SAT Writing : Improving Sentences

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for SAT Writing

varsity tutors app store varsity tutors android store varsity tutors ibooks store

Example Questions

Example Question #1241 : Improving Sentences

The pets in the classrom were beloved by all the students in the grade.

Possible Answers:

The pets in the classrom were beloving

The pets in the classrom were beloved

The pets around the classrom was beloved

The pets, in the classrom were beloved

The pets in the classrom, were beloved

Correct answer:

The pets in the classrom were beloved

Explanation:

The sentence is perfectly correct as it is written in the question, and needs no changes to improve it. Additionally, all the other answer choices make the sentence grammatically incorrect or confusing. The correct answer is to leave the sentence unchanged.

Example Question #1594 : Sentence Correction

The difficulties in arranging the meeting continued even after the parties were sitting down to talk.

Possible Answers:

The difficulties in arranging the meeting continued even after party's were sitting down to talk.

The difficulties of arranging the meeting continued but after the parties were sitting down to talk.

The difficulties in arranged the meeting continued even after the parties were sitting down to talk.

The difficulties in arranging the meeting continued even after the parties were sitting down to talk.

The difficulties in arranging the meeting continues even after the parties had sitting down to talk.

Correct answer:

The difficulties in arranging the meeting continued even after the parties were sitting down to talk.

Explanation:

The sentence is perfectly fine as it is written, and needs nothing to make it grammatically correct. All of the other options actually become grammatically incorrect. The correct answer choice is to leave the sentence as is.

Example Question #1595 : Sentence Correction

Rarely did he get any chance to actually show his snowboarding skills, now that he lived in a warmer climate.

Possible Answers:

his snowboarding skills, now that he lived

his snowboarding skills, now that he living

his snowboarding skills now that he lived

his snowboarding skills', now that he lived

his snowboarding skill's, now that he lived

Correct answer:

his snowboarding skills, now that he lived

Explanation:

The sentence as written is perfectly grammatically correct, and needs no improvement. All of the other answer choices create some other grammatical error.

Example Question #1791 : Gmat Verbal

He hardly ever did anything to indulge himself.

Possible Answers:

 to have indulged himself.

indulging himself.

 to indulge themselves.

 to indulge himself.

 to indulge him.

Correct answer:

 to indulge himself.

Explanation:

The underlined portion of the sentence is actually perfectly grammatically correct. The infinitive verb form, "to indulge," and the referential pronoun, "myself," are the best choice in the sentence.

Example Question #31 : Recognizing Sentences That Contain No Errors

Few ever took the typically jovial boy seriously, which made it hard for him to be understood in the moment.

Possible Answers:

the typically jovial boy seriously

the typically jovial boy seriousness

the typical jovial boy seriously

the typically jovial boy of serious

typically jovial boy seriously

Correct answer:

the typically jovial boy seriously

Explanation:

The sentence is actually perfectly correct as it is written, and needs no changes to be made correct. Additionally, all the other answer choices are either incorrect grammatically or change the meaning of the sentence.

Example Question #32 : Recognizing Sentences That Contain No Errors

The massive effort to clean up the mess from the storm was a months long process.

Possible Answers:

to clean up the mess from the storm

to clean up the storm and mess

to cleaning up the mess from the storm

to clean up mess from storm

to cleanse up the mess from the storm

Correct answer:

to clean up the mess from the storm

Explanation:

While the underlined section of the sentence is rather wordy, and not perfectly stated, it is absolutely grammatically correct. More importantly, none of the other answer choices are grammatically correct. The best choice is to leave it as written.

Example Question #33 : Recognizing Sentences That Contain No Errors

Keeping track of the different machinations of the politician was a difficult job for the reporters assigned to the beat.

Possible Answers:

Keeping track of the difference machinations of the politician

Keeping track of the machinations different for the politician

Keeping track of the different machinations of the politician's

Keeping track of the different machinations of the politician

Keep track of the different machinations of the politician

Correct answer:

Keeping track of the different machinations of the politician

Explanation:

Although the sentence as written is a little too wordy, and could be slightly simplified, there is nothing inherently wrong grammatically. Overall, the best choice among the answers is to leave the sentence as written.

Example Question #34 : Recognizing Sentences That Contain No Errors

The boy was easily excitable, often getting so amped up he would harm himself.

Possible Answers:

The boy was easily excitable often getting so amped up he would harm himself.

The boy was easily excitable, often getting so amped up he would harm himself.

The boy, was easily excitable, often getting so amped up he would harm himself.

The boy was easily excitable, often getting so amped up he would harm him.

The boy was easily excitably, often getting so amped up he would harm himself.

Correct answer:

The boy was easily excitable, often getting so amped up he would harm himself.

Explanation:

The sentence is perfectly correct as written, with appropriate comma usage, verb tenses, and appropriate use of the reflexive pronoun "himself." All the other choices actually make the sentence grammatically incorrect in one way or another.

Example Question #35 : Recognizing Sentences That Contain No Errors

With each passing year, the memories of her grew less and less emotional.

Possible Answers:

With each passing year, the memories of her grew less and less emotion.

With each passing year, the memories of her grew lesser emotional.

With each passing year, the memories of her grew less and less emotional.

With each passing year the memories of her grew less and less emotional.

With each passing year, the memories of herself grew less and less emotional.

Correct answer:

With each passing year, the memories of her grew less and less emotional.

Explanation:

The sentence is absolutely correct as written, with appropriate comma, pronoun, and word usage. All answer choices that do change some element of the sentence actually make the sentence grammatically incorrect.

Example Question #36 : Recognizing Sentences That Contain No Errors

Journalists had complained about the group's stonewalling over the issue for years.

Possible Answers:

Journalists had complained about the group's stonewalled over the issue for years.

Journalist's had complained about the group's stonewalling over the issue for years.

Journalists having complained about the group's stonewalling over the issue for years.

Journalists had complained about the group's stonewalling over the issue for years.

Journalists had complained about the group is stonewalling over the issue for years.

Correct answer:

Journalists had complained about the group's stonewalling over the issue for years.

Explanation:

The sentence is absolutely correct as written, with no issues in it whatsoever. Additionally, all the other answer choices make the sentence grammatically incorrect in one way or another. The correct answer choice is to leave the sentence as it is.

Learning Tools by Varsity Tutors