PSAT Writing : Identifying Word Usage Errors
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Example Questions
Example Question #391 : 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 department received most of their funding from private donors who were interested in the research. No error
interested in
No error
who were
their
received
their
The pronoun "their" should refer to a plural noun, but here it refers to the singular noun "department". A singular pronoun should be used: "The department received most of its funding from private donors who were interested in the research."
Example Question #392 : 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.
Although John was excited to meet his new teacher, he was also nervous because he didn't know what their instruction style would be like. No error
No error
excited to meet
Although
he didn't know
their
their
Although the gender of the teacher is not specified, "teacher" is still singular. Therefore, the plural possessive pronoun "their" should not be used. Rather than using "their," the sentence should say "his or her."
Example Question #393 : 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 schools in that area have always been known for its strong academics, athletic program, and up-to-date facilities. No error
its
No error
have
been known
and
its
The subject of the sentence is "schools," a plural noun. So, one should not use "its," a singular possessive pronoun, to refer to "schools," a plural noun. Replacing "its" with "their" would correct the sentence's error.
Example Question #394 : 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 mayor has often proposed reductions in the sales tax because shoppers can benefit from this whenever they shop. No error
whenever
because
this
has often proposed
No error
this
Pronouns and their antecedents must agree. In this sentence, "reductions" is plural, while "this" is singular, so "this" contains the sentence's error.
Example Question #395 : 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.
Despite their excellent reputation for successful rebranding projects, the marketing agency was seeing a significant decline in the number of interested clients. No error
reputation for
No error
was seeing
decline in the number
their
their
In this sentence, the plural pronoun “their” does not match the singular noun it refers to, “the marketing agency.” The corrected sentence reads: "Despite its excellent reputation for successful rebranding projects, the marketing agency was seeing a significant decline in the number of interested clients."
Example Question #396 : 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.
Instead of accepting the aliens’ offer to take over, the humans rejected them and attempted vainly to fight back. No error
Instead of
No error
the aliens' offer
them
vainly
them
This sentence has a disagreement between a pronoun and its antecedent. The “offer” is singular and “them” is plural. The corrected sentence reads, "Instead of accepting the aliens’ offer to take over, the humans rejected it and attempted vainly to fight back."
Example Question #91 : Identifying Agreement 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 he saw the perfect gift for his mom at the mall, he decided to buy it for them. No error
at
them
decided
No error
When
them
The antecedent of the word "them," a plural pronoun, is the word "mom," a singular noun. Pronouns need to match their antecedents' gender and number, so the singular feminine pronoun "her" should be used instead of the plural pronoun "them."
Example Question #92 : Identifying Agreement Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
New York and Los Angeles have experienced a cultural boom in the past decade, as its restaurant scenes have been booming with new talent. No error
its
past decade
No error
cultural boom
and
its
Given that the subject of the sentence is "New York and Los Angeles," which is plural, the pronoun "its" should also be plural. Therefore, "its" should be "their."
Example Question #12 : Identifying Pronoun Antecedent Agreement Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
A professor who assigns an unreasonable amount of reading for their students may never earn the class's approval. No error
who
their
No error
class's
may
their
"Their" is a possessive pronoun that indicates that someone belongs to several people. This sentence, however, refers to a single subject (a professor), so the best pronoun to use is one that signifies that an object belongs to one person: in this case, his students. Even though "students" is plural, the plurality of the object does not impact the possessive pronoun. Only the plurality of the subject matters, so "his" is the correct pronoun, making the corrected sentence "A professor who assigns an unreasonable amount of reading for his students may never earn the class's approval."
Example Question #93 : Identifying Agreement Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Penelope always thought of the most fabulous witty comebacks two hours after the situation in which she could have used it. No error
it
two hours after
thought
No error
the most
it
In this sentence, the pronoun “it” (singular) refers to “witty comebacks” (plural). These words should agree in number. The corrected sentence reads, "Penelope always thought of the most fabulous witty comebacks two hours after the situation in which she could have used them."
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