SAT Writing : SAT Writing
Study concepts, example questions & explanations for SAT Writing
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Example Questions
Example Question #91 : Identifying Verb Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
I can’t hardly see the road; the frost, while beautiful and sparkly, has completely obscured my windshield. No error
obscured
road;
I can't hardly see
while beautiful and sparkly,
No error
I can't hardly see
The phrase “can’t hardly” works as a double negative and is grammatically incorrect. If you can’t hardly see something, you can actually see it pretty well, which is clearly not the meaning that the speaker of this sentence intends. The correct form would be “I can hardly see the road.” Elsewhere in the sentence, the semicolon is the correct punctuation, since it’s separating two independent clauses.
Example Question #6 : Identifying Other Verb Errors
Select the underlined word or words that need to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences may not contain an error.
The triplets didn’t rest until they had drove the babysitter insane with their bickering, tantrums, and juvenile games. No error
No error
The triplets didn't rest
they had drove
their bickering,
juvenile
they had drove
Here we have another error with the present perfect. The correct conjugation is “they had driven,” not “they had drove.”
Example Question #2 : Identifying Other Verb Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Before meeting my best friend, Ana, I had never eaten sushi, climbed a mountain, or went on a roller coaster. No error
never eaten sushi,
Ana,
friend,
No error
went
went
In order to maintain a parallel structure, each verb in the list should be in the present perfect form. Therefore, the correct conjugation for the final verb is “gone,” as in “I had never gone,” not “went.”
Example Question #3 : Identifying Other Verb Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
If you want my opinion, the team was doing well with its current coach and shouldn’t of hired the new, inexperienced manager. No error
shouldn't of hired
new, inexperienced
No error
was doing well with its
opinion,
shouldn't of hired
We have a simple verb error here. Despite how it sounds in spoken dialogue, the correct form is always “shouldn’t have” and never “shouldn’t of.”
Example Question #4 : Identifying Other Verb Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Without Jeff’s encouragement, guidance, and support, I couldn’t have graduated with high honors. No error
and
encouragement,
I couldn't have
No error
guidance,
No error
This sentence is correctly punctuated and contains no errors. “I couldn’t have” is the proper form of the past perfect. Each item in the list is correctly separated by a comma, and the dependent clause is correctly separated from the main clause by a comma.
Example Question #92 : Identifying Verb Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Ever since the fifth grade, when I beat all my classmates in the spelling bee, I been the best student in my English class. No error
my English class
Ever since the fifth grade,
in the spelling bee,
No error
I been
I been
Here we have an error with the present perfect tense. The correct conjugation is “I have been,” not “I been.”
Example Question #3521 : Sat Writing
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Even though the runners were clearly exhausted and had even begun to limp, the coach wouldn’t let them rest until they had ran the entire course. No error
Even though
limp,
No error
had even begun
they had ran
they had ran
Here we have an error with the present perfect. The correct conjugation is “they had run,” not “they had ran.”
Example Question #3522 : Sat Writing
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Although the weather had became terribly cold and dry of late, a warm front with showers was on its way. No error
of late
Although
No error
was
had became
had became
The error here lies in the verb agreement. Because the past participle is called for, the verb should employ both the past form of the verb "have" (i.e., "had," as it does) and the present form of the verb "become" (i.e., "become," as it does not). Thus, the past form of "become" is incorrect and must be changed to the present form.
Example Question #3523 : Sat Writing
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no errors at all.
We anticipated that John and Michael would want to quickly solve the assigned problems so that they could go home and rest. No error
and
quickly
problems
No error
anticipated
quickly
The phrase "to quickly solve" is an example of what is called a split infinitive: the infinitive form of the verb ("to solve") interrupted by another word. In general, modifiers should not interrupt the infinitive structure. The phrase should be corrected to move the word "quickly" to a new position in the sentence (eg., "...John and Michael would want to solve the assigned problems quickly...").
Example Question #1 : Identifying Punctuation Errors: Comma Splices
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
The eldest male dog became awfully selfish during feeding time, he would not even let his own pups get a scrap of food. No error
feeding
awfully
No error
time, he
eldest
time, he
Two independent clauses that can each stand alone must be separated by either a period or a semicolon, or connected by a comma followed by a conjunction. Because this sentence doesn't include a conjunction like "and" after its comma, it is incorrect. (This error, where two independent clauses are incorrectly connected by a comma, is known as a "comma splice.")
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