SAT Writing : Identifying Sentence Errors
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Example Question #551 : 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.
Although he purported to be unbiased in his hiring practices, the boss tended to disseminate between older and younger applicants. No error
No error
unbiased in
purported
older and younger
disseminate
disseminate
The issue here is the use of the word "disseminate." To disseminate is to spread something -typically information- on a large scale. The sentence calls for the word "discriminate" instead, which means to recognize a distinction between two entities. Because the boss judges younger and older applicants differently, she discriminates between them.
Example Question #552 : 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.
Although I know I should enjoy it, dancing doesn't bring me no satisfaction. No error
no
it,
Although
me
No error
no
This sentence is incorrect because it contains a double negative ("doesn't bring me no satisfaction"), a construction English does not use. There are multiple ways the sentence could be corrected, but the only one offered would be to change "no" to a positive modifier: "dancing doesn't bring me any satisfaction," for example. The sentence could also be corrected by eliminating "doesn't" so that it simply reads, "dancing brings me no satisfaction."
Example Question #553 : 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.
Sarah told me that she didn't get the grades she wanted to get because she wasn't fully familiar on the material. No error
fully
familiar on
me that
No error
to get
familiar on
Although it is a purely idiomatic phrase, the correction to the sentence here should be "familiar with." No matter the topic, one becomes familiar with something, not familiar on it.
Example Question #554 : 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.
To be honest, I've never shot a gun in my life; I'm just not very well versed at outdoor skills. No error
well versed
No error
life;
honest,
at
at
The error here is a common English idiom: "well versed" should nearly always be followed with "in," not "at." The corrected phrase reads, "I'm just not very well versed in outdoor skills."
Example Question #1 : Identifying Subject Verb Agreement Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
My favorite history professor, as well as some of his administrative staff, were asked to resign because fewer students were taking history courses than ever before. No error
because
No error
than
were
as well as
were
In this sentence, the verb does not agree with the subject. The subject "professor" is singular (“as well as some of the administrative staff” is a modifying phrase and doesn’t count), so the correct verb form should be “was,” not “were.”
Example Question #1 : Identifying Subject Verb Agreement Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Stephanie claims that she wants to attend college after graduation, but her poor attitude about studying during senior year do not indicate that she enjoys being a student. No error
wants
to attend
No error
do not indicate
studying
do not indicate
"Her poor attitude about studying" is the subject of this clause, so the verb must agree with the singular subject "attitude." Therefore, the correct verb should be "does"—her attitude "does not indicate."
Example Question #2 : Identifying Subject Verb Agreement Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
James is a proactive police officer, so although the local rebellious teenagers are annoyed by his strict nature, the overall safety of the town have improved drastically since he was hired. No error
strict nature
No error
so although
have improved
are annoyed
have improved
This is an issue of subject-verb agreement within this independent clause: "the overall safety of the town have improved drastically since he was hired." Simplified, the subject is "safety," which is a singular noun, so the verb must also be singular, making "have improved" incorrect and "has improved" the corrected verb.
Example Question #3 : Identifying Subject Verb Agreement Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
A pair of supportive shoes are important if you are experiencing lower back pain. No error
you
are
are experiencing
No error
supportive
are
The verb "are" agrees with a plural subject, but the subject of this sentence is the singular "pair." Changing "are" to "is" corrects the sentence's error. The corrected sentence reads, "A pair of supportive shoes is important if you are experiencing lower back pain."
Example Question #4 : Identifying Subject Verb Agreement 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 paralegal believed that there were an overload of cases in the office, which was creating stress. No error
that
No error
which
were
of cases in the office
were
The verb "were," which is used with plural nouns, corresponds to "overload," which is a singular noun. Therefore, the verb should be "was," to match the singular noun, instead of "were."
Example Question #5 : Identifying Subject Verb Agreement Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Shana, Joe, and Marcel was incredible in each of their performances and the audience rewarded them through cheers and applause. No error
was
through
and
their
No error
was
Shana, Joe, and Marcel are three nouns grouped together (as indicated by the "and"), and thus are effectively a plural noun. "Was" is used in reference to a singular subject; in this sentence, "was" should be "were" (e.g. "Shana, Joe, and Marcel were incredible . . .").
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