Identifying Sentence Errors - SAT Writing
Card 0 of 4072
The United States has been a country of immigrants since its foundation. This is still true today. The United States allows more people to immigrate to it then any other country. This stream of immigration have resulted in an extremely diverse population with many different cultures and languages. As most public schools in the United States provide a monolingual education, immigrant parents are often unsure of whether or not they should teach their children their heritage language.
There are many myths surrounding the idea of bilingual education that prevent its widespread implementation in public schools. However, bilingual education has actually been shown to produce higher achievements in both languages. As well as enhance problem solving and critical thinking skills. Because some public school systems have successfully implemented bilingual education, there are still enormous difficulties in terms of resources and support from the U.S. Board of Education.
Which of the following sentences contains an error in subject-verb agreement?
The United States has been a country of immigrants since its foundation. This is still true today. The United States allows more people to immigrate to it then any other country. This stream of immigration have resulted in an extremely diverse population with many different cultures and languages. As most public schools in the United States provide a monolingual education, immigrant parents are often unsure of whether or not they should teach their children their heritage language.
There are many myths surrounding the idea of bilingual education that prevent its widespread implementation in public schools. However, bilingual education has actually been shown to produce higher achievements in both languages. As well as enhance problem solving and critical thinking skills. Because some public school systems have successfully implemented bilingual education, there are still enormous difficulties in terms of resources and support from the U.S. Board of Education.
Which of the following sentences contains an error in subject-verb agreement?
The sentence which contains an error is "This stream of immigration have resulted in an extremely diverse population with many different cultures and languages." The verb used should be "has" rather than "have" because the subject of the sentence is the singular "stream."
The sentence which contains an error is "This stream of immigration have resulted in an extremely diverse population with many different cultures and languages." The verb used should be "has" rather than "have" because the subject of the sentence is the singular "stream."
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Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
The flock of geese that we saw yesterday as we were driving home from the swim meet is flying south for the winter. 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.
The flock of geese that we saw yesterday as we were driving home from the swim meet is flying south for the winter. No error.
"That" is the correct relative pronoun to describe a flock of geese. "Were driving" is the correct verb tense. The choice "for the winter" is also correctly phrased. The incorrect answer in this sentence is the verb phrase "is flying. While it agrees in number with the singular subject "a flock of geese," it does not agree with the sentence's timeline. The speaker describes the flock of geese "that we saw yesterday," so this observation takes place in the past. We can't know for sure whether or not the geese are still flying south for the winter when the speaker says his or her statement the day after the observation, so to make the sentence consistent, the verb phrase "is flying" would need to be changed to the past tense: "was flying."
"That" is the correct relative pronoun to describe a flock of geese. "Were driving" is the correct verb tense. The choice "for the winter" is also correctly phrased. The incorrect answer in this sentence is the verb phrase "is flying. While it agrees in number with the singular subject "a flock of geese," it does not agree with the sentence's timeline. The speaker describes the flock of geese "that we saw yesterday," so this observation takes place in the past. We can't know for sure whether or not the geese are still flying south for the winter when the speaker says his or her statement the day after the observation, so to make the sentence consistent, the verb phrase "is flying" would need to be changed to the past tense: "was flying."
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Select the underlined word that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
We could never understand why Lee and Polly had never been to California, as so many of there friends lived in the Los Angeles area. No error
Select the underlined word that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
We could never understand why Lee and Polly had never been to California, as so many of there friends lived in the Los Angeles area. No error
The error in this sentence reflects a common misuse of the word "there" (which means a specific place at a specified distance away) in place of "their" (the possessive form of the pronoun "they"). As the phrase "Lee and Polly" is the antecedent of "they" in this sentence, the correct word to use is "their" rather than "there."
The error in this sentence reflects a common misuse of the word "there" (which means a specific place at a specified distance away) in place of "their" (the possessive form of the pronoun "they"). As the phrase "Lee and Polly" is the antecedent of "they" in this sentence, the correct word to use is "their" rather than "there."
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Select the underlined word that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
I always wondered how you could be so comfortable in your bedroom, since your always piling your laundry up in there. No error.
Select the underlined word that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
I always wondered how you could be so comfortable in your bedroom, since your always piling your laundry up in there. No error.
The given form of the sentence misuses the possessive pronoun "your" in place of the contraction "you're" ("you are"). To correct the sentence, "your" must be changed to "you're."
The given form of the sentence misuses the possessive pronoun "your" in place of the contraction "you're" ("you are"). To correct the sentence, "your" must be changed to "you're."
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Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Michael could never understand why the children were so tired in the afternoon, since they always had there nap every day at noon. 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.
Michael could never understand why the children were so tired in the afternoon, since they always had there nap every day at noon. No error.
The sentence contains an incorrect use of the word "there." "Their" should be used as the possessive form of "they."
The sentence contains an incorrect use of the word "there." "Their" should be used as the possessive form of "they."
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Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Daisy asked if she could use your black pen, since your going to lunch in a few minutes. 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.
Daisy asked if she could use your black pen, since your going to lunch in a few minutes. No error.
The given form of the sentences uses the possessive pronoun form, "your," instead of the correct contraction form, "you're."
The given form of the sentences uses the possessive pronoun form, "your," instead of the correct contraction form, "you're."
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Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
As we drove slowly away from the rickety, gray, termite-ridden house, a swarm of tiny animals explode from the bush to our left, blocking the path. 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.
As we drove slowly away from the rickety, gray, termite-ridden house, a swarm of tiny animals explode from the bush to our left, blocking the path. No error
Although the fact that "blocking" is correct might throw some readers off, the narration says that they "drove" away in the past. "Explode" should therefore be in the past tense as well ("exploded").
Although the fact that "blocking" is correct might throw some readers off, the narration says that they "drove" away in the past. "Explode" should therefore be in the past tense as well ("exploded").
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Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
The jury, despite hours of deliberation, is not able to resolve the issue; in the end, they cannot determine whose responsible for the crime. 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.
The jury, despite hours of deliberation, is not able to resolve the issue; in the end, they cannot determine whose responsible for the crime. No error
"Who is" and "who's" is not interchangeable with "whose": here the correct sentence is: "they cannot determine who is (who's) respsonsible ..."
"Who is" and "who's" is not interchangeable with "whose": here the correct sentence is: "they cannot determine who is (who's) respsonsible ..."
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Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
In the cities of the Pacific Northwest, like Seattle and Portland, there isn't hardly a single day that passes without rain. 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.
In the cities of the Pacific Northwest, like Seattle and Portland, there isn't hardly a single day that passes without rain. No error
This sentence's meaning is confused because it uses two negative words: "isn't" and "hardly." Double negatives are grammatically incorrect in modern English and would technically yield a positive meaning, so we need to change out one of these negative words for a positive one. Since it isn't an option to change or omit "hardly," "isn't" contains the sentence's error and is the correct answer. One way to correct the sentence would be to change "isn't" to "is," yielding the sentence, "In the cities of the Pacific Northwest, like Seattle and Portland, there is hardly a single day that passes without rain."
This sentence's meaning is confused because it uses two negative words: "isn't" and "hardly." Double negatives are grammatically incorrect in modern English and would technically yield a positive meaning, so we need to change out one of these negative words for a positive one. Since it isn't an option to change or omit "hardly," "isn't" contains the sentence's error and is the correct answer. One way to correct the sentence would be to change "isn't" to "is," yielding the sentence, "In the cities of the Pacific Northwest, like Seattle and Portland, there is hardly a single day that passes without rain."
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Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Despite the poor weather, I was planning on attending the festival with her. 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.
Despite the poor weather, I was planning on attending the festival with her. No error
The proper idiom for planning an action is planning to do something, not planning on something. Thus, the clause should be "I was planning to attend the festival with him."
The proper idiom for planning an action is planning to do something, not planning on something. Thus, the clause should be "I was planning to attend the festival with him."
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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 Joseph is a big fan of cooking shows, he hasn't never cooked in his entire life. 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.
Even though Joseph is a big fan of cooking shows, he hasn't never cooked in his entire life. No error
Double negatives are grammatically incorrect in standard written English, so instead of saying "hasn't never cooked," one should say "has never cooked."
Double negatives are grammatically incorrect in standard written English, so instead of saying "hasn't never cooked," one should say "has never cooked."
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Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Given the disproportionate amount of deaths caused by drunk drivers, most states have passed strict legislation against individuals who choose to operate vehicles while inebriated. 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.
Given the disproportionate amount of deaths caused by drunk drivers, most states have passed strict legislation against individuals who choose to operate vehicles while inebriated. No error
"Amount of" refers to something that is not necessarily measured numerically, while "number of" refers to something that is measured numerically. Given that deaths incurred by drunk drivers is something that can be measured numerically, "number of" would be appropriate, not "amount of." If the sentence was "Given the disproportionate amount of heartache caused by drunk drivers . . .", the sentence would have been properly constructed because heartache generally cannot be measured numerically.
"Amount of" refers to something that is not necessarily measured numerically, while "number of" refers to something that is measured numerically. Given that deaths incurred by drunk drivers is something that can be measured numerically, "number of" would be appropriate, not "amount of." If the sentence was "Given the disproportionate amount of heartache caused by drunk drivers . . .", the sentence would have been properly constructed because heartache generally cannot be measured numerically.
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Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
The Odyssey is a very long epic poem that tells the story of Odysseus and the long journey he undertakes to try to return to his home. 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.
The Odyssey is a very long epic poem that tells the story of Odysseus and the long journey he undertakes to try to return to his home. No error
The sentence tells us (correctly) that the Odyssey is "a long epic poem," so as a long poem, its title should be italicized as "The Odyssey."
The sentence tells us (correctly) that the Odyssey is "a long epic poem," so as a long poem, its title should be italicized as "The Odyssey."
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Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Every year, thousands of tourists swarm to New York City to view the impressive**,** timeless monument known as the Statue Of Liberty. 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.
Every year, thousands of tourists swarm to New York City to view the impressive**,** timeless monument known as the Statue Of Liberty. No error
The preposition “of” in the title “Statue of Liberty” does not need to be—and should not be—capitalized.
The preposition “of” in the title “Statue of Liberty” does not need to be—and should not be—capitalized.
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Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
While computers maybe an integral part of modern life, they cause problems as well as provide benefits. 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.
While computers maybe an integral part of modern life, they cause problems as well as provide benefits. No error
"Maybe" is an adverb that means perhaps and is incorrectly used in this sentence. To correct the sentence's error, "maybe" needs to be changed to "may be."
"Maybe" is an adverb that means perhaps and is incorrectly used in this sentence. To correct the sentence's error, "maybe" needs to be changed to "may be."
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Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
The writing tutor noticed that her student's writing skills had significantly improved since their first session. 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.
The writing tutor noticed that her student's writing skills had significantly improved since their first session. No error
The sentence's error is a split verb phrase. Verb phrases, like "had improved," should be kept together and not split by adverbs, like "significantly." To correct the split verb phrase, the verb and adverb should be rewritten as "had improved significantly."
The sentence's error is a split verb phrase. Verb phrases, like "had improved," should be kept together and not split by adverbs, like "significantly." To correct the split verb phrase, the verb and adverb should be rewritten as "had improved significantly."
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Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Margo was upset how the zoo was wasting valuable resources on moving sidewalks when the lions needed a new enclosure. 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.
Margo was upset how the zoo was wasting valuable resources on moving sidewalks when the lions needed a new enclosure. No error
This sentence uses the wrong relative pronoun after the adjective "upset." Usually, "that" is used. The corrected sentence reads, "Margo was upset that the zoo was wasting valuable resources on moving sidewalks when the lions needed a new enclosure."
This sentence uses the wrong relative pronoun after the adjective "upset." Usually, "that" is used. The corrected sentence reads, "Margo was upset that the zoo was wasting valuable resources on moving sidewalks when the lions needed a new enclosure."
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Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Compared next to her coworker, Sheila was always more polite and punctual, always on time and ready to lend a helping hand. 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.
Compared next to her coworker, Sheila was always more polite and punctual, always on time and ready to lend a helping hand. No error
In English something is "compared to" something, not "compared next to something. Accordingly, the error lies in the usage of "with." While there are some idioms that do use a "alongside" construction, comparisons are made "to" other things.
In English something is "compared to" something, not "compared next to something. Accordingly, the error lies in the usage of "with." While there are some idioms that do use a "alongside" construction, comparisons are made "to" other things.
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Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Although he purported to be unbiased in his hiring practices, the boss tended to disseminate between older and younger applicants. 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.
Although he purported to be unbiased in his hiring practices, the boss tended to disseminate between older and younger applicants. No error
The issue here is the use of the word "disseminate." To disseminate is to spread something -typically information- on a large scale. The sentence calls for the word "discriminate" instead, which means to recognize a distinction between two entities. Because the boss judges younger and older applicants differently, she discriminates between them.
The issue here is the use of the word "disseminate." To disseminate is to spread something -typically information- on a large scale. The sentence calls for the word "discriminate" instead, which means to recognize a distinction between two entities. Because the boss judges younger and older applicants differently, she discriminates between them.
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Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
During the "Great Famine" of the mid-1800s, many Irish citizens immigrated from Ireland to countries around the world in an effort to escape mass starvation. 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.
During the "Great Famine" of the mid-1800s, many Irish citizens immigrated from Ireland to countries around the world in an effort to escape mass starvation. No error
The correct verb to describe the process of people leaving their country is "emigrated," which means to have left one's own country to live in another, usually out of necessity. The verb _"_immigrate"means to permanently relocate to a foreign country. One might emigrate from Ireland, and immigrate to America. In this case, "emigrated" is the correct choice because the focus is on the Irish citizens moving fromIreland, rather than toa specific destination.
The correct verb to describe the process of people leaving their country is "emigrated," which means to have left one's own country to live in another, usually out of necessity. The verb _"_immigrate"means to permanently relocate to a foreign country. One might emigrate from Ireland, and immigrate to America. In this case, "emigrated" is the correct choice because the focus is on the Irish citizens moving fromIreland, rather than toa specific destination.
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