PSAT Writing : Identifying Noun-Noun Agreement Errors
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Example Questions
Example Question #1 : Identifying Noun Noun 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.
Chastised by their teacher for their unacceptable behavior, all of the students returned sheepishly to their desk. No error.
sheepishly
No error.
for their unacceptable behavior
desk
Chastised
desk
In this sentence, there are multiple students who (presumably) have multiple desks. “Desk,” therefore, needs to be plural. The corrected sentence reads, "Chastised by their teacher for their unacceptable behavior, all of the students returned sheepishly to their desks."
Example Question #2 : Identifying Noun Noun 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.
Suzy and Joe entered the county's fair and won the first and second place prize. No error.
county's
fair and
No error.
prize
first and second place
prize
This sentence refers to two prizes, first and second place. The noun "prize" should therefore be plural. The corrected sentence reads, "Suzy and Joe entered the county's fair and won the first and second place prizes."
Example Question #3 : Identifying Noun Noun 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.
All four of Martha’s children became a varsity athlete in high school; she was incredibly proud of her family. No error
a varsity athelete
was
proud of
No error
All four
a varsity athelete
Given that Martha has four children, the number of athletes should be plural. Therefore, “a varsity athlete” should be “varsity athletes."
Example Question #4 : Identifying Noun Noun 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.
Two out of four teenagers who become addicted to drugs will go on to become a high school dropout. No error
who
a high school dropout
No error
out of
will
a high school dropout
Given that this sentence is talking about the fate of “two out of four teenagers,” multiple teenagers are being referred to. Therefore, “a high school dropout” should also be plural, and therefore read, “high school dropouts.”
Example Question #5 : Identifying Noun Noun 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.
All of my classmates wanted to become a singer when they grew up, except for me. No error
a singer
except
wanted to
All of
No error
a singer
There are multiple classmates described in the sentence. Therefore, there should also be multiple (or plural) singers. However, the word here is the singular, “singer,” which is incorrect.
Example Question #3 : Identifying Noun Noun 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.
I despise the chores that my mother asks me to do, but the act of pairing socks is by far the most tedious tasks. No error
asks
but
No error
is
tasks
tasks
In the clause "the act of pairing socks is by far the most tedious tasks," "act" and "tasks" are referring to the same thing, so "task" must be singular like "act" is. "Tasks" is plural and is therefore incorrect.
Example Question #6 : Identifying Noun Noun 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.
Polydactyl cats can have seven toes on each feet, a fact that makes me wonder whether the extra digits make it easier for them to scratch things. No error
easier
feet
that makes me wonder whether
seven toes
No error
feet
The sentence uses the phrase "seven toes on each feet," and this is incorrect because "each" is used to describe a singular noun, but "feet" is plural. Changing "feet" to "foot" corrects this error.
Example Question #7 : Identifying Noun Noun 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 and Frank won the prize for first and second place in the elementary school baking contest. No error
No error
the prize
elementary school baking contest
won
in
the prize
This sentence refers to two prizes, first and second, for two people, Bob and Frank. The plural noun "prizes" should be used. The corrected sentence reads, "Bob and Frank won the prizes for first and second place in the elementary school baking contest."
Example Question #8 : Identifying Noun Noun 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.
Lewis and Clark, the now legendary explorers of the Louisiana Purchase, were chosen for their scientific knowledge and skills as a frontiersman. No error
skills as a frontiersman
were chosen
their
No error
legendary
skills as a frontiersman
This sentence has a discrepancy in number. Lewis and Clark are two different people, so they are two different frontiersmen. The corrected sentence reads: "Lewis and Clark, the now legendary explorers of the Louisiana Purchase, were chosen for their scientific knowledge and skills as frontiersmen."
Example Question #9 : Identifying Noun Noun 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.
All three of the pumpkins that Gerald entered into the contest became a top-ten winner; needless to say, he was thrilled. No error
entered into
No error
was thrilled
a top-ten winner
that
a top-ten winner
In this sentence, there is a discrepancy in number. There are three pumpkins, so there should be multiple winners. The corrected sentence reads: "All three of the pumpkins that Gerald entered into the contest became top-ten winners; needless to say, he was thrilled."
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