, not “they’re.”