Correcting Verb Tense Errors

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SAT Writing › Correcting Verb Tense Errors

Questions 1 - 10
1

Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English. One of the answer choices repeats the underlined portion as it is written.

Problematically, the soldier had backs himself into a corner from which he could not escape.

had backed himself

had backs himself

had backed him

had back him

backed him

Explanation

The sentence describes what the soldier had already done to his own body. The use of "himself" is correct and necessary to show who the action was done to, but the action occurred in the past, meaning the appropriate verb form is "backed." The correct answer choice is "had backed himself."

2

Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English. One of the answer choices reproduces the underlined portion as it is written in the sentence.

Various theories were proposed, but none prove satisfactory to the investigators.

none proved satisfactory

none prove satisfactory

none proving satisfactory

nothing prove satisfactory

nothing proving satisfactory

Explanation

The verb in the underlined portion of the sentence is in the present tense, while the verb in the first part of the sentence is in the past tense. The two verbs need to match their tenses due to the construction of the sentence. The correct answer choice is " none proved satisfactory."

3

Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English.

Janine only had one priority on Wednesday night: studied physics before her final exam the next morning.

Janine only had one priority on Wednesday night: studying physics before her final exam the next morning.

Janine only had one priority on Wednesday night; studying physics before her final exam the next morning.

Janine only had one priority on Wednesday night, and studying physics before her final exam the next morning.

Janine only had one priority on Wednesday night: and that was studying physics before her final exam the next morning.

Janine only had one priority on Wednesday night: studied physics before her final exam the next morning.

Explanation

This sentence is structured as an independent clause about a priority and then a clarification of what that priority is.

The only appropriate punctuation here is a colon, which will provide that correct structural division and allow the second part of the sentence ("studying physics before her final exam the next morning") to act as an explanation of the noun "priority."

INCORRECT EXPLANATIONS:

A semicolon connects two separate independent clauses, so that is incorrect.

Janine's priority is "studying," which is a gerund, so the past tense "studied" is incorrect.

The option that uses a comma is incorrect because the second clause is dependent and is lacking a subject.

The option that uses a colon unnecessarily includes the connector "and that was." These superfluous words cloud the sentence's meaning and make the sentence grammatically incorrect.

4

Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English.

The spokesperson noted that over the past year, a new wave of technological advances have increased the company’s profitability.

has increased the company’s profitability.

increased the company’s profitability.

will have increased the company’s profitability.

had increased the company’s profitability.

have increased the company’s profitability.

Explanation

We know that the proper tense to describe an event that happened "over the course of past year" is the present perfect, which narrows down potentially correct answer choices to either "have increased the company's profitability" or "has increased the company's profitability."

Since the subject of the increasing event is "wave," not "advances," we should go with the answer choice that uses the singular verb—"has increased the company's profitability."

5

Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English. One of the answer choices reproduces the underlined portion as it is written in the sentence.

The students were shocked learning of their teacher's past life as a rock musician.

were shocked to learn

were shocked learning

were shocking to learn

were shocking learning

were shocking to learn

Explanation

The use of the verb "learn" is essentially as a modifier of the students "shock." This means that "learning" must be turned into a form that will describe why the students were "shocked." "Were shocked to learn," using an infinitive form, is the best choice among the answers.

6

Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English.

The new recruit made enough mistakes in basic training that the sergeant believes he would never become a good soldier.

that the sergeant believed he would never

that the sergeant believes he would never

that the sergeant believes he would not ever

that that sergeant believes he would never

that the sergeant believing he would never

Explanation

The use of the present tense verb "believes" in the underlined portion of the sentence is at odds with the main verb of the sentence, "made," which is in the past tense. "Believes" needs to be changed to the past tense form, making "that the sergeant believed he would never" the correct answer choice.

7

Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English.

Tomorrow after I finish my last exam I have finished high school.

I will have

I would have

I would have had

I have not

I have

Explanation

Because the event happens "tomorrow," in the future, the future tense needs to be used. "I have" is present tense, so changing "I have" to "I will have" changes it to the correct future tense.

8

Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English. One of the answer choices reproduces the underlined portion as it is written in the sentence.

Many parents mistakenly thinking babies should be on low-fat diets; however, fat is crucial to infants’ brain and nerve development.

Many parents mistakenly think babies should be on low-fat diets; however, fat is crucial to infants’ brain and nerve development.

Many parents mistakenly thinking babies should be on low-fat diets; on the other hand, fat is crucial to infants’ brain and nerve development.

Many parents mistakenly had thought babies should be on low-fat diets; however, fat is crucial to infants’ brain and nerve development.

Many parents mistake and think babies should be on low-fat diets; however, fat is crucial to infants’ brain and nerve development.

Many parents mistakenly thinking babies should be on low-fat diets; however, fat is crucial to infants’ brain and nerve development.

Explanation

The word "thinking" is acting like a participle in the original sentence, making the first clause lack a verb. Changing "Many parents mistakenly thinking" to "Many parents mistakenly think" corrects the sentence's error.

9

Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English.

Young professionals often make mistakes, but they also learned from them.

Young professionals often make mistakes, but they also learn from them.

Young professionals often make mistakes but they also learned from them.

Young professionals often make mistakes, they also learned from them.

Young professionals often make mistakes, but they also learning from them.

Young professionals often make mistakes, but they also learned from those.

Explanation

The sentence employs both the present-tense verb "make" and the past-tense verb "learned." Both of these verbs need to agree and employ the same tense. The only answer choice that correctly adjusts the tenses of the sentence's verbs is "Young professionals often make mistakes, but they also learn from them."

10

Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English. One of the answer choices reproduces the underlined portion as it is written in the sentence.

David forgot that the popcorn was on the stove top and left it there for several minutes, burning the kernels severely and filled the room with a rather foul stench.

filling

he filled

is filling

filled

fills

Explanation

The progressive tense "filling" is correct here. This verb should be consistent with "burning," which precedes it in the list. Always think of descriptions of actions as scenes, and assess the logical viability of the scene painted (with grammar!). In this case, it doesn't really make sense that you would be "burning" the kernels but have "filled" the room with an odor since these two things occurred at the same time.

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