SAT Writing : SAT Writing

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for SAT Writing

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Example Questions

Example Question #2 : Identifying Pronoun Errors: Case

Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.

“I don’t understand why I can’t come to the movies with you,” cried Tina’s younger brother, whom had a strict 8:00 bedtime. No error

Possible Answers:

whom

No error

don't understand

cried

to the movies

Correct answer:

whom

Explanation:

The word "whom" is incorrect because it refers to the brother, who is the subject of the sentence (it is the younger brother who does the crying here). Therefore, the correct word choice would be "who."

Example Question #3 : Identifying Pronoun Errors: Case

Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.

My boyfriend and me went to the animal shelter, and together, we adopted a dog. No error

Possible Answers:

No error

me

together

went

adopted

Correct answer:

me

Explanation:

This sentence contains an error in its use of the pronoun "me."  The proper subjects of the sentence are "my boyfriend" and "I."  "Me" is an objective pronoun, not a subjective pronoun (e.g., "My boyfriend gave the puppy to me." is correct, but "Me went to the animal shelter" is not correct.)  

Example Question #3 : Identifying Pronoun Errors: Case

Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.

It was a frightening experience when our camping leader left my friend and I to set up camp by ourselves while the wolves were howling. No error

Possible Answers:

by ourselves

were

I

No error

when 

Correct answer:

I

Explanation:

When someone is left behind, that person is the object of the action. "Me" is the first person pronoun that is used as an object, not "I." Therefore, the word "I" should be changed to the word "me" in the sentence.

Example Question #4 : Identifying Pronoun Errors: Case

Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.

I had never visited the Mayan ruins until four months ago when my intrepid friends and me decided to take a road trip there. No error

Possible Answers:

Mayan

intrepid

had never visited

No error

intrepid friends and me

Correct answer:

intrepid friends and me

Explanation:

In the clause "my intrepid friends and me decided to take a road trip there," "my intrepid friends and me" are doing the action of deciding. Therefore, the objective-case pronoun "me" should be changed to the subjective-case pronoun "I."

Example Question #111 : Identifying Word Usage Errors

Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.

Startled by the sudden darkness that fell upon the town, Margaret, Thomas, and me stumbled and clutched at each other. No error

Possible Answers:

Startled by

that fell upon

me

clutched at

No error

Correct answer:

me

Explanation:

This sentence has a problem with pronoun case. Since “me” is a subject, it should be “I.” The corrected sentence reads, "Startled by the sudden darkness that fell upon the earth, Margaret, Thomas, and I stumbled and clutched at each other."

Example Question #5 : Identifying Pronoun Errors: Case

Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.

I was almost to the exit of the building, but standing between the doors and I was a gigantic security guard looking right at meNo error

Possible Answers:

exit of

the doors and I 

looking right at me

standing

No error

Correct answer:

the doors and I 

Explanation:

This sentence uses the wrong pronoun case. If a first person pronoun is the object of a preposition, it should be “me,” not “I.” The corrected sentence reads, "I was almost to the exit of the building, but standing between me and the doors was a gigantic security guard looking right at me."

Example Question #3 : Identifying Pronoun Errors: Case

Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.

At the start of the soccer season, Coach Stan paid a visit to my parents and I to explain why I was cut from varsity. No error

Possible Answers:

At

why

parents and I

paid a visit

No error

Correct answer:

parents and I

Explanation:

"Parents and I" is the object of the preposition "to," so it should instead be "parents and me."

Example Question #11 : Identifying Pronoun Errors: Case

Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.

My sister took my hand and solemnly swore that nothing would ever come between her and INo error

Possible Answers:

hand and

solemnly

would ever come

her and I

No error

Correct answer:

her and I

Explanation:

In this sentence, the wrong pronoun case is used. “I” is a subject, but here it appears as the object of a preposition. The corrected sentence reads: My sister took my hand and solemnly swore that nothing would ever come between her and me.

Example Question #12 : Identifying Pronoun Errors: Case

Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.

In that novel, the author poetically describes the experiences of immigrants whom venture to the United States in search of better lives. No error

Possible Answers:

poetically describes

better lives

in search of

whom

No error

Correct answer:

whom

Explanation:

“Whom” should be replaced by “who” because here, it acts as a subject instead of an object.

Example Question #801 : 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.

The judges, who were responsible for choosing the winner of the science fair, were trying to decide between he and her. No error.

Possible Answers:

were trying

he and her

who

responsible for

No error.

Correct answer:

he and her

Explanation:

When the preposition "between" and pronouns are used in a prepositional phrase, the pronouns must be in the objective case, since they are objects of the prepositional phrase. "Her" is in the objective case (as opposed to the subjective case pronoun "she") in this sentence, so it is correct, but "he" is a subjective-case pronoun that is incorrectly used. The objective-case pronoun "him" should be used instead to correct the sentence's error.

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