1.

Cottage industry, also (A) known as the putting-out system, was the initial phase of
industrialization,(B) although it was soon overshadowed by other systems of
production (C) that (D) have become widespread during the Industrial Revolution of
the 19th century. (E) No error
2. The flower, after (A) fertilization (B) with the grains of pollen that (D) a bee
inadvertently transports, will slowly (E) perish and wither. (E) No error
3. Art and culture flourished (A) briefly during the Prague Spring, (B) a short
period (C) when relaxed censorship and (D) looser Soviet control. (E) No error
4. (A) Having died young, Raymond Carvers career as a short-story writer was cut
regrettably (B)short, and (C) we are left with only a fragment of his only (D) attempt
at a novel. (E) No error
5. The defendant (A) surprised the jury not only with his candor (B) as well
as with (C) what seemed to be genuine goodwill (D) behind his smile. (E) No error
6. Exotic pet enthusiasts prize male peacocks (A) for their feathers (B) because they are
the (C) more colorful of the two (D) sexes; in contrast, female peacocks are mostly for
breeding purposes. (E) No error

Explanation for Question 1

1. Cottage industry, also (A) known as the putting-out system, was the initial
phase of industrialization, (B) although it was soon overshadowed by other
systems of production (C) that (D) have become widespread during the
Industrial Revolution of the 19th century. (E) No error
(A) known: This is in a modifying phrasean SAT favoriteso you should check that its
next to the correct noun. Cottage industry is whats known as the putting-out system, so
theres no problem.
(B) although: This linking word shows a contrast. Should there be one? Yep. Move on.
(C) that: What does that refer to? A place or time? Nopeits a thing (systems of
production), so its fine.
(D) have become widespread: This is a verb, so you should check both the subject and
the tense. The systems are plural, so have is correct in number (not has), but the time
is wrong! It should say became widespread.
The error is (D).

Explanation for Question 2

2. The flower, after (A) fertilization (B) with the grains of pollen that (C) a bee
inadvertently transports, will slowly (D) perish and wither. (E) No error

(A) fertilization: a noun like this could possible be a word choice problem, but there
doesnt seem to be any incorrect meaning here.
(B) with: A preposition! Check the words that the preposition is combining (especially the
one that comes before it) and make sure that they sound natural together. Although
fertilization with might sound a little strange, if you said, They fertilized the
flower with pollen, thatd be just fine, so its probably acceptable here.
(C) a bee inadvertently transports: the most likely problem here is a number issue. A
bee has to be parallel with anything that it logically relates to. In this case, its related to
the flower. Both are singular, so its alright. You should also look at the tense of the verb
transports, which is just fine, in this case.
(D) perish and wither: This one is a bit hard to see when looking systematically, because
it doesnt have to do with what part of the sentence is underlined. This is about
redundancy; perish and wither mean basically the same thing. You dont need them
both.
The error is (D).

Explanation for Question 3

3. Art and culture flourished (A) briefly during the Prague Spring, (B) a short
period (C) when relaxed censorship and (D) looser Soviet control. (E) No error
(A) briefly: Notice the -ly in the word. Should it be there (should this be an adjective
instead)? Its correct as it is.
(B) a short period: check that the number of the noun is right, which it is. There was only
one Prague Spring.
(C) when: This is a connecting word, so make sure that it makes the right relationship
between sentences. Wait a minute sentences? The second part doesnt form a complete
thought. There should be a subject after when. Or it could be changed into a preposition
like of, which doesnt connect whole thoughts (a.k.a. clauses) like when does.
(D)looser: Check if it should be a comparative (-er) or a superlative (-est). There are only
two things being comparedSoviet control before and during the Prague Springso -er
is correct.
The error is (C).

Explanation for Question 4

4. (A) Having died young, Raymond Carvers career as a short-story writer was
cut regrettably (B)short, and (C) we are left with only a fragment of his only
(D) attempt at a novel. (E) No error
(A) Having died young,: Alarm bells should be ringing. Like choice (A) in question
number 1, this is a modifying phrase. The SAT loves to put these at the beginning of
sentences next to subjects that they cant modify. Raymond Carvers career didnt die
young. Carver died young.

(B) short,: Check the comma here to see if its making a run-on sentence. Since the
word and comes just after it, theres no problem.
(C) we: Is we the right number and case here? Should it be I or us? No problems
there, and it does work alright as a general pronoun, referring to the public rather than any
specific people, so move on.
(D) attempt at: This is a prime place to think twice about the preposition. Should it be
attempt on? How about attempt to? Nope. Sounds pretty good as it is.
The error is (A).

Explanation for Question 5

5. The defendant (A) surprised the jury not only with his candor (B) as well
as with (C) what seemed to be genuine goodwill (D) behind his smile. (E) No
error
(A) surprised: Find the subject (defendant), and see that thats okay. Then check the
tense. Doesnt cause any problems.
(B) as well as: Does this link correct forms together? Although with his candor and with
what seemed to be are parallel, the phrase not only that came before should jump out
at you. Any time you see not only you should find a but also, and here, there isnt one.
No good.
(C) what: Should this be who, when, or where? Nope? Okay.
(D) behind: Match this preposition up with the things it joins. goodwill behind his smile
sounds fine, because behind and smile go well together.
The error is (B).

Explanation for Question 6

6. Exotic pet enthusiasts prize male peacocks (A) for their feathers
(B) because the males are the (C)more colorful of the two (D) sexes; in
contrast, female peacocks are mostly for breeding purposes. (E)No error
(A) for: The preposition for matches just fine with prized, so this is okay.
(B) because: This works to connect the two complete thoughts. Theres no problem in the
logic, either, since its a cause-and-effect relationship.
(C) more colorful: Although the more colorful might sound weird, and you might want to
change it to most, that wouldnt make sense. There are only two things being compared
heremales and femalesso we need to keep more as it is.
(D) sexes; in contrast,: The semi-colon has to join up two full thoughts (it acts like a
period), which it does, here. In contrast is one of many introductory words like however
which need to be followed by commas, so thats also fine.
Theres no error. The answer is (E).

1. A Because of the Internet, B working at jobs C at home D have become much

more common. E No error.
a. A
b. B
c. C
d. D
e. E
2. Pull it out A by B its plug, not by the

cord, said D dad. E No error.

a. A
b. B
c. C
d. D
e. E
3. Symptoms of this illness A that warrant a doctor
visit B includes fever, C vomiting, anddiarrhea, as well as the D loss of
appetite. E No error.
a. A
b. B
c. C
d. D
e. E
4. A Either Lisa or Karen B will always volunteer C their valuable
on our board. E No error.

time to serve

a. A
b. B
c. C
d. D
e. E
5. The conversation with her A mother had a more profound
her C than D she expected. E No error.

affect on

a. A
b. B
c. C
d. D
e. E
6. The A President and the B Speaker of the House found the C Congressional
Republicans filibusters to be D all together specious. E No error.
a. A
b. B
c. C
d. D
e. E
7. A Professor Lane, our B Computer Science teacher, was excited when he had
the opportunity to meet C Bill Gates, the D president of Microsoft, Inc. E No error.
a. A
b. B
c. C
d. D
e. E

8. Do you think A they B will C except our plan D without an argument?

No error.

a. A
b. B
c. C
d. D
e. E
9. They A had went to the lake
Jacques. E No error.

without me

by the time D I got there, said

a. A
b. B
c. C
d. D
e. E
10. Work A as quick
the test. E No error.

as you

can but

as carefully as possible when you take

a. A
b. B
c. C
d. D
e. E
Answers - Identifying Sentence Errors

1. D: The error is have become, which should be has become. The plural
form of the auxiliary verb have is incorrect because the subject of the
independent clause is working, which is singular and thus takes a singular
verbi.e. working has The other underlined sections are correct.
2. D: Dad is a name or proper noun and should be capitalized. By is a
correct preposition to use here. Its is the correct use of the third-person

singular possessive impersonal pronoun. The punctuation at the end of the

quotation is correct.
3. B: Includes is incorrect because it is the singular form of the verb, but the
subject, symptoms, is plural. The verb should be include. The subordinating
conjunction that introducing the dependent clause, and its plural verb
warrant, (A) are both correct. vomiting, and (C) is punctuated correctly as
the last in a series of three or more words. The singular noun loss (D) is
correct.
4. C: Their is incorrect because it is a plural third-person possessive pronoun,
but the use of either (A)or indicates a singular form. It should be her.
Will always volunteer (B) is a singular verb phrase and is correct. Time (D)
is correct regardless of whether it is modified by a singular (her) or plural
(their) possessive pronoun, e.g. They both volunteered their valuable time.
5. B: The correct noun for this meaning is spelled effect. Affect when it is a
noun means mood or emotional state, e.g. The patient presented with a
depressed affect. When it is a verb, the meaning of affect is related to the
meaning of the noun effect; e.g. The experience had a harmful effect on her,
but it did not affect her brother the same way. her mother (A) is correctly
not capitalized as it is a noun, not a name/proper noun (e.g. Hello, Mother.)
The other underlined parts are correct.
6. D: This is incorrectly spelled as two words. In this sentence, it should be
altogether, a one-word adverb modifying the adjective specious and
meaning entirely or completely. All together would be used for a different
meaning, e.g. The family members were all together at the reunion. The
President (A), Speaker of the House (B), and Republicans (C) are all correctly
capitalized as they are titles. The adjective congressional (C) refers to Congress
(a proper name and thus capitalized), but as an adjective it is lower-case unless
part of a proper name.
7. E: There is no error in this sentence. Titles and proper names (A) are
capitalized. Academic subjects or departments are lower-case (e.g. department
of computer science) unless they are adjectives (Computer Science teacher)
(B) or proper nouns (English, French, etc.) Bill Gates (C) is a proper noun, i.e. a
name, and is always capitalized. the president (D) is correctly lower-case
both because it is used after a name, and because it is a used as a description
rather than a title here.
8. C: The verb is misspelled here. For the correct meaning, it should be
accept, i.e. to consent or agree to our plan. Except means other than,
besides, but, etc. Used as a verb as in this sentence, it would mean to make an
exception of our plan, which is incorrect as it contradicts the rest of the
sentence (without an argument). They (A) and will (B) are used correctly as
subject pronoun and auxiliary verb. Without (D) is correctly used as a
preposition.

9. A: The correct form for the past perfect tense of the irregular verb to go is
had gone, not had went. Went is only used as the past tense, without the
auxiliary had. The prepositional phrase (B) is correct. The two parts of the
dependent clause (C and D) by the time I got there are correct.
10. A: The error is quick, which is an adjective; here it should be the adverb
quickly instead, describing manner (how) to modify the verb Work. as
carefully (D) is an example of the correct usage. The other underlined sections
are correct.
Error identification Extra practice exercises. Decide which part of the sentence is
grammatically incorrect. Then look at the answers below.

1. I enjoyed study geography at school and now Ive enrolled at the Economics Faculty.
2. I used to be keen of all scientific subjects but now I would prefer to study art.
3. I want meet your sister when she comes to see you she sounds very nice.
4. My friends tell the English exam is quite difficult but Im not worried.
5. The tickets, which are extremely good value, can be buy from large supermarkets.
6. The number of people which asked for the discount was low but grew during the
summer period.
7. He wanted always to be a doctor and after doing medicine he now works in a hospital.
8. The informations they gave us was not very helpful so I consulted the website instead.
9. There isnt many time, do you think we should get a taxi to the exhibition centre?
10. He graduated in languages in June and is now thinking of do a second degree in
psychology.
11. The policeman showed us an identikit picture of the man who steal the car.
12. How long does it take to get the station on foot from your house
13. I was so angry that I took the watch broken to the jewellers to get my money back.
14. He rang me this morning for tell me that he had passed his driving test.
15. I wont be able to go on holiday this year unless I will get a part-time job.
16. It was so nice day that they decided to have a picnic in the field.
17. I havent never seen anybody who rides a horse so well before.
18. My boyfriend always takes me to see horror films, but I dont like very much.
19. We went to Guatemala last year so we were tired of the usual beach holiday.

20. Ive gone to Marbella. I remember it well. A busy town with a nice modern promenade
and picturesque piazze.

ANSWERS WITH EXPLANATIONS

1.

I enjoyed studying (enjoy + ing)

2.

keen on (keen + on = essere appassionato di)

3.

want to (want+ to + verb)

4.

tell me (tell + person (me/you/him/her etc); nb. saynon seguito dalla persona)

5.

can be bought (to be + past participle = passive)

6.

who (relative pronoun who = people)

7.

always wanted (frequency adverb goes before the main verb)

8.

the informations (information = uncountable noun)

9.

much time (much with uncountable nouns, many with countable nouns)

10. doing (ingafter a preposition)

11. stole (past tense of steal = steal stole stolen)
12. get to (preposition necessary; get to /go to /come to the station, BUT. arrive at/ reach the station)
13. broken watch (adjective before noun)
14. to tell me (to+base form = per/a scopo di)
15. unless I will get (1 conditional = if/unless/when + present)
16. such a (such a + noun; so + adjective)
17. I havent never (double negative)
18. l dont like them (like + direct object)
19. as (as = siccome; so = quindi)
Ive been to Madrid (use been not gone se sei stato e tornato