SAT Writing : Identifying Sentence Errors
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Example Questions
Example Question #25 : Identifying 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.
By the time her mother came home from work, Cecilia had not only cleaned her room, also taken out the trash and walked the dog. No error
No error
,also
work, Cecilia
By the time
and walked the dog
,also
This question is checking for understanding of the correlative conjunction "not only . . . but also." The mistake in the sentence is the missing "but" in "but also." When using this construction, sometimes the "also" can be taken out but the "but" can never be since it changes the meaning. A corrected sentence reads "By the time her mother came home from work, Cecilia had not only cleaned her room, but also taken out the trash and walked the dog."
Example Question #26 : Identifying 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.
After she came home exhausted from the soccer match, Tabatha had to decide whether she wanted to go to Sarah's birthday party nor just stay home. No error
nor
decide
exhausted from
No error
to go
nor
This question is checking for an understanding of the correlative conjunction "whether . . . or." The trick is that the error—"nor"—brings up another correlative conjunction: "neither . . . nor." The difference between the two is that "whether . . . or" presents an option between two choices (staying home and going to the birthday party), whereas "neither . . . nor" rejects both of the things referenced. The corrected sentence would read "After she came home exhausted from the soccer match, Tabatha had to decide whether she wanted to go to Sarah's birthday party or just stay home."
Example Question #27 : Identifying 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.
Whether you intend to marry Eliza and not, you must start treating her with respect. No error
No error
and
intend
must start
her
and
Whenever you see the word "whether," it must always be followed by the correlative conjunction "or." As such, the "and" in the sentence above should be changed to "or." This makes the correct sentence "Whether you intend to marry Eliza or not, you must start treating her with respect."
Example Question #28 : Identifying 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.
Phillip wanted neither to clean his room or to babysit his younger brother. No error
No error
to
brother.
or
wanted
or
Since Phillip wanted "neither" option, the word "or" must be replaced with "nor" to agree with "neither."
Example Question #731 : 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.
Not only have you failed to heed my advice, but you have done the worst thing imaginable, given the situation. No error
but you
imaginable, given
to heed
Not only
No error
but you
Whenever you see the conjunction "not only," it must always be followed by the correlative conjunction "but also." As such, the "but" in the sentence above should be changed to "but you have also."
Example Question #732 : 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.
Whether you want to be a fitness nut nor not, you must eat fewer french fries. No error
nor
want
No error
french fries
Whether
nor
Whenever you see the conjunction "whether," it must always be followed by the correlative conjunction "or." As such, the "nor" in the sentence above should be changed to "or." "Nor" is a correlative conjunction used with "neither."
Example Question #733 : 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.
Both Suzannah or Adrienne were excellent children; they always did as they were told. No error
always did
No error
were told.
excellent children;
Both Suzannah or Adrienne
Both Suzannah or Adrienne
Whenever you see the conjunction "both," and it is followed by a conjunction, it must always be followed by the correlative conjunction "and." As such, the "or" in the sentence above should be changed to "and." "Or" is a correlative conjunction used with "either."
Example Question #734 : 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.
Both the Supreme Court nor the Senate are venerable political institutions in the United States of America. No error
United States of America
venerable political institutions
nor
the Supreme Court
No error
nor
Whenever you see the word "both" used as a conjunction, it must always be followed by the correlative conjunction "and." As such, the "nor" in the sentence above should be changed to "and."
Example Question #735 : 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.
It was hard for the children to make the choice their parents had set before them; on their day off, they could either go to the new movie they'd been anticipating but they could invite their friends over for a pool party. No error
their parents had set
but they could invite
for the children to make
No error
go to the new movie
but they could invite
The use of the word "either" implies that a choice must be made, and signals the coming of the word "or." The correct sentence would read "It was hard for the children to make the choice their parents had set before them; on their day off, they could either go to the new movie they'd been anticipating or they could invite their friends over for a pool party." This makes the correct selection "but they could invite."
Example Question #736 : 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.
There was no way out of this sticky situation; the administration was stuck between a rock or a hard place. No error
No error
the administration was
a rock
or a hard place
way out of
or a hard place
When using a correlative conjunction pair, the use of the word "between" signals the coming use of the word "and." This means that the phrase in the sentence should read "between a rock and a hard place," and makes the correct selection "or a hard place."
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