SAT Writing › Identifying No Errors or Other Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Henry was a fiercely stubborn child; he would carry out incredibly successful hunger strikes if he was not served macaroni and cheese for dinner. No error
No error
child; he
incredibly successful
was
for dinner
This sentence is correct as written. The semi-colon between “child” and “he” is grammatical, “incredibly successful” uses adverbs and adjectives to modify the appropriate words, “was” is in the correct tense, and “for dinner” is an acceptable prepositional phrase.
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Missing home, he tried to grow a palm tree sapling, but it could not survive Maine’s harsh winters. No error
No error
Missing home
tried to grow
it
Maine's harsh winters
This sentence is correct as written.
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
I would rather run an entire marathon than spend one more day sitting at that table nibbling crumpets. No error
No error
entire
than spend one more day
that
nibbling
This sentence is correct as written. “Entire” is an adjective that modifies a noun, “than spend one more day” is a logical comparison, “that” is a demonstrative pronoun used correctly, and “nibbling” is a present progressive verb that describes a concurrent action.
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.
With excitement sparkling behind the tears in her eyes, Mary announced that her poodle, the pride and joy of her life, had just won the regional dog show.
No error
behind
eyes, Mary
announced
had just won
This sentence is correct as written. “Behind” is the appropriate use of a preposition, the comma between “eyes” and “Mary” is grammatical, “announced” is a verb in the correct tense, and “had just won” is an appropriate combination of verb and adverb.
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Stooping down to tie her shoe, Margaret saw a tiny note scribbled onto the wall only a few inches above the floor. No error
No error
Stooping down
Stooping down
saw
saw
scribbled
scribbled
above the floor
above the floor
This sentence is correct as written. “Stooping down” uses a conventional combination of verb and preposition, “saw” is in the correct tense, “scribbled” is also in the correct tense, and “above the floor” is an appropriate prepositional phrase.
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.
With excitement sparkling behind the tears in her eyes, Mary announced that her poodle, the pride and joy of her life, had just won the regional dog show.
No error
behind
eyes, Mary
announced
had just won
This sentence is correct as written. “Behind” is the appropriate use of a preposition, the comma between “eyes” and “Mary” is grammatical, “announced” is a verb in the correct tense, and “had just won” is an appropriate combination of verb and adverb.
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
I would rather run an entire marathon than spend one more day sitting at that table nibbling crumpets. No error
No error
entire
than spend one more day
that
nibbling
This sentence is correct as written. “Entire” is an adjective that modifies a noun, “than spend one more day” is a logical comparison, “that” is a demonstrative pronoun used correctly, and “nibbling” is a present progressive verb that describes a concurrent action.
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Henry was a fiercely stubborn child; he would carry out incredibly successful hunger strikes if he was not served macaroni and cheese for dinner. No error
No error
child; he
incredibly successful
was
for dinner
This sentence is correct as written. The semi-colon between “child” and “he” is grammatical, “incredibly successful” uses adverbs and adjectives to modify the appropriate words, “was” is in the correct tense, and “for dinner” is an acceptable prepositional phrase.
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Missing home, he tried to grow a palm tree sapling, but it could not survive Maine’s harsh winters. No error
No error
Missing home
tried to grow
it
Maine's harsh winters
This sentence is correct as written.
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no errors at all.
Georgina thought that she and Helen had both had a good time, but she was worried in her heart that the other woman despised her. No error
No error
thought
had both had
but
despised
There are no errors in this sentence. Although it may look at a glance like an ambiguous pronoun reference, Georgina is clearly the subject of the sentence (indicated by the clear subject-verb pairing "Georgina thought"), so the "she" in the second clause continues to refer to her rather than to Helen.