SAT Writing › Identifying Sentence Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Polydactyl cats can have seven toes on each feet, a fact that makes me wonder whether the extra digits make it easier for them to scratch things. No error
feet
seven toes
that makes me wonder whether
easier
No error
The sentence uses the phrase "seven toes on each feet," and this is incorrect because "each" is used to describe a singular noun, but "feet" is plural. Changing "feet" to "foot" corrects this error.
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no errors at all.
"How much farther do we have to go?", she panted, her breathing coming hard as they began to run up a steep hill. No error
go?",
farther
panted,
have
No error
In standard American English, quotations that end in an exclamation point or question mark require no further punctuation to set them off from the rest of the sentence; the comma following the quotation marks can be eliminated.
As it turns out, she told the riddle wrong, and there was no way I would have been able to answer based on the information that she gave me.
No error
As it turns out
wrong
would have been able
that she gave me
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.
One should never allow your work responsibilities to be taken over by another person. No error
your
should never
to be taken over
another
No error
In this sentence, the pronouns do not stay consistent. It starts out with the subject “one” and changes to the possessive “your,” but these should refer to the same thing. The corrected sentence reads, "One should never allow one’s work responsibilities to be taken over by another person."
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.
Although certainly the best known of the early aviators, Orville and Wilbur Wright were not the only inventors pioneering airplane designs, the Montgolfier brothers should also be remembered for their timely rediscovery of the hot-air balloon. No error
designs,
the only inventors pioneering
for their timely
aviators,
No error
Here we have a comma splice: two independent clauses that are incorrectly separated by a comma. Two independent clauses in the same sentence must be punctuated by either a comma with a conjunction or a semicolon. Correctly punctuated, this sentence would read: “Although certainly the best known of the early aviators, Orville and Wilbur Wright were not the only inventors pioneering airplane designs; the Montgolfier brothers should also be remembered for their timely rediscovery of the hot-air balloon.” The comma after “aviators” is correct, since it’s separating an independent from a dependent clause.
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.
The events director, along with the administrative staff, are responsible for making sure the entire program runs smoothly. No error
are
along with
making sure
smoothly
No error
In this sentence, the verb does not agree with the number of the subject. The subject is singular (the administrative staff is in a modifying phrase and doesn’t count), so the correct verb form would be “is.” The corrected sentence reads, "The events director, along with the administrative staff, is responsible for making sure the entire program runs smoothly."
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
When one is interviewed, it is important that you be articulate and present oneself well. No error
you
it is
is interviewed
well
No error
If a sentence is describing how “one” should behave, it creates discontinuity to then begin using the word “you" later in the sentence. Therefore, “you” should be replaced by the word “one" to fix the sentence's error.
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
After Emily picked out a dress, tights, and a pair of shoes in the newly opened store, she paid for it at the counter. No error
it
picked out
a pair of shoes
newly opened
No error
This question is looking for agreement between the nouns in the sentence—"a dress, tights, and a pair of shoes" and "it." Since Emily is buying multiple items, "a dress, tights, and a pair of shoes" is plural and the corresponding noun of "it" should be as well. "It" is singular and therefore incorrect; the second half of the sentence should be fixed to "she paid for them at the counter."