SAT Writing: Sentence Errors II Quiz!
(219).jpg "SAT Writing: Sentence Errors II Quiz! - Quiz")
This is a 25-question SAT Writing quiz modeled after the SAT Writing examination's actual sentence errors portion. This second guide emphasizes questions involving subject/verb agreement, pronoun/antecedent agreement, tense errors, and parallel structure agreement. Let's take this test.
- 1.
Harry and Sarah walks to the store to buy a gallon of milk and a can of green beans for the dinner tonight.
- A.
Walks
- B.
To the store
- C.
A gallon
- D.
And a can of
- E.
No Error
Correct Answer
A. WalksExplanation
Harry and Sarah is a plural subject while "walks" is conjugated as a singular verb. "walks" should be "walk." (Subject/Verb Agreement)Rate this question:
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- 2.
The first two superbowls were won by Green Bay but in these times anybody could win the big game.
- A.
First
- B.
Were won
- C.
In these times
- D.
Could win
- E.
No Error
Correct Answer
E. No ErrorExplanation
This sentence is correct as written.Rate this question:
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- 3.
There was agreement that I would mop the floor, Teryl would wash the dishes, and Bob was going to clean the living room.
- A.
There was
- B.
That
- C.
Mop the floor
- D.
Was going to
- E.
No Error
Correct Answer
D. Was going toExplanation
The conditional actions are marked by the use of the word "would" in the first two elements of the list, but the phrase "Bob was going to..." is an incorrect change of tense within the list. To maintain parallelism, it should be "Bob would..." (Parallel Structure / Incorrect Tense)Rate this question:
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- 4.
Even though he thinks he is hot stuff, I am a much better violinist than him.
- A.
Even though
- B.
He thinks
- C.
Is hot stuff
- D.
Him
- E.
No Error
Correct Answer
D. HimExplanation
Although this sentence may "sound right," "him" should actually be "he" as "him" is in the incorrect case. If you ever want to clarify, a good rule of thumb is to add the implied verb "is/are" after the pronoun. The sentence becomes "...better violinist than him is" which is clearly wrong. (Pronoun case)Rate this question:
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- 5.
Mom or dad are going to pick you up after the game.
- A.
Dad
- B.
Are
- C.
Going to
- D.
Pick you up
- E.
No Error
Correct Answer
B. AreExplanation
The use of the word "or" makes "Mom or dad" a singular subject while "are" is a plural verb. (Subject/verb agreement)Rate this question:
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- 6.
Clearly, Donald will not be in support of Mr. Phelps and I will do everything I can to support him.
- A.
Clearly
- B.
Will not be
- C.
And I will
- D.
Him
- E.
No Error
Correct Answer
D. HimExplanation
It is unclear whether "him" refers to Donald or Mr. Phelps and therefore "him" is an ambiguous pronoun. (Ambiguous pronoun)Rate this question:
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- 7.
In spite of our differences, I still think we cover a lot of common ground.
- A.
In spite of
- B.
Our
- C.
We
- D.
Common ground
- E.
No Error
Correct Answer
E. No ErrorExplanation
This sentence is correct as written.Rate this question:
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- 8.
Even though many people are against free trade, there is still many supporters of the NAFTA and CAFTA acts.
- A.
Even though
- B.
Many people
- C.
Are against
- D.
There is
- E.
No Error
Correct Answer
D. There isExplanation
"there is" marks a singular verb construction where as "many supporters" indicates a plural subject. (Subject/verb agreement)Rate this question:
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- 9.
I told them that if I was elected, I would not betray the ideals of our upright democracy.
- A.
I told
- B.
I was
- C.
I would
- D.
Of our
- E.
No Error
Correct Answer
B. I wasExplanation
The conditional tense is incorrectly employed. The sentence should read "if I were..." (Tense error)Rate this question:
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- 10.
I told him that he needed to finish quick.
- A.
I
- B.
Him
- C.
He
- D.
Quick
- E.
No Error
Correct Answer
D. QuickExplanation
"quick" is an adjective that is being used as an adverb. It should be changed to "quickly." (Adverb usage)Rate this question:
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- 11.
I preceeded to tell him that I was unhappy with his current output and that I expected much better from him.
- A.
Preceeded
- B.
To tell
- C.
Him that
- D.
His current output
- E.
No Error
Correct Answer
A. PreceededExplanation
To precede is to come before. To proceed is to move on or go on. Clearly, the correct word to use here is "proceed." (Using the right word)Rate this question:
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- 12.
Hitler was a marginal general at best; he was to haughty and emotional to be an effective commander.
- A.
Was a
- B.
He was
- C.
To
- D.
To be an
- E.
No Error
Correct Answer
C. ToExplanation
The word "to" should be "too," meaning in excess. (Using the right word)Rate this question:
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- 13.
In this family, we are not to shout, to scream, to argue, or fussing.
- A.
In this
- B.
We are
- C.
Not
- D.
Fussing
- E.
No Error
Correct Answer
D. FussingExplanation
Here is a parallel structure issue. The infinitive ("to" + verb) is used in the first three elements of the list whereas the gerund (verb + "ing") is used in the last element. "fussing" should be "to fuss." (Parallelism)Rate this question:
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- 14.
Contracting any disease is not to be taken lightly but HIV is the worst.
- A.
Any
- B.
Disease
- C.
Is
- D.
HIV
- E.
No Error
Correct Answer
D. HIVExplanation
"Contracting any disease" uses a different sentence structure than simply adding the noun "HIV." To match the sentence, "HIV" should be "contracting HIV." (Parallelism)Rate this question:
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- 15.
I really envy how calm and collected rock stars can be; even when there is so much people watching them, they stay focused and energetic.
- A.
Really
- B.
Can be
- C.
So much
- D.
Focused
- E.
No Error
Correct Answer
C. So muchExplanation
The word "much" is used when describing uncountable things whereas "many" is used to describe countable sets. People are countable (discreet) and so the word "many" ought to be used. (Using the right word)Rate this question:
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- 16.
Everyone, including Mr. and Mrs. Robinson, are in shock of Jamie's terrible behavior.
- A.
Including
- B.
And
- C.
Are
- D.
Jamie's
- E.
No Error
Correct Answer
C. AreExplanation
"Everyone" is a singular subject while "are" is a plural verb. (Subject/verb agreement)Rate this question:
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- 17.
Moorish Spain was no savage civilization and we should recognize them.
- A.
Spain
- B.
Was
- C.
Civilization
- D.
Them
- E.
No Error
Correct Answer
D. ThemExplanation
Moorish Spain is a singular subject, while "them" is a plural pronoun. In addition, it is unclear whether "them" refers to Moorish Spain or the fact that Moorish Spain was no savage civilization. Thus, "them" is incorrect in both its agreement with the antecedent and in its ambiguity. (Pronoun/antecedent agreement, ambiguous pronoun)Rate this question:
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- 18.
Even though you may be stressed, it is important that one still focuses in times of trouble.
- A.
Even though
- B.
May be
- C.
It is
- D.
One
- E.
No Error
Correct Answer
D. OneExplanation
The informal "you" is used at the beginning of the sentence whereas the objective "one" is used at the end. You must stay consistent; "one" should be "you." (Pronoun case)Rate this question:
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- 19.
Neither the pitcher nor the catcher are prepared for the upcoming game.
- A.
Neither
- B.
Nor
- C.
Are
- D.
Game
- E.
No Error
Correct Answer
C. AreExplanation
"Neither ... nor" construction implies a singular subject, whereas "are" is a plural verb. (Subject/verb agreement)Rate this question:
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- 20.
Einstein couldn't hardly do well in school as a young boy but excelled in his later years.
- A.
Couldn't hardly
- B.
Do well
- C.
As a
- D.
But excelled
- E.
No Error
Correct Answer
A. Couldn't hardlyExplanation
"couldn't hardly" is a double negative construction, which is a no-no in the English language. "Couldn't hardly" should be "could hardly." (Double negative)Rate this question:
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- 21.
Humility is a quality that I believe she exemplifies.
- A.
Is
- B.
A
- C.
I
- D.
She
- E.
No Error
Correct Answer
E. No ErrorExplanation
This sentence is correct as written.Rate this question:
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- 22.
Some believe that a more conservative "fourth-wave" of feminism will replace the current "third-wave" feminism and the liberal values they endorse.
- A.
Some believe
- B.
More conservative
- C.
Replace the
- D.
They endorse
- E.
No Error
Correct Answer
D. They endorseExplanation
"Third-wave" feminism is a singular antecedent, but "they" is a plural pronoun. "They" should be "it endorses" (Pronoun/antecedent agreement, Subject/verb agreement)Rate this question:
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- 23.
While Marxism is a decidedly materialistic philosophy, I find capitalism being more materialistic.
- A.
While
- B.
Is a
- C.
Being
- D.
More
- E.
No Error
Correct Answer
C. BeingExplanation
"Being" is a gerund and cannot replace a verb. "Being" should be replaced by "is." (Tense error)Rate this question:
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- 24.
It is only a natural reaction that the cat would scratch you, and you should not take it so personally.
- A.
It is
- B.
Only
- C.
Would scratch you
- D.
Take it so
- E.
No Error
Correct Answer
E. No ErrorExplanation
This sentence is correct as written.Rate this question:
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- 25.
Freud's theories regarding psychoanalysis, and more particularly his theory regarding the Elektra Complex, has come into question by feminist critics.
- A.
Regarding
- B.
Has
- C.
Come into
- D.
By
- E.
No Error
Correct Answer
B. HasExplanation
"Freud's theories" is a plural subject while "has" is a singular verb. (Subject/verb agreement)Rate this question:
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Current Version
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Mar 22, 2022Quiz Edited by
ProProfs Editorial Team -
Dec 03, 2006Quiz Created by
Vaibhav Agarwal
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