SAT Writing : Identifying Phrase, Clause, and Sentence Errors
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Example Questions
Example Question #141 : Identifying Phrase, Clause, And 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.
Before school started, Patrick needed to check off many more items on his to-do list, including buying more pencils, finishing his summer reading packet, and practice trumpet for his audition. No error
finishing
Before school started
list, including
and practice trumpet
No error
and practice trumpet
This question requires the three verbs listed to all be in the same grammatical form. Since the first two verbs are gerunds (verbs that end in "-ing" acting as nouns), the third verb ("practice") should be in that form as well: "practicing."
Example Question #142 : Identifying Phrase, Clause, And Sentence Errors
As it turns out, she told the riddle wrong, and there was no way I would have been able to answer based on the information that she gave me.
As it turns out
that she gave me
wrong
No error
would have been able
No error
This sentence is correct as written.
Example Question #143 : Identifying Phrase, Clause, And Sentence Errors
He shivered in the damp fog and wished that he had thought to bring a sweater, or maybe a parka.
No error
shivered in
and wished that
or maybe
had thought
No error
This sentence is correct as written.
Example Question #144 : Identifying Phrase, Clause, And Sentence Errors
While grizzly bears typically avoid contact with people, and anglers and bears often meet near streams during the fall salmon run.
during
No error
contact with
and anglers
typically
and anglers
This sentence has a problem with coordination. The conjunction “and” does not make sense because the information that follows is contradictory to the information before. The corrected sentence reads: While grizzly bears typically avoid contact with people, anglers and bears often meet near streams during the fall salmon run.
Example Question #145 : Identifying Phrase, Clause, And Sentence Errors
Her sprawling collection of books is impressive, but the total lack of organization makes it difficult to find anything.
makes it difficult
is
sprawling collection
No error
but
No error
This sentence is correct as written.
Example Question #1 : Identifying Ambiguous Modifier 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.
When she was young, living in her mother's garden, Helen liked to imagine there were fairies.
Living in her mother's garden, Helen liked to imagine there were fairies when she was young.
Helen, when she was young, living in her mother's garden, liked to imagine there were fairies.
When she was young, Helen liked to imagine there were fairies living in her mother's garden.
Helen liked to imagine, living in her mother's garden, there were fairies when she was young.
When she was young, living in her mother's garden, Helen liked to imagine there were fairies.
When she was young, Helen liked to imagine there were fairies living in her mother's garden.
In many of these examples, it is not clear if the modifier "living in her mother's garden" refers to Helen or the fairies. The modifier should appear as close to the noun that it modifies as possible so that the meaning is clear. For this reason, "When she was young, Helen liked to imagine there were fairies living in her mother's garden" is the most correct answer.
Example Question #1 : Identifying Modifier Placement Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Observing from the summit, the valley that stood below Mike's tour group seemed unfathomably extensive and arid. No error
unfathomably
No error
Mike's
arid
Observing from the summit,
Observing from the summit,
“Observing” is apart of a misplaced modifier that should refer to Mike's tour group, not the valley. The way the sentence is written, it seems as if "the valley" is "observing from the summit," not "Mike's tour group."
Example Question #2 : Identifying Modifier Placement Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Damaged beyond repair, the tow truck hauled the totaled car away from the accident scene and to the local junkyard. No error
No error
scene and
hauled
away from
Damaged beyond repair,
Damaged beyond repair,
“Damaged beyond repair” is a modifier that refers to the totaled car, but with its current placement it appears to be describing the (obviously functional) tow truck. The modifier should be moved next to “the totaled car.”
Example Question #3 : Identifying Modifier Placement Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Facing snow, ice, and starvation, I can’t imagine how the early Arctic explorers survived their hazardous expeditions, some of which lasted for weeks. No error
some of which
early Arctic
expeditions
Facing snow, ice, and starvation,
No error
Facing snow, ice, and starvation,
“Facing snow, ice, and starvation” is a dangling modifier, since it is obviously meant to describe not the speaker of the sentence but rather the Arctic explorers. To correct the sentence, the modifier would have to be moved next to the phrase it modifies.
Example Question #4 : Identifying Modifier Placement Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Jumping up and down in joy, Annie's excitement was evident when she saw her sister, who had been deployed for nearly a year and whom she had dearly missed. No error
sister,
Jumping up and down in joy,
who
No error
nearly
Jumping up and down in joy,
“Jumping up and down in joy” is a misplaced modifier that refers to “Annie," but as the sentence is currently written, is seems as if “Annie's excitement” is jumping up and down in joy, not Annie. The sentence should therefore be rephrased so that “Annie" is modified by the introductory phrase, e.g. "Jumping up and down in joy, Annie was excited when she saw her sister."
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