All SAT Writing Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #861 : 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.
Testing the new model rocket would not be possible since it was being a rainy day. No error
since
Testing
was being
would not
No error
was being
The second phrase of this sentence is needlessly in the progressive tense. It sounds clearer and more concise to put this in the simple past: "Testing the new model rocket would not be possible since it was a rainy day."
Example Question #283 : 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.
Despite his initial skepticism, Rory found the conference on urban chicken raising being fascinating, informative, and inspirational. No error
No error
being
the conference on
Despite
and inspirational
being
This sentence uses the wrong form of the verb “to be.” Since "being" follows another verb, "raising," it needs to be in the infintive form, "to be." The corrected sentence reads: "Despite his initial skepticism, Rory found the conference on urban chicken raising to be fascinating, informative, and inspirational."
Example Question #862 : 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.
After the canoe flipped over and the provisions were lost, the campers are declaring the trip a disaster. No error
the canoe
are declaring
No error
and
lost
are declaring
This sentence has a problem with verb tense. Since the first part of the sentence, "After the canoe flipped over and the provisions were lost," uses two past-tense verbs ("flipped" and "were"), the rest of the sentence needs to be in past tense too, since it is describing events that took place at the same time as those described earlier in the sentence. "Are declaring" is in the present progressive tense, so it contains the sentence's error. You could correct the sentence by changing "are declaring" to "declared," yielding the sentence, "After the canoe flipped over and the provisions were lost, the campers declared the trip a disaster."
Example Question #863 : 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.
It can be difficult to hear the approaching of cars running on electric engines. No error
No error
approaching
to hear
running on
It can be difficult
approaching
This sentence uses the gerund "approaching" when the noun "approach" already exists. Changing "approaching" to "approach" clarifies the sentence. The corrected sentence reads, "It can be difficult to hear the approach of cars running on electric engines."
Example Question #864 : 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.
After attending a workshop on cake decorating, Joe brings edible works of art to every family gathering. No error
No error
brings
a workshop on
every
gathering
brings
The timeline of verb tenses in this sentence doesn’t quite make sense. Read it out loud and you will probably hear that something is wrong. Since the first half is in the past, the second half should be too. The corrected sentence reads: After attending a workshop on cake decorating, Joe has brought edible works of art to every family gathering.
Example Question #865 : 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.
How did she made that cake so moist and fluffy without using an electric beater or any eggs? No error
made
without
any eggs
how
No error
made
The correct verb tense would be "make," since the sentence is phrased as a question and is not a declarative statement about something in the past.
Example Question #31 : Identifying Verb Tense Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
As soon as I bought an expensive patio umbrella I am finding them on clearance everywhere. No error
expensive
No error
As soon as
am finding
everywhere
am finding
This sentence has a problem with the timeline of verb tenses. Since the first half of the sentence is in the past, the second half has to be too. The corrected sentence reads, "As soon as I bought an expensive patio umbrella I found them on clearance everywhere."
Example Question #32 : Identifying Verb Tense Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
They puzzled over the little mysteries of life and language, wondering if it is possible to mingle in a group of two. No error
over
group of two
No error
is
life and language
is
This sentence has a problem with verb tenses. Since the first half of the sentence is in the past, the second half has to be too. The corrected sentence reads, "They puzzled over the little mysteries of life and language, wondering if it was possible to mingle in a group of two."
Example Question #33 : Identifying Verb Tense Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Since he finally quit his stressful job, Joe is full of energy and witty banter. No error
No error
his
energy and witty banter
finally
is
is
The timeline of this sentence isn’t quite right. Read it out loud, and you will probably hear that something is funny with the verb tense. Since the first half is in the past, the second half has to acknowledge that. The corrected sentence reads: Since he finally quit his stressful job, Joe has been full of energy and witty banter.
Example Question #34 : Identifying Verb Tense Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Harold almost never complains, but he had never encountered customer service this lousy before. No error
had never encountered
but
almost
No error
lousy
had never encountered
This sentence does not maintain a logical timeline between verb tenses. Read it out loud, and it will probably sound funny. “Had never encountered” should be used following a sentence in the past, not the present. The corrected sentence reads: Harold almost never complains, but he has never encountered customer service this lousy before.
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