PSAT Writing : Identifying Word Usage Errors
Study concepts, example questions & explanations for PSAT Writing
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Example Questions
Example Question #2 : Identifying Pronoun Errors: Case
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
My father told Jon and I that we could keep the stray dog, but the responsibility of caring for it would fall on us. No error
but
caring for it
fall on us
No error
Jon and I
Jon and I
The pronoun "I" should be changed to "me" because it is not the subject of the sentence, so the phrase "Jon and I" contains the sentence's error.
Example Question #4 : Identifying Pronoun Errors: Case
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
I was almost to the exit of the building, but standing between the doors and I was a gigantic security guard looking right at me. No error
the doors and I
standing
No error
looking right at me
exit of
the doors and I
This sentence uses the wrong pronoun case. If a first person pronoun is the object of a preposition, it should be “me,” not “I.” The corrected sentence reads, "I was almost to the exit of the building, but standing between me and the doors was a gigantic security guard looking right at me."
Example Question #81 : 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.
At the start of the soccer season, Coach Stan paid a visit to my parents and I to explain why I was cut from varsity. No error
At
why
parents and I
No error
paid a visit
parents and I
"Parents and I" is the object of the preposition "to," so it should instead be "parents and me."
Example Question #82 : 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.
My sister took my hand and solemnly swore that nothing would ever come between her and I. No error
hand and
would ever come
No error
solemnly
her and I
her and I
In this sentence, the wrong pronoun case is used. “I” is a subject, but here it appears as the object of a preposition. The corrected sentence reads: My sister took my hand and solemnly swore that nothing would ever come between her and me.
Example Question #83 : 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.
There was a new person whom I had never seen before standing between my sister and I in the line. No error
standing
and I
No error
whom
There was
and I
This sentence uses the wrong case of pronoun. As an object, the first person pronoun should always be “me.” The corrected sentence reads, "There was a new person who I had never seen before standing between my sister and me in the line."
Example Question #1 : Identifying Verb Tense Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Seafarers have not been able to measure longitude during their journeys until the 18th century, when clockmaker William Harrison solved the problem with a very precise clock. No error.
have not been able to
No error.
when
their journeys
solved the problem with
have not been able to
The verb tenses in this sentence do not work together. The first part of the sentence takes place before a point in the past (when Harrison solved the problem), so the correct verb would be “had not been able.” The corrected sentence reads, "Seafarers had not been able to measure longitude during their journeys until the 18th century, when clockmaker William Harrison solved the problem with a very precise clock."
Example Question #2 : Identifying Verb Tense Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Frustrated by the limited career options in his small, rural hometown, Frank ran away with the circus and was becoming a contortionist. No error.
Frustrated by
was becoming
small, rural hometown
No error.
with the circus
was becoming
There is no reason for the last verb in this sentence to be in the past progressive tense—it happened at a singular point in the past. The corrected sentence reads, "Frustrated by the limited career options in his small, rural hometown, Frank ran away with the circus and became a contortionist."
Example Question #3 : Identifying Verb 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 he found his job being dreadfully boring, he remained committed, knowing that his wages would buy him a plane ticket to Paris. No error.
No error.
Although
being
would buy
he remained
being
This sentence uses the wrong form of the verb “to be.” After “found,” it is correct to use the infinitive "to be" instead of "being." The corrected sentence reads, "Although he found his job to be dreadfully boring, he remained committed, knowing that his wages would buy him a plane ticket to Paris."
Example Question #3 : Identifying Verb Tense Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Long before she began her tenure as chair of the Biology department, Professor Green has taught undergraduate classes in Spanish literature. No error.
Long before
has taught
No error.
in
her tenure
has taught
The timeline of this sentence is off. The first phrase is in the past tense, so the verb “has taught” needs to indicate that it happened before that point in the past. So, "has taught" should be changed to "had taught," and "has taught" contains the sentence's error. The corrected sentence reads, "Long before she began her tenure as chair of the Biology department, Professor Green had taught undergraduate classes in Spanish literature."
Example Question #5 : Identifying Verb 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 show will not have been such a fiasco if the animals had not escaped from their kennels just as the curtain was rising. No error.
just as
No error.
such a fiasco if
will not
had not escaped
will not
This sentence describes a situation that did not happen, and should use the conditional “would” instead of the future tense “will.” The corrected sentence reads, "The show would not have been such a fiasco if the animals had not escaped from their kennels just as the curtain was rising."
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