SAT Writing › Correcting Word Usage Errors
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 repeats the underlined portion as it is written.
Problematically, the soldier had backs himself into a corner from which he could not escape.
had backed himself
had backs himself
had backed him
had back him
backed him
The sentence describes what the soldier had already done to his own body. The use of "himself" is correct and necessary to show who the action was done to, but the action occurred in the past, meaning the appropriate verb form is "backed." The correct answer choice is "had backed himself."
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 repreoduces the underlined portion as it is written in the sentence.
If I was you, I wouldn't treat my brothers so poorly; they grow up faster than you think.
If I were you
If I is you
If I are you
If I was you
If I wasn't you
The subjunctive mood is used when a sentence is intended to express doubt or possibility, rather than a hard truth. In the sentence above, because the word "if" begins the sentence, we know that the subjunctive should be used. The correct subjunctive construction of the underlined portion above is "If I were you."
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.
Dogs and cats both make excellent pets, but dogs treat their owners more affectionate.
Dogs and cats both make excellent pets, but dogs treat their owners more affectionately.
Dogs and cats both make excellent pets, but dogs treat their owners more affectionate.
Dogs and cats both make excellent pets; but dogs treat their owners more affectionate.
Dogs and cats both make excellent pets; but dogs treat their owners more affectionately.
Dogs and cats both make excellent pets, and dogs treat their owners more affectionate.
Adjectives describe nouns, and adverbs describe verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs. Always ensure that you are using the correct one for describing a particular word. Since it is the way in which the dogs "treat" (verb) their owners is being described, the best way to correct the underlined sentence above is, "Dogs and cats both make excellent pets, but dogs treat their owners more affectionately."
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.
As his owner howled in frustration, the spaghetti was eaten by the naughty dog.
As his owner howled in frustration, the naughty dog ate the spaghetti.
As his owner howled in frustration, then the spaghetti was eaten by the naughty dog.
As his owner howled in frustration, if the spaghetti was eaten by the naughty dog.
As his owner howled in frustration, the spaghetti was eaten by the naughty dog.
As his owner howled with frustration the spaghetti was eaten by the naughty dog.
The sentence above, as written, is in passive voice. Passive voice inverts the object and subject of a sentence, and is often more confusing and less concise than the active voice. In this case, the unnecessary use of the passive voice creates a dangling modifier, "as his" (meaning the dog's) "owner" is used in the first clause, the subject of the second clause must be "the dog." The best way to change the sentence above into active voice is, "As his owner howled with frustration, the naughty dog ate the spaghetti."
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.
Everyone had prepared for the apocalyptic fallout except I.
except me
accept I
except I
except, me
accept me
The sentence above contains a pronoun case error. The "I" in the second part of the sentence should be "me" as the pronoun is the object of that clause, rather than its subject. The best way to correct the underlined portion above is: "except me."
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.
Paul and me always have a good time together, but lately he's been a little forlorn about his dead dog.
Paul and I always have a good time together,
Paul and me always have a good time together,
Paul or me always have a good time together,
Paul and me always have a good time together:
Paul and me always have a good time together;
The sentence above contains a pronoun case error. The "me" in the first part of the sentence should be "I" as the pronoun is the subject of that clause, rather than its object. The best way to correct the sentence above is: "Paul and I always have a good time together,"
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.
The general wished that his aid was more competent, but it was simply not the case.
The general wished that his aid were more competent
The general wished that his aids was more competent
The general wished that his aide was more competent
The general wishes that his aid was more competent
The general wished that his aid was more competent
Subjunctive mood is used when a sentence is intended to express doubt or possibility, rather than hard truth. In the sentence above, because of the word "wished" in the sentence, we know that subjunctive should be used. The underlined portion should read, "The general wished that his aid were more competent"
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.
The spokesperson noted that over the past year, a new wave of technological advances have increased the company’s profitability.
has increased the company’s profitability.
increased the company’s profitability.
will have increased the company’s profitability.
had increased the company’s profitability.
have increased the company’s profitability.
We know that the proper tense to describe an event that happened "over the course of past year" is the present perfect, which narrows down potentially correct answer choices to either "have increased the company's profitability" or "has increased the company's profitability."
Since the subject of the increasing event is "wave," not "advances," we should go with the answer choice that uses the singular verb—"has increased the company's profitability."
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.
Various theories were proposed, but none prove satisfactory to the investigators.
none proved satisfactory
none prove satisfactory
none proving satisfactory
nothing prove satisfactory
nothing proving satisfactory
The verb in the underlined portion of the sentence is in the present tense, while the verb in the first part of the sentence is in the past tense. The two verbs need to match their tenses due to the construction of the sentence. The correct answer choice is " none proved satisfactory."
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.
Janine only had one priority on Wednesday night: studied physics before her final exam the next morning.
Janine only had one priority on Wednesday night: studying physics before her final exam the next morning.
Janine only had one priority on Wednesday night; studying physics before her final exam the next morning.
Janine only had one priority on Wednesday night, and studying physics before her final exam the next morning.
Janine only had one priority on Wednesday night: and that was studying physics before her final exam the next morning.
Janine only had one priority on Wednesday night: studied physics before her final exam the next morning.
This sentence is structured as an independent clause about a priority and then a clarification of what that priority is.
The only appropriate punctuation here is a colon, which will provide that correct structural division and allow the second part of the sentence ("studying physics before her final exam the next morning") to act as an explanation of the noun "priority."
INCORRECT EXPLANATIONS:
A semicolon connects two separate independent clauses, so that is incorrect.
Janine's priority is "studying," which is a gerund, so the past tense "studied" is incorrect.
The option that uses a comma is incorrect because the second clause is dependent and is lacking a subject.
The option that uses a colon unnecessarily includes the connector "and that was." These superfluous words cloud the sentence's meaning and make the sentence grammatically incorrect.