PSAT Writing : Identifying Sentence Errors
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Example Questions
Example Question #21 : 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.
Johnny much preferred flannel shirts and bluegrass music to suits and jazz. No error.
to
preferred
No error.
flannel shirts and bluegrass music
much
No error.
This sentence is correct as written! "Much" is an adverb modifying "preferred," "preferred" is a verb in the correct tense and person, "flannel shirts and bluegrass music" follows parallel structure, and "to" creates the comparison.
Example Question #22 : 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.
Gail voraciously attacked the steak dinner that Carl had prepared for her birthday. No error.
had prepared
voraciously
No error.
that
attacked
No error.
This sentence is correct as written! “Voraciously” is an adverb that modifies a verb, “attacked” is a verb in the correct tense, “that” is an appropriate relative pronoun, and “had prepared” is a verb in the correct tense.
Example Question #23 : 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.
Many countries have their own carnival celebrations where all of the people dress up and frolic in the streets. No error.
Many
No error.
their
dress up and frolic
where
No error.
This sentence is correct as written! “Many” is an adjective describing a noun, “their” is a pronoun that matches its antecedent, “where” is the appropriate relative pronoun, and “dress up and frolic” uses correct parallel structure.
Example Question #24 : 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.
The dancers hopped like frogs across the stage, and Duncan wondered what was going on. No error.
going
stage, and
hopped like frogs
what
No error.
No error.
This sentence is correct as written. “Hopped like frogs” is a correctly-formed verb phrase, the comma in “stage, and” is correct, “what” is the correct pronoun, and “going” is an appropriately-used gerund.
Example Question #25 : 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.
Far from being elected prom king, Dan received only a single vote, which he himself cast. No error.
being
which
single
himself
No error.
No error.
This sentence is correct as written! The gerund “being” is used correctly, the adjective “single” appropriately modifies a noun, “which” is the appropriate relative pronoun, and “himself” correctly uses a reflexive pronoun for emphasis.
Example Question #32 : Psat Writing Skills
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Listening at his parents’ bedroom door, Gerald was appalled to learn that one of the neighborhood children had had a horrific bike accident the week before. No error.
Listening
parents'
had had
No error.
appalled
No error.
The sentence is grammatically correct as written.
Example Question #26 : 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.
Anne later discovered that Paul and she were the members of the choir to sing the correct notes of the song. No error
later discovered
were
No error
she
to sing
No error
There are no inherent grammatical errors in the sentence above. The phrase "Paul and she were" may ring some alarms, but it is the same as the phrase "she and Paul were." You can break it down into "Paul was the only person" and "she was the only person." When combined, it should appear as written in the question. "She" is used properly in the subject form of the pronoun, rather than "her," the object form; "she" is performing the action in the sentence.
Example Question #27 : Identifying Sentence Errors
She revealed herself and befriended the aliens, who were excited and pleased to meet a real human.
befriended the aliens
herself
No error
to meet a
were excited
No error
This sentence is correct as written.
Example Question #28 : Identifying Sentence Errors
As the author slowly stood up, stretched, and trudged to the doorway, his friends jumped out from behind the antique cabinets.
No error
slowly
As
and trudged
jumped out from behind
No error
This sentence is correct as written.
Example Question #2 : Identifying No Errors Or Other Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Lucy realized that she would not be able to arrive at the opera in a timely manner. No error
timely manner
at the opera
No Error
realized
would not be able to
No Error
This is a grammatically correct sentence that needs no stylistic improvements.
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