PSAT Writing : Identifying Other Errors or No Error
Study concepts, example questions & explanations for PSAT Writing
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Example Questions
Example Question #4 : Identifying Sentence 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 movement to build a community garden in the empty lot was slowly gaining momentum, and Mrs. Higgins was already excitedly asking nurseries to donate plants. No error.
in the empty lot
excitedly
No error.
was
to build
No error.
This sentence is correct as written! The verb “to build” is correct in the infinitive, “in the empty lot” is an appropriate prepositional phrase, “was” is a verb in the correct tense, and “excitedly” is an adverb that modifies a verb.
Example Question #5 : Identifying Sentence 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 bright red of a matador’s cape does not incite bulls to charge; cattle do not perceive red as a bright color. No error.
bright red
perceive
does not incite
No error.
as a bright color
No error.
This sentence is correct as written! “Bright red” works here as a noun, “does not incite” is a verb that matches its subject, “perceive” is a verb that is correctly formed, and “as a bright color” is an appropriate prepositional phrase.
Example Question #6 : Identifying Sentence 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 general blatantly ignored the lessons of history and commanded his army to invade Russia in the winter. No error.
in the winter
and commanded
No error.
blatantly
to invade
No error.
This sentence is correct as written! “Blatantly” is an adverb that modifies a verb, “and commanded” uses parallel structure, “to invade” is correct as an infinitive, and “in the winter” is a correctly formed prepositional phrase.
Example Question #7 : Identifying Sentence Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
As globalizing forces reach out to remote corners of the globe, some worry that we will become a homogenous universal culture. No error.
No error.
will become
reach out to
globalizing
some
No error.
This sentence is correct as written! “Globalizing” can be used as an adjective, “reach out to” uses the correct prepositions following the verb, “some” is an appropriate pronoun, and “will become” correctly uses future tense.
Example Question #8 : Identifying Sentence 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 first landing of a man on the moon, a feat that many people considered impossible, was a historical highlight of the 1960s. No error.
considered impossible
historical
No error.
that
first landing
No error.
This sentence is correct as written! “First landing” is an appropriate adjective-noun combination, “that” is the correct relative pronoun, “considered impossible” is an appropriate verb-adjective combination, and “historical” is an adjective that correctly modifies a noun.
Example Question #9 : Identifying Sentence Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
A born performer, Maria would much rather sing and dance on stage all day than work in her isolated cubicle. No error.
than work in her isolated cubicle
No error.
A born performer
would
on stage
No error.
This sentence is correct as written! “A born performer” is a correctly placed phrase modifying “Maria,” “would” is appropriate use of the conditional voice, “on stage” is the correct idiom, and “than work in her isolated cubicle” is a correctly-formed comparison.
Example Question #1 : Identifying Other Errors Or 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 stores filled with chocolates and hearts as Valentine’s Day approached, but Dave scoffed at the trite romantic commercialism. No error.
but
No error.
as
filled with
romantic commercialism
No error.
This sentence is correct as written! “Filled with” uses the right preposition after the verb, “as” starts off an adverbial phrase correctly, “but” is the right conjunction for the logic of the sentence, and “romantic commercialism” is a correct adjective-noun combination.
Example Question #2 : Identifying Other Errors Or 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 music lilted over the hills, creating a lovely soundtrack to the townspeople’s day. No error.
creating
music lilted
townspeople's day
No error.
lovely
No error.
This sentence is correct as written. “Music” and “lilted” agree, “creating” is the correct way to start a gerund phrase, “lovely” is an adjective that modifies a noun, and “townspeople’s day” uses apostrophes correctly.
Example Question #3 : Identifying Other Errors Or 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.
Bicycles need regular maintenance to keep them performing well. No error.
performing well
need
them
regular
No error.
No error.
This sentence is correct as written. “Need” is a verb that agrees with its plural subject, “regular” is an adjective that modifies a noun, “them” is a pronoun that agrees with its antecedent, and “performing well” is an appropriate verb-adverb combination.
Example Question #7 : Identifying Other Errors Or 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.
Fueled by a grim determination, Jonathan pushed the wheelbarrow full of bricks up to the top of the last hill. No error.
Fueled by
grim
Jonathan pushed
the last hill
No error.
No error.
This sentence is correct as written! “Fueled by” is the correct verb-preposition combination, “grim” is an adjective modifying a noun, “Jonathan pushed” has a verb in the right tense and person, and “the last hill” is an appropriate adjective-noun combination.
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