PSAT Writing › 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.
As soon as I bought an expensive patio umbrella I am finding them on clearance everywhere. No error
am finding
As soon as
expensive
everywhere
No error
This sentence has a problem with the timeline of verb tenses. Since the first half of the sentence is in the past, the second half has to be too. The corrected sentence reads, "As soon as I bought an expensive patio umbrella I found them on clearance everywhere."
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Although Steven does not usually have an appetite, he has ate more tonight than anyone else at the dinner. No error
has ate
Although
he
than
No error
The phrase "has ate" should be "has eaten." "Eaten" is the proper participle for the present perfect form.
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Margaret carried her dog, which was often clad in a pink and white argyle sweater, everywhere she goes. No error
she goes
often
clad
pink and white argyle sweater
No error
The first part of the sentence is in the past tense ("carried"), but the second is in the present ("goes"). These should be kept consistent. Changing "goes" to "went" corrects the sentence's error. The corrected sentence reads, "Margaret carried her dog, which was often clad in a pink and white argyle sweater, everywhere she went."
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.
was becoming
Frustrated by
small, rural hometown
with the circus
No error.
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."
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
While most species of monkeys live in tropical areas, there is a type of monkey that lives in northern Japan, where it has snowed. No error
has snowed
most
there is
in
No error
Given that the rest of the sentence is in present tense, the underlined portion should be as well. "Has snowed" should be replaced by "snows."
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
The man peered around the corner, checked to see if the coast was clear. No error
corner, checked
peered
if
was
No error
The verb "checked" is written in the simple past tense, and the following phrase is not coordinated correctly with the rest of the sentence. This can be fixed by turning it into a gerund: "The man peered around the corner, checking to see if the coast was clear."
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Sharleen, who knew and appreciated how much work her mother put into preparing supper each night, often misses dinners with friends because she insisted on eating at home with her family. No error
misses
who
preparing
eating
No error
This sentence has an issue of verb tense agreement. Because the given verbs are all in past tense—"knew," "appreciated," and "insisted"—the verb "misses" also needs to also be in the past tense. So, the corrected sentence reads, "Sharleen, who knew and appreciated how much work her mother put into preparing supper each night, often missed dinners with friends because she insisted on eating at home with her family."
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
She spent the afternoon wondering if having been gone to Scotland during the summer was worth the trouble. No error
wondering if
having been gone
was
worth the trouble
No error
This sentence uses a convoluted form of the verb. One way to correct the sentence reads: She spent the afternoon wondering if going to Scotland during the summer was worth the trouble.
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Earlier this morning, I was walking to the bus station, when I suddenly was realizing that I forgot my bus pass, so I had to go home to retrieve it. No error
was realizing
was walking
forgot
had to go
No error
"Was realizing" is grammatically incorrect and awkward. "Was realizing" implies a gradual process of realizing, when this is not the case; we can especially tell that this is true because of the sentence's use of "suddenly," which suggests a definite, one-time action in the past, not something that happened over time. So, to correct the sentence's error, the past progressive verb "was realizing" should be changed to the simple past tense verb "realized."
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Prior to accepting the post of head developer in London, Mrs. Reynolds has been spending time in France. No error
has been spending
Prior to
accepting
of
No error
The verb "has been spending" does not work with the timeline of the sentence because Mrs. Reynolds is no longer in France. The verb should be a past participle instead. Changing "has been spending" to "had been spending" corrects the sentence's error. The corrected sentence reads, "Prior to accepting the post of head developer, Mrs. Reynolds had been spending time in France."