All SAT Writing Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #21 : Identifying Other Adjective And Adverb Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Though the dog had been washed by the petsitter just yesterday, he continued to smell badly. No error
had been
No error
yesterday,
continued to
smell badly
smell badly
This sentence's error is that it uses an adverb in the place of an adjective. "Badly," as an adverb, is referencing not the quality of the dog's odor, but its poor ability to smell.
Example Question #22 : Identifying Other Adjective And Adverb Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Sarah, Emilie, and Jenn competed against one another in the four hundred meter hurdle event, and they both scored similarly. No error
event, and
both
similarly
No error
one another
both
This sentence has three subjects: "Sarah," "Emilie," and "Jenn." Because of this, the sentence requires a form of the word "both" that is used to refer to groups of three or more. "Both" would be correct if only two of the girls were racing. However, since all three are racing, we need to use the adverb "all" instead of "both." The corrected sentence would read "Sarah, Emilie, and Jenn competed against one another in the four hundred meter hurdle event, and they all scored similarly."
Example Question #23 : Identifying Other Adjective And Adverb 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 popular books and movies are inspired by folktales that were original passed down orally from generation to generation. No error
from generation to generation
inspired by
original
No error
that were
original
The word "original" is an adjective and should modify a noun. Here, it modifies the verb "passed". An adverb would be correct: "Many popular books and movies are inspired by folktales that were originally passed down orally from generation to generation."
Example Question #24 : Identifying Other Adjective And Adverb Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Despite the terrible dress rehearsal the night before, the opening performance of Romeo and Juliet went really good. No error
Despite
No error
of
went
really good
really good
The word "good" is an adjective and should describe a noun. Here, it describes the verb "went" and is grammatically incorrect. Changing "good" to the adverb "well" corrects the sentence's error. The corrected sentence reads, "Despite the terrible dress rehearsal the night before, the opening performance of Romeo and Juliet went really well."
Example Question #25 : Identifying Other Adjective And Adverb Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Tom had a terrible sense of direction but a wonderful sense of humor; he consistently headed off in the complete wrong direction but laughed about it later. No error
laughed about it
complete
he
headed
No error
complete
This sentence uses an adjective (“complete”) to describe another adjective (“wrong”). An adverb is the correct part of speech in this context. The corrected sentence reads: "Tom had a terrible sense of direction but a wonderful sense of humor; he consistently headed off in the completely wrong direction but laughed about it later."
Example Question #26 : Identifying Other Adjective And Adverb Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
May dragged on painful; Dorothy was counting the hours until graduation, and they couldn’t pass fast enough. No error
graduation, and
painful
they
was counting
No error
painful
In this sentence, the adjective “painful” is used to describe the verb “dragged on.” As adjectives only describe nouns and pronouns, "painful" contains the sentence's error, and the adverb "painfully" would be a grammatically correct choice. The corrected sentence reads, "May dragged on painfully; Dorothy was counting the hours until graduation, and they couldn’t pass fast enough."
Example Question #27 : Identifying Other Adjective And Adverb 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.
The little girl could never sit still for longer then five minutes.
The little girl could never sit still for longer than five minutes.
The little girl could never sit still for long then five minutes.
The little girl could never sit still of longer then five minutes.
The little girl could never sit still for longer then five minutes.
The little girl could never sat still for longer then five minute.
The little girl could never sit still for longer than five minutes.
"Then" is an adverb that means at that particular moment, and "than" is an adverb used to compare two things, as in the sentence, "My fall coat is less heavy than my winter coat." So, "then" is being used incorrectly in this sentence and should be replaced with "than" in order to correct the sentence's error.
Example Question #28 : Identifying Other Adjective And Adverb Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Because the oven did not heat up properly, Megan's cupcakes baked uneven; some were burnt and overdone, while others were raw and runny. No error
uneven
properly
raw
No error
while
uneven
In this sentence, "uneven" is meant to modify the verb "baked." Therefore, an adverb is needed. However, "uneven" is an adjective. The adverbial form is "unevenly," so the correct sentence would read, "Because the oven did not heat properly, Megan's cupcakes baked unevenly; some were burnt and overdone, while others were still raw and runny." Remember that adjectives only modify nouns, and adverbs modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs.
Example Question #29 : Identifying Other Adjective And Adverb 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 sloth crept slow across the roadway, risking life and limb in its determination to explore the world on the other side. No error
in his determination
slow
risking
No error
on the other side
slow
In this sentence, the adjective “slow” is used to modify the verb “crept.” Adjectives should only modify nouns and pronouns, so to correct the sentence's error, the adjective "slow" should be replaced with the adverb “slowly." The corrected sentence reads, "The sloth crept slowly across the roadway, risking life and limb in his determination to explore the world on the other side."
Example Question #30 : Identifying Other Adjective And Adverb Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Chad’s political views took an abrupt swing to the left; afterwards, he had to find a way to remove bumper stickers quick. No error
afterwards, he
took
quick
a way to
No error
quick
In this sentence, the adjective “quick” describes the verb “remove.” An adverb would be more appropriate. The corrected sentence reads: Chad’s political views took an abrupt swing to the left, and he had to find a way to remove bumper stickers quickly.
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