SAT Writing : Identifying Sentence Errors
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Example Questions
Example Question #35 : Identifying Conjunction Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Sonya was in complete agreement with everything the speaker had said; if there is to be change, and someone must step up and be the leader. No error
No error
and someone must
was in complete agreement
everything the speaker
to be change
and someone must
When using a correlative conjunction pair, the use of the word "if" signals the coming of the word "then." This means that the sentence should read "if there is to be change, then someone must step up and be the leader," making the correct selection "and someone must."
Example Question #1 : Identifying Correlative Conjunction Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
John enjoys foods from many different culinary backgrounds, so it will be difficult for him to choose which dish he likes better between the Japanese sushi rolls or the Thai curry. No error
or
which dish
from
so it will
No error
or
Given that John is choosing between two different options and the sentence uses the word "between" to describe his choosing between these options, "and" should be used to describe his selection of options, not "or."
Example Question #71 : Identifying Phrase, Clause, And Sentence Errors
Select the underlined portion of the sentence below that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Neither come with me, sir, or you're going to spend your evening in jail. No error
me, sir,
No error
evening in jail.
you're going
Neither
Neither
Whenever you see the conjunction "either," it must always be followed by the correlative conjunction "or." As such, the "Neither" in the sentence above should be changed to "Either."
Example Question #31 : Identifying Correlative Conjunction Errors
Select the underlined portion of the sentence below that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Neither the Duke or the Baron had anticipated that their liege lord was going to be present at the Summer Palace. No error
the Duke or
that their liege
Baron had
the Summer Palace.
No error
the Duke or
Whenever you see the conjunction "neither," it must always be followed by the correlative conjunction "nor." As such, the "or" in the sentence above should be changed to "nor."
Example Question #32 : Identifying Correlative Conjunction Errors
Select the underlined portion of the sentence below that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Either the Mongols nor the Huns were the best horseman in history, but it's hard to choose between the two of them. No error
No error
between the two
were the best
Mongols nor
in history,
Mongols nor
Whenever you see the conjunction "either," it must always be followed by the correlative conjunction "or." As such, the "nor" in the sentence above should be changed to "or."
Example Question #38 : Identifying Conjunction Errors
Select the underlined portion of the sentence below that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Not only have you failed your class, but you've disappointed Father as well. No error
No error
but you've
Father as well.
your
you failed
but you've
Whenever you see the conjunction "not only," it must always be followed by the correlative conjunction "but also." As such, the "but" in the sentence above should be changed to "but also."
Example Question #741 : 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.
Vincent van Gogh sold only a few paintings during his lifetime, but yet he is considered one of the greatest painters of all time. No error
of all time
greatest
but yet
sold
No error
but yet
This sentence contains a redundancy error. The conjunctions "but" and "yet" are synonyms; they mean the same thing, so only one or the other is necessary to convey the intended meaning of the sentence.
The answer choice "sold" is correct because it contains the simple past tense, which is correct for events that happened in the past and don't continue into the present.
The answer choice "greatest" is correct because it uses the superlative form (the "-est" form) of the adjective great, which is appropriate for comparisons involving more than two items.
The answer choice "of all time" is a perfectly correct use of an idiomatic expression.
Example Question #742 : 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.
Once I learned how to swim, I would never go in the water for fear of drowning. No error
swim,
No error
I would never
for fear of
Once
Once
“Once” is the incorrect subordinate conjunction; it should be replaced by “until,” which is the only logical conjunction for the sentence.
Example Question #75 : 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.
Whether or nor they were in love, John decided he needed to break up with his long-distance girlfriend; the time apart was just too difficult. No error
girlfriend;
Whether or nor
No error
love,
break up
Whether or nor
The proper form of the subordinating conjunction is “whether or not,” not “whether or nor.”
Example Question #741 : Identifying Sentence Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed in order to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Anna is an amazing lawyer, but however she has many personal issues that often get in the way of her professional work. No error.
of her
has many
often get
No error
but however
but however
The sentence features a redundancy error—since "but" comes first in the sentence, there is no need to include the synonym "however."
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