Idioms

Identifying Sentence Errors

The following sentence contains either a single error or no error at all. If the sentence contains an error, select the one underlined part that must be changed to make the sentence correct. If the sentence contains no error, select choice E. 

When you are working an Improving Sentences question, read the question carefully and focus on the underlined portion. If you identify an error, make a prediction about how you could fix the error. The correct answer won't always match your prediction, but making a prediction will help you to identify the underlying grammar concept being tested.

Salt Ais valued not only because of its properties Bas a condiment and preservative, Cbut it is Dessential to the health of humans and animals. ENo error

This problem is simply testing your knowledge of idioms. If you know the idiom, it's a very straightforward and easy problem. If you don't have the idiom memorized, read the sentence and look for something that sounds or feels wrong to you. Remember to trust your instincts and go with your first  guess. Hopefully, you have memorized the idiom "not only . . .  , but also . . .." Since you see the words "not only" in a non-underlined portion of the sentence (in other words, you cannot change the "not only"), there must be a "but also" later in the sentence.  That means the error is at (C). It should read "Salt is valued not only . . . , but also because it is . . .."

The correct Answer Choice is (C).

On sat.collegeboard.org 50% of the responses were correct.

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