SAT Writing : SAT Writing
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Example Questions
Example Question #85 : 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.
The young businessman made a proposal to his partner that he buys more office supplies for their company. No error
he buys more
No error
to his partner
The young businessman
their company.
he buys more
Subjunctive mood is used when a sentence is intended to express doubt or possibility, rather than hard truth. In the sentence above, because of the words "made a proposal" in the sentence, we know that subjunctive should be used.
The sentence should read: "The young businessman made a proposal to his partner that he buy more office supplies for their company."
Example Question #86 : 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.
If the politician was a smarter man, he would not have crossed the senator. No error
If the politician
he would
was
crossed
No error
was
Subjunctive mood is used when a sentence is intended to express doubt or possibility rather than truth. In the sentence above, because the word "If" begins the sentence, we know that subjunctive should be used. The correct subjunctive construction of the sentence above is "If the politician were a smarter man, he would not have crossed the senator."
Example Question #87 : 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.
Everyone agreed that Mrs. Powell were the best English teacher they'd ever had. No error
No error
had
English
Everyone
were
were
The verb "were" may be appropriately used if it describes a plural noun (as in "the Powells were the best English teachers") or if it describes a hypothetical situation in the subjunctive mood (as in "if Mrs. Powell were an English teacher, she would be the best"). In this case, it is more appropriate to use "was" instead.
Example Question #1 : Identifying Adjective And Adverb Errors
My mother explained the process to me in an excruciating detailed manner; you don’t need to worry about me forgetting anything.
No error
anything
manner; you
to me
excruciating
excruciating
In this sentence, the adjective “excruciating” is used to describe the other adjective “detailed.” Adverbs should describe adjectives, so the adverb form “excruciatingly” would be better. The corrected sentence reads: My mother explained the process to me in an excruciatingly detailed manner; you don’t need to worry about me forgetting anything.
Example Question #1 : Identifying Other Adjective And Adverb Errors
The kite caught the breeze, flew up in the air, danced graceful about the sky, and lodged itself in a tree.
flew
No error
graceful
and lodged itself in a tree
in the air
graceful
In this sentence, the adjective “graceful” is used to describe the verb “danced.” Adverbs, not adjectives, should describe verbs, so the adverb version “gracefully” would be better. The corrected sentence reads: The kite caught the breeze, flew up in the air, danced gracefully about the sky, and lodged itself in a tree.
Example Question #2 : Identifying Other Adjective And Adverb Errors
It was impossible to choose between the litter, because all of the kittens were just too adorable!
kittens
!
between
, because
no error
between
The correct adverb here would be among, because there are multiple kittens in a litter, not just two.
Example Question #1 : Identifying Adjective And Adverb Errors
The scapula are not actual connected to the rib cage through any bones or joints.
through any
or joints
are
No error
actually
actually
In this sentence, the adjective “actual” is used to describe the verb “connected.” The adverb should be used instead. The corrected sentence reads: The scapula are not actually connected to the rib cage through any bones or joints.
Example Question #914 : Sat Writing
She will arrive lately than expected due to travel issues.
lately than expected.
later than expected.
lately expectedly.
later expectedly
expectedly lately.
later than expected.
The underlined portion of the sentence uses an adverb "lately," where an adjective should be used. The only answer choice that properly uses an adjective is "later than expected," which is the correct answer choice.
Example Question #421 : Identifying Sentence Errors
In the following question, please choose the best sentence improvement.
The parents looked at their college graduate so proud that they seemed to glow with happiness.
so proudly
so prideful
so proud
so very proud
so much pride
so proudly
The word proud needs to be an adverb because it is modifying looked.
Example Question #155 : Identifying Word Usage Errors
While the trick may look effortlessly, the actual execution of a perfect double back handspring is quite tricky to achieve successfully.
execution of
quite tricky
effortlessly
No error
may
effortlessly
This sentence uses an adverb (effortlessly) to describe a noun (trick). An adjective would be more appropriate. The corrected sentence reads: While the trick may look effortless, the actual execution of a perfect double back handspring is quite tricky to achieve successfully.
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