Identifying Verb Errors - SAT Writing
Card 0 of 400
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
She found herself unable to following his long and wordy directions, so she asked another person at the gas station after he left. 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.
She found herself unable to following his long and wordy directions, so she asked another person at the gas station after he left. No error.
The writer uses the incorrect verb form "to following" in this sentence and needs to change it to "to follow," which is the proper way to form the infinitive (a verbal noun).
The writer uses the incorrect verb form "to following" in this sentence and needs to change it to "to follow," which is the proper way to form the infinitive (a verbal noun).
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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.
I don't know how Jim was able to ran that fast, but since he'd always been running faster than most of us kids, I wasn't too surprised. 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.
I don't know how Jim was able to ran that fast, but since he'd always been running faster than most of us kids, I wasn't too surprised. No error
The writer uses the incorrect verb form "to ran" in the above sentence and would need to change it to "to run" in order to make the sentence fully grammatically correct.
The writer uses the incorrect verb form "to ran" in the above sentence and would need to change it to "to run" in order to make the sentence fully grammatically correct.
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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.
Pamela knew that Keith was capable of manage the Smith family's wedding, so she left him in charge of catering the event. 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.
Pamela knew that Keith was capable of manage the Smith family's wedding, so she left him in charge of catering the event. No error
The sentence above uses the incorrect verb form "of manage." We would need to replace it with "of managing" in order to make the sentence correct.
The sentence above uses the incorrect verb form "of manage." We would need to replace it with "of managing" in order to make the sentence correct.
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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 and I contacted the jeweler because we had heard she would be able to finding us a great engagement ring. 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 and I contacted the jeweler because we had heard she would be able to finding us a great engagement ring. No error
The sentence contains a verb voice error in "to finding." We would need to change the verb to the grammatically correct form "to find" in order to improve the sentence.
The sentence contains a verb voice error in "to finding." We would need to change the verb to the grammatically correct form "to find" in order to improve the sentence.
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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 letter from the scholarship committee said that he had selected to be one of the recipients of the prestigious \$10,000 scholarship because of his excellent grades and volunteer work. 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 letter from the scholarship committee said that he had selected to be one of the recipients of the prestigious \$10,000 scholarship because of his excellent grades and volunteer work. No error
We say that someone “is selected” by a committee to be the recipient of an award. This is in the passive voice. This sentence instead uses the active voice to describe the student who has been selected for the scholarship. To correct this, we need to change “had selected,” which is active, to “had been selected,” which is passive.
We say that someone “is selected” by a committee to be the recipient of an award. This is in the passive voice. This sentence instead uses the active voice to describe the student who has been selected for the scholarship. To correct this, we need to change “had selected,” which is active, to “had been selected,” which is passive.
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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.
It took Donna many weeks to perfect her pirouette, but when she finally mastered it, she wouldn't stop being shown off in front of us. 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.
It took Donna many weeks to perfect her pirouette, but when she finally mastered it, she wouldn't stop being shown off in front of us. No error
This sentence wants to say that when Donna learned how to do her pirouette, she kept showing off her pirouette to other people. The way the sentence is currently worded, it sounds like Donna is being shown off by another person. “Being shown off” is in the passive voice, but it should be changed to the active voice. So, “being shown off” should be changed to “showing off,” because Donna is the one doing the showing off, not being shown off by someone else.
This sentence wants to say that when Donna learned how to do her pirouette, she kept showing off her pirouette to other people. The way the sentence is currently worded, it sounds like Donna is being shown off by another person. “Being shown off” is in the passive voice, but it should be changed to the active voice. So, “being shown off” should be changed to “showing off,” because Donna is the one doing the showing off, not being shown off by someone else.
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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.
That organization recommends that each person exercises for at least thirty minutes a day at least three days a week. 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.
That organization recommends that each person exercises for at least thirty minutes a day at least three days a week. No error
Subjunctive mood is used when a sentence is intended to express doubt or possibility (including recommendations and commands) rather than truth. In the sentence above, because the word the organization being discussed is making a recommendation, we know that subjunctive should be used. The correct subjunctive construction of the sentence above is "That organization recommends that each person exercise for at least thirty minutes a day, at least three days a week."
Subjunctive mood is used when a sentence is intended to express doubt or possibility (including recommendations and commands) rather than truth. In the sentence above, because the word the organization being discussed is making a recommendation, we know that subjunctive should be used. The correct subjunctive construction of the sentence above is "That organization recommends that each person exercise for at least thirty minutes a day, at least three days a week."
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Please choose the part of the sentence that needs to be corrected. Some sentences may have no error at all.
The judges were amazed that Joe had been able to sang so beautifully. No error
Please choose the part of the sentence that needs to be corrected. Some sentences may have no error at all.
The judges were amazed that Joe had been able to sang so beautifully. No error
Because "the judges were amazed that Joe had been able to sing" the correct conjugation of the verb uses the present, rather than the past participle.
Because "the judges were amazed that Joe had been able to sing" the correct conjugation of the verb uses the present, rather than the past participle.
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Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences may contain no error at all.
Sheela and Shreya contacted him because they had heard he selled the best cakes in town. No error
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences may contain no error at all.
Sheela and Shreya contacted him because they had heard he selled the best cakes in town. No error
The word "selled" is an incorrect formulation of the verb "sell." Since the cakes are bing sold on an ongoing basis the correct way to conjugate the sentence would be to replace "selled" with "sells."
The word "selled" is an incorrect formulation of the verb "sell." Since the cakes are bing sold on an ongoing basis the correct way to conjugate the sentence would be to replace "selled" with "sells."
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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.
New imaging techniques, which use improved technology in the detecting of deadly cancers, may allow doctors to save more lives. 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.
New imaging techniques, which use improved technology in the detecting of deadly cancers, may allow doctors to save more lives. No error
When we want to show the purpose of the sentence’s subject (in this case, the purpose of improved imaging technology), we must use the infinitive form of the verb—detect. The sentence would read correctly as, “New imaging techniques, which use improved technology to detect deadly cancers, may allow doctors to save more lives.”
When we want to show the purpose of the sentence’s subject (in this case, the purpose of improved imaging technology), we must use the infinitive form of the verb—detect. The sentence would read correctly as, “New imaging techniques, which use improved technology to detect deadly cancers, may allow doctors to save more lives.”
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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.
Marketers are finding greater success making sales when they phoned people in the morning rather than late in the afternoon. 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.
Marketers are finding greater success making sales when they phoned people in the morning rather than late in the afternoon. No error
The sentence is present tense, so use "phone "instead of "phoned."
The sentence is present tense, so use "phone "instead of "phoned."
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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 undercover agents chose not to apprehend the suspect in the mall that afternoon, but instead apprehended him at the harbor before he is boarding a ship to Morocco. 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 undercover agents chose not to apprehend the suspect in the mall that afternoon, but instead apprehended him at the harbor before he is boarding a ship to Morocco. No error
"Is boarding" should be "boarded" because it matches the tense of other verbs in the sentence.
"Is boarding" should be "boarded" because it matches the tense of other verbs in the sentence.
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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.
Next time, I plan to look over my composition quick for faults before I turn it in to my professor. 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.
Next time, I plan to look over my composition quick for faults before I turn it in to my professor. No error
"Quick" is an adjective and is being used to describe "look over," a verb. Adjectives cannot be used to describe verbs; adverbs describe verbs. So, "quick" needs to be changed to "quickly" for the sentence to be correct.
"Quick" is an adjective and is being used to describe "look over," a verb. Adjectives cannot be used to describe verbs; adverbs describe verbs. So, "quick" needs to be changed to "quickly" for the sentence to be correct.
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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 Steven does not usually have an appetite, he has ate more tonight than anyone else at the dinner. 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 Steven does not usually have an appetite, he has ate more tonight than anyone else at the dinner. No error
The phrase "has ate" should be "has eaten." "Eaten" is the proper participle for the present perfect form.
The phrase "has ate" should be "has eaten." "Eaten" is the proper participle for the present perfect form.
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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 soon as I bought an expensive patio umbrella I am finding them on clearance everywhere. 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 soon as I bought an expensive patio umbrella I am finding them on clearance everywhere. No error
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."
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."
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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.
They puzzled over the little mysteries of life and language, wondering if it is possible to mingle in a group of two. 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.
They puzzled over the little mysteries of life and language, wondering if it is possible to mingle in a group of two. No error
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."
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."
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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.
When Martha goes to the coffee shop and places her order, it took her about five minutes to detail all of her specifications. 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.
When Martha goes to the coffee shop and places her order, it took her about five minutes to detail all of her specifications. No error
This sentence has a problem with verb tense. Since the first half of the sentence is in the present, the second half has to be too. The corrected sentence reads, "When Martha goes to the coffee shop and places her order, it takes her about five minutes to detail all of her specifications."
This sentence has a problem with verb tense. Since the first half of the sentence is in the present, the second half has to be too. The corrected sentence reads, "When Martha goes to the coffee shop and places her order, it takes her about five minutes to detail all of her specifications."
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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.
Bob agonized over the logic puzzle that Charlie had been giving him, and Charlie took delight in his agony. 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.
Bob agonized over the logic puzzle that Charlie had been giving him, and Charlie took delight in his agony. No error
This sentence uses the wrong verb tense. “Had been giving” is clunky and unnecessary. The corrected sentence reads: Bob agonized over the logic puzzle that Charlie had given him, and Charlie took delight in his agony.
This sentence uses the wrong verb tense. “Had been giving” is clunky and unnecessary. The corrected sentence reads: Bob agonized over the logic puzzle that Charlie had given him, and Charlie took delight in his agony.
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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.
After attending a workshop on cake decorating, Joe brings edible works of art to every family gathering. 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.
After attending a workshop on cake decorating, Joe brings edible works of art to every family gathering. No error
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.
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.
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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.
Since he finally quit his stressful job, Joe is full of energy and witty banter. 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.
Since he finally quit his stressful job, Joe is full of energy and witty banter. No error
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.
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.
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