SAT Prep - Critical-Reading

Read the sentence and try to identify an error

The 5 errors which appear most often in improving sentences questions are:

1. Verb errors: The wrong verb tense is used (ex: past tense is used instead of present tense) or the verb doesn't agree with its subject (ex: the person doing the action is singular, but a plural verb is used, like: "Joe run" instead of "Joe runs")
2. Passive voice: The subject of the sentence (the thing the subject is about) is at the end of the sentence instead of the beginning, leading to confusion in the reader (ex: instead of "Joe jumps" the sentence would read "Jumping was done by Joe")
3. Run on or wordy sentences: Sentences are too long, or they use a lot of unnecessary words and become redundant
4. Parallel structure problems: Related parts of a sentence need to be in the same form (ex: it is appropriate to say "I like running, jumping and hiking." It is not appropriate to say "I like running, jumping, and to hike.")
5. Modifier problems: A modifier (a descriptive word or phrase) needs to be right next to the subject being modified (ex: it is appropriate to say "A tall man, Jon often had to stoop."  It is not appropriate to say "A tall man, stooping was often Jon's only option." because that second sentence makes it seem as though stooping is being modified- i.e. that stooping is a tall man)

Predict the correction

Once you have identified an error, try to predict how you would rewrite the sentence to eliminate it.  Do this before you look at the answer choices.  This may involve moving the modifier or the subject, or otherwise rewriting the sentence in your head so that you eliminate the error you have identified.