All SAT Writing Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #1 : 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 recent discovery of the short films and the personal diary of the renowned inventor allow historians to appreciate his genius even more. No error
of the renowned inventor
and
even more
allow
No error
allow
This sentence features an error of subject-verb agreement. The subject of this sentence is singular: "the recent discovery," though the following elaboration of short films and a personal diary can be misleading they do not change the grammatical subject of the sentence. Therefore the verb should be "allows."
Example Question #1 : 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.
Looking down from the summit, Stacy's friends' faces were blurry as they smiled up at her. No error
friends'
No error
at her
Looking down
were
Looking down
"Looking down" is the correct answer.
The subject of the main clause (after the comma) is "faces" (particularly "Stacy's friends' faces"), which cannot logically be the subject of the first clause. This disagreement creates a dangling clause. It must be the subject (of the whole sentence) who is "looking down," but one can infer that it is Stacy who is at the summit, because her "friends' faces" "smiled up at her."
Example Question #1 : Identifying Sentence Errors
While I appreciate your efforts to ensure that the event runs smoothly, it is interfering with my ability to give the artists the flexibility they require.
it is
No error
interfering with
they
to ensure that
it is
In this sentence, the pronoun “it” does not agree in number with its antecedent “efforts.” The corrected sentence reads: While I appreciate your efforts to ensure that the event runs smoothly, they are interfering with my ability to give the artists the flexibility they require.
Example Question #1 : Identifying Sentence Errors
The buzzing noises emitting from the alarm clock makes me cringe every time that I hear them.
them
No error
emitting from
makes
every time
makes
This sentence has a problem with subject-verb agreement. The verb “makes” does not agree with the plural subject “noises.” The corrected sentence reads: The buzzing noises emitting from the alarm clock make me cringe every time that I hear them.
Example Question #2 : Identifying Sentence Errors
Harold had always found the specialized jargon of artisanal coffee shops being confusing and intimidating.
had always found
jargon of
No error
and
being
being
This sentence does not use the correct form of the verb that follows “found.” The corrected sentence reads: Harold had always found the specialized jargon of artisanal coffee shops to be confusing and intimidating.
Example Question #3 : Identifying Sentence Errors
His family grew up eating a steady diet of meat and potatoes, and now they are being reluctant to try new foods like enchiladas and kale chips.
are being
No error
like enchiladas and kale chips
to try
steady diet
are being
This sentence uses a clunky progressive tense when it is not needed. The corrected sentence reads: His family grew up eating a steady diet of meat and potatoes, and now they are reluctant to try new foods like enchiladas and kale chips.
Example Question #1 : 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 new budget was not determined entirely by the Board of Directors, but they certainly had a lot of influence. No error
was not determined
by
No error
had
they
they
The correct answer is "they."
This is a case of subject-pronoun disagreement. Although the subject in the first clause is "the budget," the subject becomes "the Board of Directors" in the second clause. Therefore, the pronoun must be replacing that subject, and the subject is singular ("the Board of Directors"), while "they" is plural, so it is a definite error. While there are several people, at least more than one, in a Board of Directors, the subject is not the directors, it is the entity itself— the Board. There is only one Board.
Though "was not decided" is in the passive voice, it is not grammatically wrong, just weaker writing. "By" is the correct usage, "and had" is a verb-verb agreement, both are in past tense.
Example Question #1 : 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.
Lauren sulked all during school because she felt "left out," but the conversation was between Jenny and I, and I had every right to keep it that way. No error
No error
all during
"left out,"
keep it that way
between Jenny and I
between Jenny and I
"Between Jenny and I" is incorrect. In this case, the sentence should say, "Lauren sulked all during school because she felt 'left out,' but the conversation was between Jenny and me, and I had every right to keep it that way." This sentence has a pronoun case error. Since Jenny and the speaker are objects (grammatically) within the sentence, the objective case pronoun ("me") is required, instead of the subjective case pronoun ("I"). In order to better understand these situations, when the phrase includes a noun and a pronoun simply remove the noun before the pronoun, for example, remove "Jenny and." Once you do that, you will much more easily identify the correct pronoun.
Another example: "Dad bought Roger and I a bicycle." As opposed to: "Dad bought (Roger and) I a bicycle." One would not say: "Dad bought I a bicycle."
Example Question #1 : Identifying Sentence Errors
Members of the blue team travel around the city collecting buttons, and it will not be able to communicate with the red team at any time.
it
collecting buttons
at any time
No error
will not be able to
it
In this sentence, the pronoun “it” does not match in number with its antecedent “Members.” The corrected sentence reads: Members of the blue team travel around the city collecting buttons, and they will not be able to communicate with the red team at any time.
Example Question #1 : 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.
Susan's term paper was definitely the most thorough researched work she had done all year, but she was still worried that the teacher wouldn't like it. No error
it
No error
was
she'd done
most thorough
most thorough
The error here is "most thorough." Since "thorough" is followed by a verb it is an adverb, and thus must become "thoroughly." The correct way to write this would be "the most thoroughly researched." Adding the "-ly" to an adjective usually makes it an adverb, and every time and adjective is describing another adjective or a verb it must become an adverb. The "it" at the end is the correct pronoun, as "it" is referring to the paper.
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