Small Question for Reason for error on specific PSAT Writing Question

Test Preparation
1

<p>...its has expressive powers that are equal to or perhaps greater than THAT (error) of spoken English.</p>

<p>Why is "that" wrong?</p>

2

<p>It should be those, if I'm not mistaken.</p>

3

<p>That's what I thought it was, but then I noticed that before the error, the same error was made (expressive powers THAT are equal to).</p>

<p>I guess that part before the error can be considered an error that is not looked to for correction. That can still be considered pretty confusing, especially if someone notices that error that isn't underlined while thinking, causing the person to second guess himself (which I have a habit of doing).</p>

4

<p>Another question - Why can't you say ...wanted TO HELP prevent...?</p>

5

<p>I think that would be separating parts of an infinitive, which isn't looked at much any more, but it's technically still an error.</p>

<p>However, if you see that on the test, and there's another error that's even more flagrant (like parallelism-a choice between that and the infinitive was on the practice test), choose the latter one.</p>

6

<p>I could be mistaken here, but I think the first “that” works like an adjective while the second “that” should be a plural pronoun replacing “powers”, which is “those”.</p>

7

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<p>The majority of the authorities on English grammar and usage disagree with you.</p>

<p>Indeed, from <a href=“http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/split-infinitives.aspx:[/url]”>http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/split-infinitives.aspx:&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

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8

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<p>I believe the first “that” is a conjunction and the second a pronoun, but you’re right in that they are different parts of speech.</p>

9

<p>Which two that’s are we comparing?</p>

10

<p>Well, here are the uses of “that” that I am familiar with:
[ul]
[<em>]Adjectively, as in: “I want to eat that hot dog.” “that” modifies “hot dog.” Rather atypically for an adjective, “that” inflects to “those” in the plural.
[</em>]As a relative pronoun, as in: “I want to eat the dog that is hot.” “that” links the noun “dog” to the relative clause “is hot.” Singularity and plurality are inapplicable.<br>
[<em>]As a demonstrative pronoun, as in: “I want to eat that.” “that” inflects to “those” in the plural.
[</em>]As a subordinating conjunction, as in: “I hope that I eat the hot dog.” “that” links the subordinate clause “I ate that hot dog” to “I hope.” Again, singularity and plurality are inapplicable.
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