SAT Writing : Improving Sentences
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Example Questions
Example Question #1361 : Improving Sentences
The businessman, already strapped for cash, had to turn down the expensive investment opportunity.
The businessman already strapped for cash had to
The businessman already strapped for cash, had to
The businessman, already strapped for cash, having to
The businessman, already strapped for cash, had to
The businessman, already strapped for cash, had been to
The businessman, already strapped for cash, had to
The underlined portion of the sentence is actually perfectly correct. The phrase "already strapped for cash" is an interrupting phrase, and needs to be set off by commas, as it is in the sentence. The verb form had is also the appropriate tense.
Example Question #1362 : Improving Sentences
The order was given quite clearly to both me and him.
to both he and I.
to both him and I.
to both me and he.
to both me and him.
to both myself and himself.
to both me and him.
The pronoun usage in the underlined portion of the sentence is perfectly correct. Both "me" and "him" are properly used as objects, which they are in this sentence. All the other choices are grammatically incorrect.
Example Question #1363 : Improving Sentences
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.
It was there fault that the car was parked there in the first place.
It was there fault that the car was parked there in the first place.
It was there fault that the car was parked their in the first place.
It was their fault that the car was parked there in the first place.
It was they’re fault that the car was parked there in the first place.
It was their fault that the car was parked they’re in the first place.
It was their fault that the car was parked there in the first place.
Here, a reader must be able to distinguish between the homonyms “there,” “their,” and “they’re.” Because “there” refers to a location, “their” is a possessive pronoun, and “they’re” is a contraction that’s short for “they are,” the correct usage is, “It was their fault that the car was parked there in the first place.”
Example Question #2 : Correcting Other Errors
American history is compelling for people whom are interested in politics.
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.
American history is compelling for people who are interested in politics.
American history is compelling for people, whom are interested in politics.
American history is compelling for people that are interested in politics.
American history is compelling for people which are interested in politics.
American history is compelling for people being interested in politics.
American history is compelling for people who are interested in politics.
"Whom," in the original sentence, is the wrong choice of relative pronoun when referring to "people." "Whom" is the objective form of the pronoun "who," but we need to use the word "who" in the sentence as a relative pronoun to connect the main independent clause to the subordinate clause. Recognizing this error, we can automatically rule out the answer "American history is compelling for people, whom are interested in politics," as the added comma does not make the use of the pronoun correct. "That" and "which" are also incorrect relative pronouns to refer to "people," and the phrase "people being interested in politics" lacks a relative pronoun altogether. The correct answer is thus "American history is compelling for people who are interested in politics." "Who" is the correct relative pronoun to use with "people."
Example Question #1364 : Improving Sentences
"A small group of students is proceeding to the regional spelling bee," she said to her fellow teachers. No error
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
is
bee,
No error
she
to
No error
"Is" correctly refers to the "small group," which is singular. "To" is the correct preposition to follow "proceeding" and precede "the regional spelling bee." The dialogue ends correctly with a comma followed by quotation marks, and "she" is correctly lowercased following the dialogue. Therefore, there is no error in this sentence.
Example Question #1365 : Improving Sentences
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
The clowns that we saw at an impromptu show in the city square yesterday is wearing matching hats. No error.
saw
that
No error
is wearing
in the city
is wearing
The phrase "is wearing" does not match the number of the subject.
Example Question #1 : Correcting Ambiguity And Redundancy Errors
Inspired by storylines that would come to him in dreams, Lord Bennington would stage one-man plays, his audience enjoying the show.
Inspired by storylines that would come to him in dreams, Lord Bennington would stage one man plays, his audiences enjoying the show.
Inspired of storylines that would come to him in dreams, Lord Bennington would stage one-man plays, his audiences enjoyed the show.
Lord Bennington would stage one-man plays that were inspired by storylines from his dreams; his audiences would enjoy the shows.
(No changes needed)
Inspired by storylines that would come to him in dreams, Lord Bennington would stage one-man plays; his audiences enjoying the show.
Lord Bennington would stage one-man plays that were inspired by storylines from his dreams; his audiences would enjoy the shows.
The original statement is grammatically incorrect because "audience" and "show" should be plural. Also, "his audience enjoying the show" makes the sentence into a run-on. The correct answer is concise and not awkward.
Example Question #2 : Correcting Ambiguity And Redundancy Errors
Every person in the room appreciating the jokes by the performers.
Every person in the room appreciating the jokes from the performers.
Every person in the room has appreciating the jokes by the performers.
Every person in the room appreciating the jokes of the performers.
Every person in the room appreciating the jokes by the performers.
Every person in the room appreciated the jokes by the performers.
Every person in the room appreciated the jokes by the performers.
The sentence as written is actually a fragment, as it does not contain a proper verb. The word "appreciating" in the sentence is a gerund, or a verb form that can function as anoun. The correct answer will use a full verb form, as "Every person in the room appreciated the jokes by the performers" does.
Example Question #1 : Correcting Ambiguity And Redundancy Errors
Religious texts often appear quite difficult to understand, being contradictions of themselves.
being contradictions of them.
contradicting them.
being contradicting them.
contradicting themselves.
being contradictions of themselves.
contradicting themselves.
The underlined phrase in the sentence is awkwardly worded, which makes the sentence itself difficult to understand. The "religious texts" contain contradictions, a meaning not conveyed properly by the sentence. "Contradicting themselves" is the clearest, most appropriate choice among the answers.
Example Question #141 : Correcting Other Phrase, Clause, And Sentence Errors
All people choose their own religious denomination when they have been adults.
they have been adults.
when adults they have been.
when they have been adults.
when being adults.
when they are adults.
when they are adults.
The underlined phrase is very awkwardly worded, and the use of the past perfect form "have been" is confusing. The phrase needs to be cleaned up for better clarity of meaning. "When they are adults" is the best choice among the answers.
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