SAT Standard English Conventions - Vocabulary (2025 Rules)

Vocabulary-style flashcards covering key SAT Standard English Conventions rules and traps from the notes.

Subject–Verb Agreement

The verb must agree in number with its subject; ignore intervening words; treat collective nouns as singular; with 'or'/'nor', match the verb to the nearest subject.

Pronoun Agreement

Pronouns must agree in number and person with their antecedents and be clear in what they refer to.

Pronoun Case

Use subject pronouns for doers (I, he, she, we, they) and object pronouns for receivers (me, him, her, us, them) to maintain correct case.

Verb Tense Consistency

Keep verb tenses consistent within a sentence or passage unless a clear time shift requires a change.

Subjunctive Mood

Use 'were' for unreal or hypothetical situations; after suggestions or demands, use the base form (e.g., 'I suggest that he study.').

Modifier Placement

Place modifiers next to the word or phrase they describe; avoid dangling modifiers that mislead about what is being described.

Participial Phrases

Phrases beginning with -ing or -ed that describe a noun; they must be placed next to the noun they modify and avoid dangling/misplaced placements.

Parallel Structure

Maintain the same grammatical form in a list or comparison; ensure items are parallel (e.g., gerund + gerund, not gerund + infinitive).

Sentence Boundaries

Fix run-ons and fragments; ensure each sentence has a clear subject and verb and is properly separated.

Commas

Use for lists, introductory elements, and nonessential info; avoid comma splices and unnecessary commas.

Semicolons

Join two independent clauses; may be used before conjunctive adverbs (however, therefore, etc.).

Colons

A colon introduces a list, explanation, or quotation; the preceding clause must be a complete sentence.

Dashes

A single dash can replace a colon; two dashes can set off extra information; don’t mix dashes with commas.

Apostrophes

Indicate possession or contractions; form possessives (e.g., the cat’s toy; it’s) and irregular plurals possessives as needed.

Who/Whom

Who = subject of a verb; Whom = object of a verb or preposition; test by replacing with he/him.

Which/That

Which = nonrestrictive (uses commas); That = restrictive (no commas) in defining clauses.

Correlative Conjunctions

Paired words (either/or, neither/nor, not only/but also) that require parallel structure in the joined elements.

Comparatives & Superlatives

Form with -er/-est or more/most; irregulars include good→better→best; avoid incorrect forms like 'more better'.

Conjunctive Adverbs

Words like however, therefore; join independent clauses with a semicolon before and a comma after.

Adjective vs Adverb

Adjectives modify nouns/pronouns; adverbs modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs (e.g., quick vs quickly).

Ellipses in Comparisons

Omit words in comparisons but maintain grammatical completeness and meaning.

Pronoun Consistency

Maintain consistent pronoun usage (e.g., one/one’s vs you/your) within a sentence or passage to avoid shifts.