PSAT Writing : Correcting Phrase, Clause, and Sentence Errors
Study concepts, example questions & explanations for PSAT Writing
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Example Questions
Example Question #3 : Correcting Other Phrase, Clause, And Sentence Errors
Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English. One of the answer choices reproduces the underlined portion as it is written in the sentence.
Until showing a video of his guitar playing, only Eric's closest friends knew he had such a strong passion for music.
Until he showed a video of his guitar playing
Until showing a video about his guitar playing
Having shown a video of his guitar playing
Until showing a video of his guitar playing
Being that he showed a video of his guitar playing
Until he showed a video of his guitar playing
In the question sentence, the word, showing, is out of order, and is not in the correct tense.
Example Question #2 : Correcting Other Phrase, Clause, And Sentence Errors
Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English. One of the answer choices reproduces the underlined portion as it is written in the sentence.
Thoughts and feelings about faith during the holidays change over time as one grows older and sometimes wiser.
As we grow older, our thoughts and feelings on faith sometimes change during the holidays.
Faith during the holidays change over time as one grows older and rarely wiser.
Thoughts on faith sometimes change as we grow different and find ourselves changed.
During the holidays, our thoughts and feelings on faith sometimes change as we grow older and wiser and find ourselves changed.
Our thoughts and feelings on faith sometimes change as we grow older and wiser and find ourselves changed.
As we grow older, our thoughts and feelings on faith sometimes change during the holidays.
The option to rewrite this sentence should clarify, but not change, its meaning. The correct answer: "As we grow older, our thoughts and feelings on faith sometimes change during the holidays," allows the ideas to flow more smoothly without altering the content: each fact is still relayed (the time of year; things that are changing, etc.), but the tone is much clearer.
Example Question #131 : Correcting Other Phrase, Clause, And Sentence Errors
Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English. One of the answer choices reproduces the underlined portion as it is written in the sentence.
Many people have trouble understanding the complexing elements of policy decisions made by elected officials.
a complexing elements
the complexly elements
a complex elements
the complexing elements
the more complex elements
the more complex elements
The main issue with the underlined portion of the sentence is that "complexing" is not actually a word. The correct answer will appropriately change the word into the best form of "complex" to fit the sentence. To describe the elements best involves making the word into the phrase "more complex."
Example Question #471 : Improving Sentences
Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English.
The dog that was hungry and looked ragged begged at the butcher’s shop for scraps.
The dog that was hungry and looked ragged
The hungry, ragged-looking dog
Hungry and looking ragged, the dog
The ragged-looking dog that was hungry
The hungry dog that looked ragged
The hungry, ragged-looking dog
The original sentence can be simplified by making those modifying phrases adjectives: “hungry” and “ragged-looking.” The most concise way to rewrite this sentence is to make these both adjectives that come before the noun.
Example Question #131 : Correcting Other Phrase, Clause, And Sentence Errors
Inspired by storylines that would come to him in dreams, Lord Bennington would stage one-man plays, his audience enjoying the show.
Lord Bennington would stage one-man plays that were inspired by storylines from his dreams; his audiences would enjoy the shows.
Inspired by storylines that would come to him in dreams, Lord Bennington would stage one man plays, his audiences enjoying the show.
Inspired of storylines that would come to him in dreams, Lord Bennington would stage one-man plays, his audiences enjoyed the show.
Inspired by storylines that would come to him in dreams, Lord Bennington would stage one-man plays; his audiences enjoying the show.
(No changes needed)
Lord Bennington would stage one-man plays that were inspired by storylines from his dreams; his audiences would enjoy the shows.
The original statement is grammatically incorrect because "audience" and "show" should be plural. Also, "his audience enjoying the show" makes the sentence into a run-on. The correct answer is concise and not awkward.
Example Question #1 : Correcting Ambiguity And Redundancy Errors
Every person in the room appreciating the jokes by the performers.
Every person in the room has appreciating the jokes by the performers.
Every person in the room appreciating the jokes from the performers.
Every person in the room appreciating the jokes of the performers.
Every person in the room appreciating the jokes by the performers.
Every person in the room appreciated the jokes by the performers.
Every person in the room appreciated the jokes by the performers.
The sentence as written is actually a fragment, as it does not contain a proper verb. The word "appreciating" in the sentence is a gerund, or a verb form that can function as anoun. The correct answer will use a full verb form, as "Every person in the room appreciated the jokes by the performers" does.
Example Question #1 : Correcting Ambiguity And Redundancy Errors
Religious texts often appear quite difficult to understand, being contradictions of themselves.
contradicting them.
being contradicting them.
being contradictions of them.
being contradictions of themselves.
contradicting themselves.
contradicting themselves.
The underlined phrase in the sentence is awkwardly worded, which makes the sentence itself difficult to understand. The "religious texts" contain contradictions, a meaning not conveyed properly by the sentence. "Contradicting themselves" is the clearest, most appropriate choice among the answers.
Example Question #2 : Correcting Ambiguity And Redundancy Errors
All people choose their own religious denomination when they have been adults.
when they are adults.
when being adults.
they have been adults.
when they have been adults.
when adults they have been.
when they are adults.
The underlined phrase is very awkwardly worded, and the use of the past perfect form "have been" is confusing. The phrase needs to be cleaned up for better clarity of meaning. "When they are adults" is the best choice among the answers.
Example Question #1 : Correcting Ambiguity And Redundancy Errors
Few people understand the sheer work involved in having written of a novel.
writing having been done for a novel.
having written of a novel.
having written novel.
writing a novel.
having writing of a novel.
writing a novel.
The underlined phrase is awkwardly worded, and as such can lead to confusion. In order for the sentence to be improved, the words should be simplified and clarified. Making the final phrase of the sentence simply "writing a novel" is the best answer choice.
Example Question #2 : Correcting Ambiguity And Redundancy Errors
Select the answer that produces the most effective sentence, one that is clear and exact, without awkwardness or ambiguity.
The teacher reprimanded all the students after the final. She didn't realize only a few had cheated.
The teacher reprimanded all the students after the final, she didn't realize
Having reprimanded all the students after the final, the teacher didn't realize
Although the teacher reprimanded all the students after the final, she hadn't realized
The teacher reprimanded all the students after the final, not realized
The teacher reprimanded all the students after the final. She didn't realize
The teacher reprimanded all the students after the final. She didn't realize
In this case, the original is the best choice. It separates independent clauses with a comma, and avoid the passive voice.
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