PSAT Writing : Identifying Modifier-Word Modified Agreement Errors

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for PSAT Writing

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Example Questions

Example Question #1 : Identifying Modifier Word Modified Agreement Errors

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

While this claims are unverified, some people report that garlic is a powerful panacea. No error

Possible Answers:

some

this

powerful

No error

While

Correct answer:

this

Explanation:

This sentence has a singular demonstrative adjective (“this”) that does not agree with its plural noun (“claims”). These should be consistent. The corrected sentence reads, "While these claims are unverified, some people report that garlic is a powerful panacea."

Example Question #1 : Identifying Modifier Word Modified Agreement Errors

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

Bob's story was not only more interesting than John, but it was more realistic. No error

Possible Answers:

John

was

No error

more

it

Correct answer:

John

Explanation:

This is an illogical comparison. To be grammatically correct, the sentence needs to say "John's story" or "that of John's" instead of just "John."

Example Question #1 : Identifying Modifier Word Modified Agreement Errors

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

Let's not get caught up in all this problems; we should solve them and move forward. No error

Possible Answers:

this

forward

we should

No error

Let's not

Correct answer:

this

Explanation:

The use of "this" needs to be plural since it refers to multiple problems: "these problems" would be correct.

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