Every SAT Grammar Rule in 15 minutes notes

Source

Periods and Semi-Colons

-Periods and semi-colons essentially serve the same process gramatically, as they separate independent clauses (complete sentences.)

Example:

I love Paul Thomas Anderson; his film making skills are unmatched.

I love Paul Thomas Anderson. His film making skills are unmatched.

Colons and Dashes

-Colons help mark where a list is in a sentence. However, there needs to be a phrase before the colon and a dash that indicates that a list is being used in order for this to be utilized correctly.

Example of a colon: My favorite movies are the following: Phantom Thread, The Grand Budapest Hotel, and Kiki’s Delivery Service.

Example of a dash: My favorite songs are the following-Brooklyn Baby, Ladies, and So Long, Marriane.

-Colons can also be used to separate two sentences, especially if one sentence modifes the subject of another sentence. Dashes can as well, although it’s more common with colons.

Examples:
When Lady Gaga became famous, her classmates were shocked- this shock resulted because her classmates at NYU had ruthlessly mocked her, and she persisted anyway.

When Lady Gaga became famous, her classmates were shocked: this shock resulted because her classmates at NYU had ruthlessly mocked her, and she persisted anyway.

Commas and a brief review of FANBOYS

-Fanboy conjunctions are for, and, nor, but, or, yet, and so.

-These conjunctions if a comma is placed before them can join independent clauses.

Example: I love Fiona Apple’s music, but I can’t see her in concert as she doesn’t perform often anymore.

Commas and dependent clauses

-Commas are used to separate dependent clauses from independent clauses.

Example: Since I was cold, I got a jacket.

Transitional words and phases

-In questions on the DSAT to fill in a missing word, these tips might help.

-Continuers: Words such as in addition, moreover, in fact, for example, add new and similar ideas, emphasize previous ideas, and convey a sequence of events.

-Cause and effect words: Words such as therefore, consequently, and thus, indicate that an action or event is the result of a previous action/event.

-Contradictors: Words like however, nevertheless, in contrast, signal opposing ideas.

Additional Comma uses

-Commas can be used to separate items in a list

-Example: the Velvet Underground’s lyrical honesty, inventive production, and avant-garde nature helped establish them as one of the best bands of all time.

-Commas can also be used to separate two adjectives.

Susan Sontag is a brilliant, talented writer.

Verb tense rule

-If for and since are verbs used in a clause of a sentence, have been has to be in the independent clause.

Dangling modifiers

-The modifier (word or phase describing the subject of a sentence), needs to be next to the subject.