SAT Boundaries - Reading

independent clause

can stand on its own as a complete sentence

dependent clause

can not stand on its own

coordination (linking two independent clauses)

• FANBOY

• “astronomical seasons are based on the position of the sun, but meteorological seasons are based on temperature and weather.”

subordination (linking two clauses by making one dependent)

• subordinating conjunction

• “though broccoli, kale, and kohlrabi may seem like very different vegetables, they are all cultivars of the same plant species.”

semicolons

used to link two independent clauses

essential element

no punctuation should be used

nonessential element

punctuation must be used

comma (,) DO NOTS

• split a subject and a verb

• come before prepositions

semicolon (;) rules

• link independent clauses

• separate list items that already contain commas

colon (:) rules

• can only come at end of independent clause

• can introduce explanations/extra information

• lists

dash (-) rules

• only used to separate nonessential elements from rest of sentence