Identifying Interrupting Phrase Errors

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PSAT Writing › Identifying Interrupting Phrase Errors

Questions 1 - 2
1

Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.

That dress, even if it flatters Maureen, is not one that I would wear to the prom. No error.

No error

dress, even

Maureen, is

I would

the prom

Explanation

An interrupting phrase provides extra information about the subject that is not necessary for the sentence to be correct. A correctly-formed interrupting phrase should have a comma at the beginning and a comma at the end, and the sentence should remain correct even if the interrupting phrase is deleted. This means that the correct form of this sentence is "That dress, even if it flatters Maureen, is not one that I would wear to the prom."

2

Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.

It's hard to believe that Arthur though he did work very hard, received a full scholarship to an Ivy League school. No error.

Arthur though

It's hard

hard, received

Ivy League

No error

Explanation

An interrupting phrase provides extra information about the subject that is not necessary for the sentence to be correct. A correctly formed interrupting phrase should have a comma at the beginning and a comma at the end, and the sentence should remain correct even if the interrupting phrase is deleted. This means that the correct form of this sentence is "It's hard to believe that Arthur, though he did work very hard, received a full scholarship to an Ivy League school."

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