SAT Writing › Identifying Subordinate Conjunction Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
There's an old saying, "great men are rarely good men," but yet many of my favorite heroes from history were exceedingly kind. No error
but yet
"great men are rarely good men,"
No error
of my
were exceedingly kind.
In the sentence above, the words "but" and "yet" are being as subordinate conjunctions. They also mean roughly the same thing. Only one of them is necessary, and the other should be deleted. The best way to correct the sentence above is:
There's an old saying, "great men are rarely good men," yet many of my favorite heroes from history were exceedingly kind.
OR
There's an old saying, "great men are rarely good men," but many of my favorite heroes from history were exceedingly kind.
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Whether and not the citizens agreed with the final decisions, the politicians felt that it was their responsibility to set laws that were fair for everyone. No error
Whether and not
the final decisions
it
for everyone
No error
The form of the subordinating conjunction used here is incorrect—it should be "Whether or not" instead of "Whether and not."
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
When I was a young man I used to love to go and hang out in parks. No error
man I used
When I was
No error
go
in parks.
In the sentence above, the word "when" is being used as a subordinate conjunction. Any such subordinate clause must be separated from the rest of the sentence by a comma. The best way to correct the sentence above is:
"When I was a young man, I used to love to go out and hang out in parks."
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed in order to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Anna is an amazing lawyer, but however she has many personal issues that often get in the way of her professional work. No error.
but however
has many
often get
of her
No error
The sentence features a redundancy error—since "but" comes first in the sentence, there is no need to include the synonym "however."
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
When whenever we had enough to eat when I was younger, my whole family was completely overjoyed. No error
When whenever
I was younger,
whole family
completely overjoyed
No error
In the sentence above, the words "when" and "whenever" are being used to cause the second portion of the sentence to be a subordinate clause: they are subordinate conjunctions. They also mean roughly the same thing, so using both is redundant. One of the conjunctions should remain in the sentence, and the other should be deleted. The best way to correct the sentence above is:
"When we had enough to eat when I was younger, my whole family was completely overjoyed."
OR
"Whenever we had enough to eat when I was younger, my whole family was completely overjoyed."
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Until my friends went ice skating, I would always stay at home for fear of falling down on the ice. No error
Until
for fear of
would always
on the ice
No error
The sentences uses the incorrect subordinate conjunction "Until"—"When" or "Whenever" would be better choices for the correct subordinate conjunction.
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Vincent van Gogh sold only a few paintings during his lifetime, but yet he is considered one of the greatest painters of all time. No error
but yet
sold
greatest
of all time
No error
This sentence contains a redundancy error. The conjunctions "but" and "yet" are synonyms; they mean the same thing, so only one or the other is necessary to convey the intended meaning of the sentence.
The answer choice "sold" is correct because it contains the simple past tense, which is correct for events that happened in the past and don't continue into the present.
The answer choice "greatest" is correct because it uses the superlative form (the "-est" form) of the adjective great, which is appropriate for comparisons involving more than two items.
The answer choice "of all time" is a perfectly correct use of an idiomatic expression.
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Provided by she was paid overtime, Kara agreed to clean the golf course before she left for the day. No error
Provided by
overtime
to clean
before
No error
This question is checking for understanding of the subordinate conjunction "provided that." If it helps, "provided that" can be thought of as equivalent to "on the condition that." The only error in the sentence is that "provided by" is used instead of "provided that." "Provided by" has a different use (as a regular verb) and is not a subordinate conjunction.
An example of "provided by" used correctly: "Her cell phone service was provided by her local cell phone company."
An example of "provided that" used correctly: "Provided that she was paid overtime, Kara agreed to clean the golf course before she left for the day."
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Many endangered species which inhabit the African savanna may become extinct if government agencies do not quickly take protective action to save them. No error
which inhabit
may become
if
take
No error
This sentence begins with the restrictive clause, “Many endangered species.” Using the word “which” after a restrictive clause is incorrect. Rather, we must use the word “that.” While it is a common grammatical error to use "that" in situations when "which" is needed, it is equally incorrect to use "which" in instances when "that" is required, like after a restrictive clause.
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
In the United States, many women feel they must make a choice between having a career or starting a family. No error
or
feel
a choice
having
No error
The word “between,” relating two independent clauses, implies that the correct conjunction to be used here is “and” rather than “or.”