SAT Writing Complete Rule Book Flashcards

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering the core grammar, punctuation, and rhetorical rules required for the SAT Writing section, based on the 'Complete Rule Book' transcript.

Independent Clause

A group of words containing a subject and a verb that expresses a complete thought and can stand alone as a sentence.

Dependent Clause

A clause that contains a subject and verb but starts with a subordinating conjunction, preventing it from standing alone as a complete thought.

Fused Sentence

A type of run-on error where two independent clauses are joined together without any punctuation.

Comma Splice

A common error where two independent clauses are incorrectly joined by only a comma.

FANBOYS

An acronym for coordinating conjunctions (For, And, Nor, But, Or, Yet, So) used with a comma to join two independent clauses.

Conjunctive Adverbs

Words like 'however,' 'therefore,' and 'moreover' that cannot join independent clauses with just a comma and typically require a semicolon or period.

Prepositional Phrase Trap

An SAT error where a phrase beginning with a preposition is placed between a subject and verb to trick the reader into incorrect subject-verb agreement.

Indefinite Pronouns (Singular)

Words such as 'each,' 'neither,' and 'anyone' that always require a singular verb form regardless of following phrases.

Compound Subjects (Or/Nor)

A rule stating that when subjects are joined by 'or' or 'nor,' the verb must agree with the noun closest to it.

Inverted Sentence

A sentence structure where the subject follows the verb, often starting with phrases like 'there is' or 'among the ruins.'

Collective Nouns

Nouns representing groups, such as 'team' or 'committee,' which the SAT typically treats as singular.

Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement

The requirement that a pronoun must match the number (singular or plural) of the noun it replaces.

Ambiguous Pronoun

An error where a pronoun like 'he' or 'they' could refer to more than one noun in a sentence, creating lack of clarity.

Subject vs. Object Case

The distinction between pronouns performing an action (I, he, they) and those receiving an action (me, him, them).

Who vs. Whom

A rule where 'who' is used for subjects performing actions and 'whom' is used for objects receiving actions.

Its vs. It's

'Its' is a possessive determiner indicating ownership, while 'it's' is a contraction meaning 'it is' or 'it has.'

Nonessential Information

Supplemental details that can be removed from a sentence without changing its core meaning; must be set off by paired commas, dashes, or parentheses.

Oxford Comma

A comma placed before the coordinating conjunction in a list of three or more items, which is standard on the SAT.

Semicolon

Punctuation used to connect two closely related independent clauses that can each stand as a complete sentence.

Colon

Punctuation that must follow a complete independent clause and is used to introduce a list, explanation, or emphasis.

Dangling Modifier

An error where an introductory phrase does not logically describe the noun that immediately follows the comma.

Misplaced Modifier

An error where a modifying word or phrase is not placed close enough to the word it is intended to describe.

Past Perfect Tense

The 'had + past participle' form used to indicate that one past action was completed before another past action.

Present Perfect Tense

The 'has/have + past participle' form used for actions that began in the past and continue into the present.

Conditionals (Subjunctive Mood)

The use of 'were' instead of 'was' for hypothetical or unreal 'if' conditions, regardless of the subject.

Parallelism

A rule requiring that items in lists, comparisons, or paired constructions maintain the same grammatical structure.

Correlative Conjunctions

Paired connectors like 'not only…but also' or 'either…or' that must join parallel grammatical elements.

Rhetorical Synthesis

SAT questions that require choosing an answer based on a specific goal using provided bulleted notes.

Redundancy

A writing error involving the use of unnecessary words that repeat the same information (e.g., 'collaborate together').

Conciseness

The SAT preference for the shortest grammatically correct way to express an idea without losing meaning.