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Example Questions
Example Question #1 : Identifying Verb Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Seafarers have not been able to measure longitude during their journeys until the 18th century, when clockmaker William Harrison solved the problem with a very precise clock. No error.
when
have not been able to
their journeys
No error.
solved the problem with
have not been able to
The verb tenses in this sentence do not work together. The first part of the sentence takes place before a point in the past (when Harrison solved the problem), so the correct verb would be “had not been able.” The corrected sentence reads, "Seafarers had not been able to measure longitude during their journeys until the 18th century, when clockmaker William Harrison solved the problem with a very precise clock."
Example Question #1 : Identifying Verb Tense Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Frustrated by the limited career options in his small, rural hometown, Frank ran away with the circus and was becoming a contortionist. No error.
small, rural hometown
No error.
with the circus
was becoming
Frustrated by
was becoming
There is no reason for the last verb in this sentence to be in the past progressive tense—it happened at a singular point in the past. The corrected sentence reads, "Frustrated by the limited career options in his small, rural hometown, Frank ran away with the circus and became a contortionist."
Example Question #1 : Identifying Verb Tense Errors
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 found his job being dreadfully boring, he remained committed, knowing that his wages would buy him a plane ticket to Paris. No error.
Although
he remained
No error.
being
would buy
being
This sentence uses the wrong form of the verb “to be.” After “found,” it is correct to use the infinitive "to be" instead of "being." The corrected sentence reads, "Although he found his job to be dreadfully boring, he remained committed, knowing that his wages would buy him a plane ticket to Paris."
Example Question #2 : Identifying Verb Tense Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Long before she began her tenure as chair of the Biology department, Professor Green has taught undergraduate classes in Spanish literature. No error.
in
No error.
Long before
her tenure
has taught
has taught
The timeline of this sentence is off. The first phrase is in the past tense, so the verb “has taught” needs to indicate that it happened before that point in the past. So, "has taught" should be changed to "had taught," and "has taught" contains the sentence's error. The corrected sentence reads, "Long before she began her tenure as chair of the Biology department, Professor Green had taught undergraduate classes in Spanish literature."
Example Question #2 : Identifying Verb Tense 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 show will not have been such a fiasco if the animals had not escaped from their kennels just as the curtain was rising. No error.
such a fiasco if
No error.
had not escaped
will not
just as
will not
This sentence describes a situation that did not happen, and should use the conditional “would” instead of the future tense “will.” The corrected sentence reads, "The show would not have been such a fiasco if the animals had not escaped from their kennels just as the curtain was rising."
Example Question #1 : Identifying Verb Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Her flat intonation masked the incredible excitement she felt at found the prize in the cereal box. No error.
in the cereal box
No error.
Her flat intonation
incredible
found
found
This sentence uses the wrong form of the verb “to find.” In order to fit into the timeline of the sentence, it should read “having found” or possibly "finding." The corrected sentence reads, "Her flat intonation masked the incredible excitement she felt at having found the prize in the cereal box."
Example Question #1 : Identifying Verb Tense 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 issue being that the director does not come into the office on Fridays and I am not familiar with the process she uses. No error.
familiar with
she
No error.
does not come into
being that
being that
This sentence uses the "-ing" verb “being” when it isn’t necessary. In fact, this sentence is a fragment as it is written, but can be made into a complete sentence by changing "being" as "is." This also sounds much cleaner and more direct. The corrected sentence reads, "The issue is that the director does not come into the office on Fridays and I am not familiar with the process she uses."
Example Question #3 : Identifying Verb Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Robert being always the top of his class in high school, and he put enormous pressure on himself to maintain his rank in college. No error.
his
the top of his class
being
No error.
pressure on himself
being
The gerund “being” here is unnecessary and makes the sentence sound clunky. Replace it with “was” to make the sentence run more smoothly: "Robert was always the top of his class in high school, and he put enormous pressure on himself to maintain his rank in college."
Example Question #831 : Sat Writing
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 had never taken piano lessons, anytime that Jeff, who was unusually intelligent, sees a piano, he was able to play a song. No error
Although
able to play
sees
No error
who was
sees
The entire sentence refers to the past, as we can tell from the verb "was" in "who was unusually intelligent" and the verb "was" in "was able to play." Therefore, the verb "sees" should be in the past tense like the rest of the verbs in the sentence. To correct the sentence's error, we would need to change "sees" to "saw."
Example Question #1 : Identifying Verb Tense 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 revolutionary, having been the subject of abuse during his childhood, emphatically lead the uprising, fueled by both a desire for social justice, as well as a certain anger that he himself did not entirely understand. No error
lead
having been
he himself
fueled by both
No error
lead
"Lead" is in the present tense. Given that the rest of the sentence is in the past tense, this verb should also be in the past tense. Therefore, it should be "led," not "lead."
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