Identifying Other Errors or No Error - PSAT Writing
Card 1 of 424
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Margaret was full of nagging doubts; she couldn’t remember if Wednesday or Thursday was the last time she had seen her pet tarantula. No error
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Margaret was full of nagging doubts; she couldn’t remember if Wednesday or Thursday was the last time she had seen her pet tarantula. No error
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This sentence is correct as written. “Full of” is a conventional combination of adjective and preposition, the semi-colon between “doubts” and “she” is grammatical, “Wednesday or Thursday” is coordinated correctly, and “had seen” is in the correct tense.
This sentence is correct as written. “Full of” is a conventional combination of adjective and preposition, the semi-colon between “doubts” and “she” is grammatical, “Wednesday or Thursday” is coordinated correctly, and “had seen” is in the correct tense.
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Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
She found the cheerful, busy atmosphere of the café to be energizing, but her favorite place to spend time remained the reading room of the library. No error
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
She found the cheerful, busy atmosphere of the café to be energizing, but her favorite place to spend time remained the reading room of the library. No error
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This sentence is correct as written. “Cheerful, busy” is a correct combination of adjectives modifying a noun, “to be” is a conventional way to follow the very “found,” “but” is a logical conjunction, and “remained” is a verb in the correct tense.
This sentence is correct as written. “Cheerful, busy” is a correct combination of adjectives modifying a noun, “to be” is a conventional way to follow the very “found,” “but” is a logical conjunction, and “remained” is a verb in the correct tense.
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Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Thomas invited us over for a home-cooked meal at his place, but I doubt he could so much as scramble an egg. No error
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Thomas invited us over for a home-cooked meal at his place, but I doubt he could so much as scramble an egg. No error
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This sentence is correct as written. “Invited us over for” is a conventional use of prepositions, “his” is a pronoun that agrees with “Thomas,” “but” is the appropriate conjunction, and “doubt” is a verb in the correct tense.
This sentence is correct as written. “Invited us over for” is a conventional use of prepositions, “his” is a pronoun that agrees with “Thomas,” “but” is the appropriate conjunction, and “doubt” is a verb in the correct tense.
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Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Since he arrived in Minnesota two weeks ago, my uncle Ted has gone fishing at least ten times. No error
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Since he arrived in Minnesota two weeks ago, my uncle Ted has gone fishing at least ten times. No error
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This sentence is correct as written. “Arrived in” is a conventional combination of verb and preposition, “two weeks ago” is a correctly formed adverbial phrase, “my” is a pronoun used correctly, and “has gone fishing” is in the appropriate tense.
This sentence is correct as written. “Arrived in” is a conventional combination of verb and preposition, “two weeks ago” is a correctly formed adverbial phrase, “my” is a pronoun used correctly, and “has gone fishing” is in the appropriate tense.
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Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
She wrote all day and all night, and she only stopped when she had run out of words. No error
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
She wrote all day and all night, and she only stopped when she had run out of words. No error
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This sentence is correct as written. “All day and all night” are correctly coordinated adverbial phrases, “she” is a pronoun that agrees with the previous pronoun, “stopped” is a verb in the correct tense, and “had run out” is a correct combination of verb and preposition.
This sentence is correct as written. “All day and all night” are correctly coordinated adverbial phrases, “she” is a pronoun that agrees with the previous pronoun, “stopped” is a verb in the correct tense, and “had run out” is a correct combination of verb and preposition.
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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.
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.
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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.
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.
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Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Joey chose to eat ice cream for every meal for a week, and now he is complaining that he feels ill. No error
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Joey chose to eat ice cream for every meal for a week, and now he is complaining that he feels ill. No error
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This sentence is correct as written. “For every meal” is an appropriate prepositional phrase, the comma between “week” and “and” is grammatical, “he” is a pronoun that agrees with “Joey,” and “feels” is a verb in the correct tense.
This sentence is correct as written. “For every meal” is an appropriate prepositional phrase, the comma between “week” and “and” is grammatical, “he” is a pronoun that agrees with “Joey,” and “feels” is a verb in the correct tense.
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Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Melissa and Tom dream of becoming owners of a gourmet ice cream shop when they grow up, and they are already creating their flavor list. No error
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Melissa and Tom dream of becoming owners of a gourmet ice cream shop when they grow up, and they are already creating their flavor list. No error
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This sentence is correct as written. “Dream of” is a conventional combination of verb and preposition, “owners” is a noun that agrees in number with the subject, “when they grow up” is an acceptable adverbial phrase, and “their” is a pronoun that agrees with its antecedent “Melissa and Tom.”
This sentence is correct as written. “Dream of” is a conventional combination of verb and preposition, “owners” is a noun that agrees in number with the subject, “when they grow up” is an acceptable adverbial phrase, and “their” is a pronoun that agrees with its antecedent “Melissa and Tom.”
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When I get home from school, I like to relax by playing my guitar, eating a snack, watching a television show, and taking a nap.
When I get home from school, I like to relax by playing my guitar, eating a snack, watching a television show, and taking a nap.
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There is no error in the original sentence.
There is no error in the original sentence.
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Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
"Don't speak to me like that ever again," Connie warned. "I'll tell on you next time." The boy, once so antogonistic, backed off immediately. No error
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
"Don't speak to me like that ever again," Connie warned. "I'll tell on you next time." The boy, once so antogonistic, backed off immediately. No error
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There are no errors in the sentence, all the subjects agree with their verbs, and the tenses line up. The commas are in their correct places as well.
There are no errors in the sentence, all the subjects agree with their verbs, and the tenses line up. The commas are in their correct places as well.
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Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
She leapt over tables, wiggled through corridors, sprinted around three, tall tree trunks, and finally sat down in a heap to catch her breath. No error
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
She leapt over tables, wiggled through corridors, sprinted around three, tall tree trunks, and finally sat down in a heap to catch her breath. No error
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Normally you'd want to separate a list with commas, but that's not the case here. To know why, imagine that each comma in a list is the word "and." You'd never say "three and tall tree trunks" here.
Numbers will commonly do this in English; thus "I saw four red birds," etc.
Normally you'd want to separate a list with commas, but that's not the case here. To know why, imagine that each comma in a list is the word "and." You'd never say "three and tall tree trunks" here.
Numbers will commonly do this in English; thus "I saw four red birds," etc.
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Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Whether my aunt or uncle is arriving, it shouldn't matter—I really enjoy when either of them visit. No error
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Whether my aunt or uncle is arriving, it shouldn't matter—I really enjoy when either of them visit. No error
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There is no error here. If you chose "is arriving," it's actually grammatically correct: two singular subjects connected by "or" require a singular verb.
There is no error here. If you chose "is arriving," it's actually grammatically correct: two singular subjects connected by "or" require a singular verb.
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Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Every single dollar has been spent on candy; the children ought to be taught about saving their money. No error
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Every single dollar has been spent on candy; the children ought to be taught about saving their money. No error
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There is no error. In particular, "every single dollar has been spent" is correct: "every" is a singular subject requiring a singular verb.
There is no error. In particular, "every single dollar has been spent" is correct: "every" is a singular subject requiring a singular verb.
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Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Sea salt, especially when paired with chocolate or caramel, has an interesting flavor and is becoming increasingly popular in baking. No error
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Sea salt, especially when paired with chocolate or caramel, has an interesting flavor and is becoming increasingly popular in baking. No error
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Nothing in this sentence needs to be changed.
Nothing in this sentence needs to be changed.
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Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
The new exhibit at the history museum provides a surprisingly fascinating look at the milling industry in the American Midwest. No error
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
The new exhibit at the history museum provides a surprisingly fascinating look at the milling industry in the American Midwest. No error
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Nothing in this sentence needs to be changed.
Nothing in this sentence needs to be changed.
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Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Covered in tapestries, paintings, and maps, the cozy library looked like it held a million secrets. No error
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Covered in tapestries, paintings, and maps, the cozy library looked like it held a million secrets. No error
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Nothing in this sentence needs to be changed!
Nothing in this sentence needs to be changed!
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The author was a master at writing science fiction that transported his readers to another dimension.
The author was a master at writing science fiction that transported his readers to another dimension.
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The sentence is correct as is. The use of "was" indicates the second verb, in the underlined portion, also needs to be in the past tense. Additionally, "that" is needed to refer back to the author's writing.
The sentence is correct as is. The use of "was" indicates the second verb, in the underlined portion, also needs to be in the past tense. Additionally, "that" is needed to refer back to the author's writing.
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Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
A salon, or a social gathering of important intellectuals and artists, is not to be confused with a Wild West saloon. No error
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
A salon, or a social gathering of important intellectuals and artists, is not to be confused with a Wild West saloon. No error
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This sentence is correct as written.
This sentence is correct as written.
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Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
I absolutely believe that some day we will have the technology to travel to other galaxies, settle on new planets, and explore beyond what we think possible. No error
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
I absolutely believe that some day we will have the technology to travel to other galaxies, settle on new planets, and explore beyond what we think possible. No error
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This sentence is correct as written!
This sentence is correct as written!
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Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Anne later discovered that Paul and she were the members of the choir to sing the correct notes of the song. No error
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Anne later discovered that Paul and she were the members of the choir to sing the correct notes of the song. No error
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There are no inherent grammatical errors in the sentence above. The phrase "Paul and she were" may ring some alarms, but it is the same as the phrase "she and Paul were." You can break it down into "Paul was the only person" and "she was the only person." When combined, it should appear as written in the question. "She" is used properly in the subject form of the pronoun, rather than "her," the object form; "she" is performing the action in the sentence.
There are no inherent grammatical errors in the sentence above. The phrase "Paul and she were" may ring some alarms, but it is the same as the phrase "she and Paul were." You can break it down into "Paul was the only person" and "she was the only person." When combined, it should appear as written in the question. "She" is used properly in the subject form of the pronoun, rather than "her," the object form; "she" is performing the action in the sentence.
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