SAT Writing : Identifying Correlative Conjunction Errors
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Example Question #5 : Identifying Conjunction Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Neither the teachers or the students were told that the famous actor and actress would be visiting the school until the day before the visit; it was hard to tell which group was the more excited one when everyone found out. No error
No error
until the day before the visit; it was hard to tell
Neither the teachers or the students were
the famous actor and actress would be visiting
the more excited one
Neither the teachers or the students were
When using the word "neither" to introduce one of two things in a negative fashion, one needs to introduce the other thing using the word "nor," not "or." So, the correct answer is, "Neither the teachers nor the students were told that the famous actor and actress would be visiting the school until the day before the visit; it was hard to tell which group was the more excited one when everyone found out."
Example Question #6 : Identifying Conjunction Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Neither the aliens who were invading or the people who were being invaded really understood what was happening. No error
were being
what was happening
who
No error
or
or
This sentence has a problem with coordinators. If “neither” is used, it triggers the use of “nor.” The corrected sentence reads: Neither the aliens who were invading nor the people who were being invaded really understood what was happening.
Example Question #2 : Identifying Conjunction Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Neither the dog or the cat could climb the trees outside the house, for the trees were too tall. No error
outside the house
no error
were
too tall
or
or
The proper conjunction here would be "nor," as it agrees with "neither."
Example Question #2 : Identifying Correlative Conjunction Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Choosing between the carrot cake with cream cheese frosting or the marble cake with chocolate ganache was an agonizing decision. No error
agonizing
No error
or
was
Choosing
or
This sentence does not follow conventions regarding the use of phrase “between X and Y.” The conjunction “and,” not “or,” should always be used when setting up a sentence using "between" to describe a choice or a comparison. The corrected sentence reads, "Choosing between the carrot cake with cream cheese frosting and the marble cake with chocolate ganache was an agonizing decision."
Example Question #1 : Identifying Correlative Conjunction Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Because it is not a holiday, neither the church or the bank is closed early. No error
No error
holiday
Because
or
is
or
"Neither" always takes "nor," never "or." It may be tempting to choose "is." Neither may use plural or singular verbs, depending on the plural or singular quality of the subjects it refers to.
Example Question #2 : Identifying Correlative Conjunction Errors
Select the underlined word that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
When Daisy had to choose between singing in glee club or pursuing her black belt in jiujitsu, she made a chart that listed the pros and cons of each activity. No error
No error
or
had to choose
When
that listed
or
When setting up a comparison using the word "between," we must always use the convention "between A and B," where A and B are the things we are comparing. Therefore, the word "or" should be replaced with "and" in this sentence.
Example Question #13 : Identifying Conjunction Errors
Select the underlined word that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Daniel eventually realized that neither money or fame made him as happy as he was when he was married to Diane. No error
eventually realized
No error
was married
neither money or fame
as happy as he was
neither money or fame
The sentence features a correlative conjunction error: when the word "neither" is used to introduce one of two nouns in a negative manner, one must always use the word "nor" to introduce the second noun.
Example Question #12 : Identifying Conjunction 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 planning our summer vacation trip, we had a hard time choosing between going to Barcelona or going to Costa Rica; both seemed like great destinations. No error
While
seemed
or
choosing
No error
or
The error in this sentence is the incorrect structure of the comparison "between (Option 1) and (Option 2)." The conjunction "and" should always be used in this type of comparison, and in this sentence the writer has incorrectly used the conjunction "or."
Example Question #3 : Identifying Correlative Conjunction Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Neither Timothy or Jocelyn had any doubt that they would get a perfect score on the SAT, since they had been studying almost nonstop for months. No error
any
No error
or
had been
Neither
or
The error in this sentence is the use of the conjunction "or." The writer should have used the conjunction "nor," as this is the conjunction that must be paired with "neither" when using the formulation "neither X nor Y."
Example Question #13 : Identifying Conjunction Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
You can either tell him the truth and try to hide your mistake, but you should consider the consequences carefully; if you make the wrong decision, you may lose a friend. No error
decision,
mistake,
No error
either tell him the truth and try to hide
carefully;
either tell him the truth and try to hide
The correlative conjunction “either” must be paired with “or,” not “and.” The sentence is punctuated correctly, with commas separating dependent clauses from independent clauses and a semicolon separating the two independent clauses.
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