SAT Writing : Identifying Sentence Errors
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Example Question #1 : Identifying Word Usage Errors
The lights were dimmed slow, and the crowd gasped when the blue glow of the painted letters became apparent.
slow
gasped
were dimmed
became apparent
No error
slow
This sentence uses the adjective “slow” to describe a the verb “were dimmed.” An adverb would be better. The corrected sentence reads: The lights were dimmed slowly, and the crowd gasped when the blue glow of the painted letters became apparent.
Example Question #1 : Identifying Word Usage Errors
The sharp beak and beady eyes of a common farm chicken can be terrifying to those who have never seen this animal previous.
who
No error
sharp beak and beady eyes
previous
can be terrifying
previous
This sentence uses the adjective “previous” to describe the verb “seen.” An adverb would be better. The corrected sentence reads: The sharp beak and beady eyes of a common farm chicken can be terrifying to those who have never seen this animal previously.
Example Question #1 : 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 comprehensive chemistry exam consists in four parts in which students must correctly identify the element or compound. No error
correctly identify
comprehensive
in which
No error
in
in
The correct preposition to use with the verb “to consist” is “of.” For example, “The Constitution consists of many sections.”
Example Question #1 : 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 his parents were at work, Michael skipped school and decided to take the train for the city, where he met his older brother Jimmy and some of Jimmy's friends. No error
where
While his parents
for
No error
and some of Jimmy's
for
"For" is a preposition error, as well as an idiom error. An idiomatic error is a grammatical error, but one that no longer has any logical explanation; it is simply the way we speak, or write in English. The correct preposition to substitute for would be "to." We take trains "to" cities, not "for" them. An idiosyncrasy is something unique or odd to a person that has no explanation. An idiopathic symptom, or illness, medically, is a condition with an unknown cause.
Example Question #11 : 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.
Everyone will tell you that our soccer team is the best among our county. No error
No error
our
among
will tell you
the best
among
This is a sentence with an idiomatic error in the use of a preposition; "among" is the error and "in" would be the a preposition. "Among" is used a bit more like "between" in cases where there are several other entities implied. In this sentence, "best" is correct because there is no comparison between two specific things. A more through rephrasing of the sentence to read "our soccer team is among the best in the country" would also be correct, but would carry the implication that the team was not the single best, but rather was in the top tier of teams.
Example Question #11 : 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.
Selena was very angry on her sister for arriving more than thirty minutes late to their cousin’s surprise party. No error
than
arriving
their
No error
on
on
The adjective “angry” should always be paired with either the preposition “with” or "at." For example, “I’m angry with you for missing the appointment.”
Example Question #11 : Identifying Sentence Errors
Her explanation for her absence, that she had been at the laundromat and lost track of time, was confirmed with the piles of neatly folded laundry on the dresser.
confirmed with
neatly folded laundry
had been
No error
her absence
confirmed with
This sentence has a problem with a prepositional idiom. The corrected sentence reads: Her explanation for her absence, that she had been at the laundromat and lost track of time, was confirmed by the piles of neatly folded laundry on the dresser.
Example Question #12 : Identifying Sentence Errors
My two dogs have recently become rather mutually antagonistic, and I am struggling to keep them separate to each other.
separate to
mutually
and I am
No error
have recently become
separate to
This sentence has a problem with prepositional idioms. The corrected sentence reads: My two dogs have recently become rather mutually antagonistic, and I am struggling to keep them separate from each other.
Example Question #11 : 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.
Ben, Irene, and Lily spent hours debating among themselves who was the best writer. No error
best
themselves
No error
among
who
No error
There is no error in this sentence. Though it may be tempting to think of "amongst" instead of "among," they are (usually) grammatically interchangeable. Because the comparison is between more than two people (three, in this case), the superlative "best" is correct, and the word "who" is the correct pronoun.
Example Question #12 : 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.
Intense, obsessive preoccupation with success can seem either unhealthy and unnatural or commendable and prestigious. No error
Intense, obsessive
with
can seem either
No error
and unnatural, or commendable
No error
This sentence is grammatically sound, and thus features no error. "Either" is followed by an "or," as it should be (true also of "neither" and "nor"), and "with" is the right word for success, as opposed to, say, "preoccupation in success" or "preoccupation on success."
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