SAT Writing › Correcting Agreement Errors
Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English.
The new bylaws of the organization was ratified by a unanimous vote yesterday.
The new bylaws of the organization were
The new bylaws of the organization was
The new bylaws for the organization was
The new bylaws from the organization was
The newer bylaws of the organization was
While the singular verb "was" is next to the singular noun "organization," the subject of the sentence is the plural noun "bylaws." This means that the verb "was" needs to be changed to a plural form; therefore, "The new bylaws of the organization were" is the correct answer choice.
Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English.
Due to the elliptical shape of celestial orbits, the distance between the sun and the planets vary over time.
the distance between the sun and the planets varies over time.
the distance between the sun with the planets vary over time.
the distance of the sun to the planets vary over time.
the distance between the sun and the planets have varied over time.
the distance between the sun and the planets vary over time.
The answer choice "the distance between the sun and the planets varies over time" is correct. It correctly uses a singular verb—"varies"—to match the singular subject, "distance."
All of the other answer choices are incorrect because they contain a subject-verb number agreement error. They use plural verb forms when they should use singular verb forms instead.
Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English. One of the answer choices reproduces the underlined portion as it is written in the sentence.
No parent should have to bury their child; the loss of a young loved one is very often too much to bear.
No parent should have to bury his or her child;
No parent should have to bury their child;
No parent should have to bury they're child;
No parent should have to bury there child;
No parent should have to bury their child:
There is an antecedent/pronoun agreement error in the sentence above. The antecedent "No parent" does not match up correctly with "their." Since "no parent" concerns individual parents a plural pronoun is inappropriate in this situation. The best way to correct the error is: "No parent should have to bury his or her child;"
Note that a semicolon correctly separates two independent clauses in the example sentence.
Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English.
Due to the elliptical shape of celestial orbits, the distance between the sun and the planets vary over time.
the distance between the sun and the planets varies over time.
the distance between the sun with the planets vary over time.
the distance of the sun to the planets vary over time.
the distance between the sun and the planets have varied over time.
the distance between the sun and the planets vary over time.
The answer choice "the distance between the sun and the planets varies over time" is correct. It correctly uses a singular verb—"varies"—to match the singular subject, "distance."
All of the other answer choices are incorrect because they contain a subject-verb number agreement error. They use plural verb forms when they should use singular verb forms instead.
Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English.
The new bylaws of the organization was ratified by a unanimous vote yesterday.
The new bylaws of the organization were
The new bylaws of the organization was
The new bylaws for the organization was
The new bylaws from the organization was
The newer bylaws of the organization was
While the singular verb "was" is next to the singular noun "organization," the subject of the sentence is the plural noun "bylaws." This means that the verb "was" needs to be changed to a plural form; therefore, "The new bylaws of the organization were" is the correct answer choice.
Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English. One of the answer choices reproduces the underlined portion as it is written in the sentence.
No parent should have to bury their child; the loss of a young loved one is very often too much to bear.
No parent should have to bury his or her child;
No parent should have to bury their child;
No parent should have to bury they're child;
No parent should have to bury there child;
No parent should have to bury their child:
There is an antecedent/pronoun agreement error in the sentence above. The antecedent "No parent" does not match up correctly with "their." Since "no parent" concerns individual parents a plural pronoun is inappropriate in this situation. The best way to correct the error is: "No parent should have to bury his or her child;"
Note that a semicolon correctly separates two independent clauses in the example sentence.
Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English. One of the answer choices reproduces the underlined portion as it is written in the sentence.
The reporter was nervous that the mob was after him because of his piece on city corruption.
him
he
his
the reporter
her
In the sentence above, the pronoun "him" clearly refers to the reporter in the first part of the sentence. This is gramatically correct—in the second part of the sentence, the reporter is the object, therefore "him" is the appropriate pronoun. The sentence is correct as written.
Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English. One of the answer choices reproduces the underlined portion as it is written in the sentence.
Each of the seven gems in the Queen's crown were mined from each of the seven continents on Earth, making it representative of the Queen's desire for a worldwide empire.
was mined from each of the seven continents on Earth
were mined from each of the seven continents on Earth
were mines from each of the seven continents on Earth
were mining from each of the seven continents on Earth
was mining from each of the seven continents on Earth
Although there are seven gems, the subject of the sentence is "Each" of the gems, which is a singular noun. Therefore, the correct phrase uses the singular past verb form—"was mined from each of the seven continents on Earth."
Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English. One of the answer choices reproduces the underlined portion as it is written in the sentence.
The reporter was nervous that the mob was after him because of his piece on city corruption.
him
he
his
the reporter
her
In the sentence above, the pronoun "him" clearly refers to the reporter in the first part of the sentence. This is gramatically correct—in the second part of the sentence, the reporter is the object, therefore "him" is the appropriate pronoun. The sentence is correct as written.
No one question the desire to succeed among most students in a competitive school environment.
No one questions
No one question
No question
Nobody question
No questions
The underlined part of the sentence contains a flaw in subject verb agreement. "No one" is properly used as a singular form. Therefore, "no one questions" is the correct answer choice.