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SAT Writing Exercise: More Identifying Sentence Errors Practice

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This short quiz is modeled after the “Identifying Sentence Errors” portion of the SAT Writing Exam. Nine of the sentences contain common grammar errors. One sentence contains no errors. Correct answers and explanations can be found at the end of the quiz. Be sure to check out our earlier quiz on indentifying sentence errors for additional practice.

 

  1. The game (A) was opened (B) by the marching band parading across (C)the field in uniforms matching the home team’s colors (D). No error (E).

 

  1. After the tutor drove (A) for an hour (B), much to her annoyance, the student was unprepared (C)for his lesson when (D) she finally reached the coffee shop. No Error (E).

 

  1. That presentation of Bob’s (A) yesterday was so embarrassing that it resulted in many attendees (B) declining to (C) attend his workshop this (D) morning. No error (E).

 

  1. The committee (A) was advised to give the award to whomever (B) it believed (C) had contributed the most (D) to the organization and the community. No error (E).

 

  1. If she would have (A) studied (B) daily as recommended by (C) her teacher, she might have passed (D) the AP exam.  No error (E).

 

6. Before she found her current job, Ellen had spent (A) several miserable years working in a high-end department store where displays of (B)conspicuous wealth was (C) as common as saying (D) “may I help you?” No error (E).

 

  1. Though (A) you may not agree with (B) the teaching methods that Dr. Brightman uses, you must (C) admit that they greatly improve the quality of his students’ (D) writing. No error (E).

 

  1. The writer (A) of (B)The Casual Vacancy is J.K. Rowling, who(C) you may know as (D) the author of the Harry Potter series of young adult novels. No error (E).

 

  1. If you decide to take (A) the SAT, one should (B)know that the Reading exam includes (C) many (D) antiquated vocabulary words. No error (E).

 

  1. There is no objection to him (A) joining the fraternity, provided (B)he is willing to follow (C) its charter and is ready and (D)able to do his share of the community service. No error (E).

 

Answers and Explanations

 

  1. Correct answer: D. Explanation: This is a misplaced modifier. It should be placed before choice C (“across”).

 

  1. Correct answer: C. Explanation: A “squinting construction” such as C could refer to either the tutor’s long drive or the student’s lack of preparedness.
  2. Correct answer: B. Explanation: Attendees should be attendees’. A noun or pronoun immediately preceding a gerund (“declining”) must be in the possessive case.

 

  1. Correct answer: B. Explanation: Choice B should be whoever, not whomever because it is the subject of the subordinate clause.

 

  1. Correct answer: A. Explanation: The verb in the “if clause” of a past contrary to fact conditional statement must take the had studied form, not the would have studied

 

  1. Correct answer: C. Explanation: Displays is plural and needs a plural verb. The singular was should be changed to the plural were.

 

  1. Correct answer: E. Explanation: This sentence contains no underlined errors.

 

  1. Correct answer: C. Explanation: This is the same error as in question 4. However, this time who should be changed to whom because it is the direct object of the subordinate clause.

 

  1. Correct answer: B. Explanation: One does not agree with the you found earlier in the sentence. You can’t switch back and forth between the two within the same sentence.

 

  1. Correct answer: A. Explanation: Him should be The pronoun in choice A is acting as the subject of the gerund joining. The subject of a gerund must be possessive.

 

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