PSAT Writing : Identifying Sentence Errors

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for PSAT Writing

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Example Questions

Example Question #591 : 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.

Dedication, hard work, and attention to detail are all an important factor in determining success. No error

Possible Answers:

determining

an important factor

are

and attention to detail

No error

Correct answer:

an important factor

Explanation:

As with pronouns, when a noun or group of nouns is replaced in a sentence by another noun, they must agree in number. The multiple subjects "Dedication," "work," and "attention" call for a plural word.  A simple correction would be "important factors"

Example Question #592 : 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.

Frida Kahlo and her husband Diego Rivera were both well-known and talented Mexican painterNo error

Possible Answers:

No error

and her

talented

were both

painter

Correct answer:

painter

Explanation:

In this sentence, there are two individuals, both painters, so the object should reflect that number. The corrected sentence reads, "Frida Kahlo and her husband Diego Rivera were both well-known and talented Mexican painters."

Example Question #593 : 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.

Recognizing that the inhabitants of Earth suffered from many wars, disasters, and diseases, the aliens hoped to be welcomed as a saviorNo error

Possible Answers:

Recognizing

wars, disasters, and diseases

as a savior

suffer from

No error

Correct answer:

as a savior

Explanation:

This sentence lacks agreement between nouns. Since there are many aliens, “savior” should be plural. The corrected sentence reads, "Recognizing that the inhabitants of Earth suffered from many wars, disasters, and diseases, the aliens hoped to be welcomed as saviors."

Example Question #594 : 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.

At the end of the day, Jeremy and Joe said goodbye to each other, got into their car, and drove their separate ways. No error

Possible Answers:

No error

said goodbye

At the end of the day

their car

separate

Correct answer:

their car

Explanation:

It is clear from the content of this sentence that Jeremy and Joe each have their own car, but the sentence has “car” as singular. This should be plural to avoid confusion. The corrected sentence reads, "At the end of the day, Jeremy and Joe said goodbye to each other, got into their cars, and drove their separate ways."

Example Question #118 : 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.

Reading, writing, and arithmetic are essential skill to learn in elementary school. No error

Possible Answers:

skill

are

and

in elementary school

No error

Correct answer:

skill

Explanation:

There is a discrepancy in the agreement of nouns in this sentence. "Reading, writing and arithmetic" require the plural form of "skill," "skills." Multiple subjects require a plural predicate to match their form. "Reading, writing, and arithmetic" are not being discussed as a unified group (which is an exception requiring a singular predicate), so the agreement must be plural, because several subjects are being discussed.

Example Question #1 : Identifying Conjunction 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 library normally only allows patrons to check out three books at a time, and when I explained that I needed to check out more than that because I was working on a term paper, they allowed me to do soNo error

Possible Answers:

they allowed me to do so

My library normally only allows

No error

when I explained that I needed to check out more than that

time, and

Correct answer:

time, and

Explanation:

This sentence's error is one that has to do with the logic of conjunctions. The conjunction "and" is used to join two sentences that do not contradict each other. This is not the case with these two sentences: based on the first sentence, you would think that the speaker would only be allowed to check out three books, but this is not the case. So, "and" is not the correct conjunction to use; changing "and" to "but" would correct the sentence's error.

Example Question #2 : Identifying Conjunction Errors

Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.

I would bake more cookies, and every time I do, my oven burns themNo error

Possible Answers:

them

No error

would

and

every time I do, my oven

Correct answer:

and

Explanation:

This sentence begins with "I would bake more cookies" but then the speaker gives a reason why he or she does not bake more cookies, "every time [he or she] tries to bake cookies, [his or her] oven burns them." So, "and" is not the correct conjunction to use in this sentence. A conjunction like "but" is needed to contrast the two parts of the sentence and convey why the speaker does not bake more cookies even though he or she "would."

Example Question #3 : Identifying Conjunction Errors

Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.

Jonathan was a devoted fan of music of almost any kind, and he just could not tolerate reggae. No error

Possible Answers:

could not tolerate

and

almost any

No error

devoted

Correct answer:

and

Explanation:

This sentence is not coordinated correctly. Logically, the second half contradicts the message of the first, so the conjunction “but” would be more appropriate. The corrected sentence reads: Jonathan was a devoted fan of music of almost any kind, but he just could not tolerate reggae.

Example Question #4 : Identifying Conjunction Errors

Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.

Only six students attended the football game on Saturday, and many students went instead to the school dance. No error

Possible Answers:

attended

to

No error

on

and

Correct answer:

and

Explanation:

This sentence contains an error in the logical expression of ideas. The original text uses the conjunction "and," which fails to capture the cause and effect relationship between low attendance at the football game and students going to the dance instead. A better conjunction to express the cause and effect relationship would be "because."

Example Question #3 : Identifying Conjunction Errors

Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.

Jack was the one who got us into this dangerous situation, but he has absolutely no right to complainNo error

Possible Answers:

but

to complain

dangerous

No error

the one

Correct answer:

but

Explanation:

This sentence isn’t coordinated correctly. The conjunction “but” does not describe the logical connection between the two parts of the sentence. A better alternative would be, "John was the one who got us into this dangerous situation, so he has absolutely no right to complain."

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