PSAT Writing : Identifying Usage Errors
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Example Questions
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.
Her flat intonation masked the incredible excitement she felt at found the prize in the cereal box. No error.
No error.
found
incredible
Her flat intonation
in the cereal box
found
This sentence uses the wrong form of the verb “to find.” In order to fit into the timeline of the sentence, it should read “having found” or possibly "finding." The corrected sentence reads, "Her flat intonation masked the incredible excitement she felt at having found the prize in the cereal box."
Example Question #91 : 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 issue being that the director does not come into the office on Fridays and I am not familiar with the process she uses. No error.
she
familiar with
No error.
being that
does not come into
being that
This sentence uses the "-ing" verb “being” when it isn’t necessary. In fact, this sentence is a fragment as it is written, but can be made into a complete sentence by changing "being" as "is." This also sounds much cleaner and more direct. The corrected sentence reads, "The issue is that the director does not come into the office on Fridays and I am not familiar with the process she uses."
Example Question #1 : 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.
Robert being always the top of his class in high school, and he put enormous pressure on himself to maintain his rank in college. No error.
the top of his class
being
his
No error.
pressure on himself
being
The gerund “being” here is unnecessary and makes the sentence sound clunky. Replace it with “was” to make the sentence run more smoothly: "Robert was always the top of his class in high school, and he put enormous pressure on himself to maintain his rank in college."
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.
Although he had never taken piano lessons, anytime that Jeff, who was unusually intelligent, sees a piano, he was able to play a song. No error
able to play
who was
sees
Although
No error
sees
The entire sentence refers to the past, as we can tell from the verb "was" in "who was unusually intelligent" and the verb "was" in "was able to play." Therefore, the verb "sees" should be in the past tense like the rest of the verbs in the sentence. To correct the sentence's error, we would need to change "sees" to "saw."
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.
The revolutionary, having been the subject of abuse during his childhood, emphatically lead the uprising, fueled by both a desire for social justice, as well as a certain anger that he himself did not entirely understand. No error
having been
he himself
fueled by both
No error
lead
lead
"Lead" is in the present tense. Given that the rest of the sentence is in the past tense, this verb should also be in the past tense. Therefore, it should be "led," not "lead."
Example Question #12 : 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.
As soon as I booked my flight to visit my friends in New York, I am finding that all the prices for plane tickets were plummeting. No error
I am finding
prices for
to
No error
As soon as
I am finding
This sentence written in the past tense, except for the phrase “I am finding.” In order to maintain proper verb tense, the underlined portion should be changed to “I found.”
Example Question #91 : 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.
While most species of monkeys live in tropical areas, there is a type of monkey that lives in northern Japan, where it has snowed. No error
there is
most
in
has snowed
No error
has snowed
Given that the rest of the sentence is in present tense, the underlined portion should be as well. "Has snowed" should be replaced by "snows."
Example Question #14 : 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.
When David cooks, he uses a variety of spices and put the flame on very high, creating flavorful and charred dishes. No error
No error
very high
he uses
creating
put
put
Since most of this sentence is in the present tense, it is incorrect for other verbs to be in a different tense, as a general rule. Therefore, “put,” which is in past tense, should be “puts,” the proper present tense form.
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.
After several hours of futile research, Paco decided to then take a break before he would resume his search for pertinent data once again. No error
would
then
pertinent
futile
No error
then
The infinitive verb “to take” should not be split by the word “then.” If you wanted to keep the "then" in the sentence but not split the infinitive, you might place it after "Paco" and before "decided."
Example Question #91 : 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.
Christine had difficulty finding a job despite having been the valedictorian of her university’s graduating class. No error
finding a job
No error
difficulty
of her university's graduating class
having been
No error
This sentence contains no grammatical, stylistic, or usage errors.
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