Untitled Flashcard Set
What is subject-verb agreement?
Subject-verb agreement is a convention of Standard English that requires a
and
to agree in number.
Incorrect:
Apples is different from oranges.
Correct:
Apples are different from oranges.
"Is" is the singular present tense of the verb "to be". "Are" is the plural present tense of the verb "to be".
Since "Apples " is a plural subject, it needs to be paired with the plural form of the verb.
This same logic must be applied to all subject-verb pairings.
Subject-verb agreement may be tested in one of the Form, structure, and sense questions that you encounter on test day.
How to identify subject-verb agreement questions
When approaching form, structure, and sense questions, it's important to identify which Standard English conventions are being tested.
You'll know to look for subject-verb agreement errors if different choices contain singular and plural forms of the same verb.
If you don't see this difference among the choices, then the question doesn't deal with subject-verb agreement.
Let's look at a subject-verb agreement question now:
Subject-verb agreement example
When a fire burns red or green or blue, the color of its flames ______ the chemical composition of the combustible material.
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
Choose 1 answer:
A
indicate
B
indicates
C
have indicated
D
are indicating
What can make subject-verb agreement errors difficult to spot?
When a verb follows directly after its subject, agreement is pretty easy to verify ("apples is" vs "apples are"). However, when sentence structures become more complex, subject-verb agreement errors can be much harder to spot.
Be extra cautious when you notice any of the following:
Extra words between the subject and verb
When additional words, especially other nouns, come between a subject and verb, agreement errors are much easier to miss.
If you notice extra words or phrases, eliminate them from the sentence, and try reading the subject straight into the verb.
Inverted sentences
Sometimes a subject will come after the verb. When this is the case, agreement errors are trickier to identify.
If you notice a subject that comes after its verb, try flipping the sentence and reading the subject straight in to the verb.
Top tips
Read the subject and verb together
Any time you’re not sure if a subject and verb agree, place them next to each other and see how they sound together—without all the extra words around and between them in the passage. This tip helps cut through complex sentence structures and tends to make subject-verb agreement errors much more obvious.
For instance, if the subject is “the rain” and the choices are “stop”, “stopped”, “have stopped”, and “are stopping”, you can put them together: ‘the rain stop’, ‘the rain stopped’, ‘the rain have stopped’, ‘the rain are stopping’. The only one that works is ‘the rain stopped’.
Look out for prepositions
Prepositions like "with", "of", and "from" are often used to start phrases that describe the subject of a sentence. These phrases can cause confusion, as the object of the prepositional phrase ends up closer to the verb, and it's often a noun with a different number.
For example: "The sound of the trumpets was deafening."
The prepositional phrase "of the trumpets" may include a plural noun, but it describes the singular subject "sound", so we need to use the singular verb "was".
Plurals and the letter 's'
If you're a fluent speaker of English, you'll often be able to pair plural nouns with plural verbs based purely off of instinct and sound. But if that doesn't work, you need to be able to identify singular and plural verbs.
With nouns, plurals are usually formed by adding an 's' to the end of the word:
elephant → elephants
With verbs, though, the pattern is exactly the opposite. Typically, we form a plural verb by removing an 's':
The elephant runs.
The elephants run.
Your turn
Subject-verb agreement
A Neapolitan pizza made with San Marzano tomatoes ______ considered more traditional than one made with any other type of tomatoes.
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
Choose 1 answer:
A
are
B
have been
C
is
D
were
Subject-verb agreement
The sum of money one donates to registered nonprofit organizations ______ a deduction that can be made from one's taxable income.
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
Choose 1 answer:
A
represent
B
represents
C
are representing
D
have represented
Subject-verb agreement
Called embouchure, the shape of a skilled trumpet player's lips ______ for playing a wide range of notes with clear tone and without muscle strain.
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
Choose 1 answer:
A
allows
B
are allowing
C
allow
D
have allowed
What is pronoun-antecedent agreement?
Pronoun-antecedent agreement is a convention of Standard English that requires a
and
to agree in person and number.
Incorrect:
Cranberries are both sour and bitter, so people rarely eat it unsweetened.
Correct:
Cranberries are both sour and bitter, so people rarely eat them unsweetened.
In both of these sentences, the bolded pronouns stand in for the noun "cranberries".
Since "cranberries" is a plural noun, it needs to be paired with the plural pronoun "they".
This same logic must be applied to all pronouns and their antecedents.
Pronoun-antecedent agreement may be tested in one of the Form, structure, and sense questions that you encounter on test day.
How to identify pronoun-antecedent agreement questions
When approaching form, structure, and sense questions, it's important to identify which Standard English conventions are being tested.
You'll know to look for pronoun-antecedent agreement errors if
one choice uses a singular pronoun (like "it") while another choice uses a plural pronoun (like "they")
a pronoun outside the blank refers to a noun contained within the choices
If you don't notice either of these features, then the question doesn't deal with pronoun-antecedent agreement.
Let's look at a pronoun-antecedent agreement question now:
Pronoun-antecedent agreement example
It is hard to live in Antarctica. The cold, dry environment provides the continent’s soil-dwelling microbes few nutrients, little water, and almost no sunlight. In a 2017 study of these organisms, microbiologist Belinda Ferrari reported that ______ able to survive on a diet of atmospheric gases found in the soil.
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
Choose 1 answer:
A
it is
B
this is
C
either is
D
they are
What can make pronoun-antecedent agreement errors difficult to spot?
In simple sentences, the connection between a pronoun and its antecedent is often very clear. However, as sentences become more complex, errors in pronoun-antecedent agreement can be much more difficult to identify.
Be extra cautious when you notice any of the following:
Distance between pronoun and antecedent
The further apart a pronoun and its antecedent are in a sentence, the harder agreement errors are to spot. Extra phrases and clauses interfere with our ability to work off instinct.
Errors in these cases are less likely to just "sound wrong". So, if you notice a pronoun way out on its own, track down its antecedent and check for agreement.
Multiple nouns before the pronoun
When multiple nouns appear before a pronoun in a sentence, identifying the correct antecedent can be tricky. Errors in pronoun-antecedent agreement will be difficult to identify in these cases, especially if some of the nouns are plural and others are singular.
When you notice multiple nouns before the pronoun, take the time to identify the most logical antecedent.
Pronoun before the antecedent
"Antecedent" literally means what comes before, but sometimes this relationship gets flipped. And when a pronoun becomes before its antecedent, we're less likely to notice an agreement error.
If you see a pronoun towards the beginning of the text, track down the noun it refers to and double check for agreement.
Top tips
Find the antecedent
To recognize pronoun agreement errors, we must be able to identify the antecedent of the pronoun in question—the noun that the pronoun logically refers to.
Read carefully! Antecedents can be hard to find when multiple singular and plural nouns are present.
Plug and play
If you're not sure you've identified the correct noun as the antecedent, try plugging it in where the pronoun goes. If the sentence still makes sense, you've found the antecedent!
For example:
The survival of the orangutan is threatened by the destruction of its habitat.
The only noun that can logically replace "it" in this sentence is "orangutan", so that's the antecedent:
The survival of the orangutan is threatened by the destruction of the orangutan's habitat.
A note about gendered pronouns
The SAT won't ask you to choose between a gendered pronoun ("he" or "she") and the non-gendered singular pronoun "they" when referring to a single person.
When checking for pronoun-antecedent agreement, you'll only need to determine A) if the noun is singular or plural, and B) if the noun is a person or a thing.
Your turn
Pronoun-antecedent agreement
Before a jury trial begins, lawyers for each side interview potential jurors closely, ______ questions intended to reveal any biases.
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
Choose 1 answer:
A
asking him or her
B
asking them
C
asking it
D
to ask him or her
Pronoun-antecedent agreement
Thanks to ______ long legs, giraffes are very fast, running as quickly as 35 miles per hour in short bursts.
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
Choose 1 answer:
A
its
B
one's
C
their
D
his or her
What are plurals and possessives?
Plurals are nouns and pronouns that refer to more than one thing.
Possessives are nouns and pronouns that show possession.
There are similarities and differences in how plurals and possessives are formed that can cause confusion. In particular, confusion can arise over when to use or not use apostrophes.
Incorrect:
One cannot overstate the importance of bee's to the pollination of Michigans blueberry crop.
Correct:
One cannot overstate the importance of bees to the pollination of Michigan's blueberry crop.
The formation of plurals and possessives may be tested in one of the Form, structure, and sense questions that you encounter on test day.
How to form plurals and possessives
To succeed on questions about plural and possessive nouns, you'll need to know the rules for using apostrophes in the following cases:
Plural nouns
Singular possessive nouns
Plural possessive nouns
Pronouns
How to identify questions about plurals and possessives
When we approach form, structure, and sense questions, it's important to identify which Standard English conventions are being tested.
Make sure to look for errors with genitives and plurals if
the choices add or remove apostrophes
the choices change the placement of apostrophes
If you don't see one or both of these features, then the question likely doesn't deal with plurals and possessives.
Let's look at a plurals and possessives question now:
Plurals and possessives example
Slam poet Elizabeth Acevedo’s debut novel The Poet X, winner of the 2018 National Book Award for Young People’s Literature, is composed of ______ protagonist, fifteen-year-old Xiomara Batista.
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
Choose 1 answer:
A
poem’s putatively written by the novel’s
B
poem’s putatively written by the novels’
C
poems putatively written by the novels’
D
poems putatively written by the novel’s
Top tips
Check all the nouns
SAT questions that ask us about plural and possessive nouns may include two nouns in the blank. The choices will include variations where one, both, or neither of the two are made plural or possessive.
Be sure that the answer you choose uses (or doesn't use) apostrophes correctly in both nouns.
Beware "its" and "their"
"Its" and "their" follow the same rule as other possessive pronouns: they don't require an apostrophe. However, these pronouns are frequently confused with the contractions "it's" and "they're".
Any time you see a form of "it's/its" or "there/their/they're" appear in the choices, double check that you're using the appropriate form.
Your turn
Plurals and possessives
Labor unions are formed in order to protect ______ through collective bargaining, which gives employees greater leverage while ensuring they are treated equally by management.
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
Choose 1 answer:
A
workers' rights
B
worker's rights
C
workers rights'
D
workers' rights'
Plurals and possessives
The striated ______ walls are the result of erosion and frost weathering having exposed layers of multicolored sedimentary rock.
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
Choose 1 answer:
A
patterns' of a canyons
B
patterns of a canyons'
C
pattern's of a canyon's
D
patterns of a canyon's
What are verb forms?
Verbs can take many different forms. They can have different
and
. They can also be
or
. There are modal verbs, auxiliary verbs, and a dozen other possible categories.
The grammar science behind these different verb forms is complex. Luckily, you don't need to actually do any of this tricky classification to succeed on the SAT.
You've already been exposed to all these different verb forms in your everyday studies, and you likely use them all the time without thinking about it. If you rely on your instincts and familiarity with Standard English, choosing the correct verb form should come pretty naturally.
Incorrect:
Yesterday, I am running to the lake.
Correct:
Yesterday, I ran to the lake.
The verb phrase "am running" is in the present tense and the progressive aspect. However, the sentence tells us the action happened "yesterday", so we should use the past tense and the simple aspect: "ran".
Verb forms may be tested in one of the Form, structure, and sense questions that you encounter on test day.
How to identify verb form questions
When approaching form, structure, and sense questions, it's important to identify which Standard English conventions are being tested.
You'll know to look for verb form errors if
different choices use different verb tenses (past/present/future)
some choices add or remove helping verbs
If you don't see one or both of these differences among the choices, then the question doesn't deal with verb forms.
Let's look at a verb forms question now:
While many spiders use webs to catch their food, others capture prey using hunting or burrowing techniques. Spiders from the family Ctenizidae, often called trapdoor spiders, ______ their burrows with doors, using their silk for hinges.
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
Choose 1 answer:
A
cover
B
are covering
C
will have covered
D
had covered
What can make verb form errors difficult to spot?
Complex sentence structures
Verb form errors in simple sentences tend to be pretty obvious. But as sentences get more complex, it becomes easier to miss those little context clues that tell us when and how the verb is taking place.
Missing helping verbs
Only simple verbs can function without help.
When a helping verb is missing from any other type of verb phrase, that verb phrase can no longer function as the main verb of the sentence. This often creates a sentence fragment error.
When we're reading quickly, our brains have a tendency to fill in these missing verbs, which can cause us to overlook the error. Take your time as you read and make sure that each verb phrase has everything it needs to function.
Top tips
Conjugate in context
To determine if an action happens in the past, present, or future, we'll need to rely upon context clues in the sentence. The same goes for whether an action is completed or ongoing. Common context clues include time transitions (like “previously”), dates, and other conjugated verbs.
Match other verbs
If you're not sure how to conjugate a verb, match the tense of other verbs in the same sentence or paragraph. Verb tense usually stays consistent unless some shift in time occurs within the passage.
Simple present tense for general facts
General statements of fact use simple present tense (for example, “the sky is blue”). If there are no context clues that suggest something is happening in the past or future, simple present tense is likely the best way to go.
Your turn
Verb forms
Botanists recognize over fifty different species of sunflower, and variance exists even in those species. One species, the silverleaf sunflower, ______ both an early-flowering ecotype that tends to grow in coastal areas and a late-flowering ecotype that grows inland.
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
Choose 1 answer:
A
encompassing
B
to encompass
C
encompasses
D
having encompassed
Verb forms
Antarctic pearlwort, a low-growing shrub with characteristic yellow flowers, is one of only two native flowering plants which ______ in Antarctica.
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
Choose 1 answer:
A
were occurring
B
occur
C
are occurring
D
will have occurred
Verb forms
Before the museum closed permanently, it faced financial challenges that ______ a large deficit and declining ticket sale revenues.
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
Choose 1 answer:
A
include
B
will include
C
would include
D
included
What is subject-modifier placement?
Subject-modifier placement refers to a convention of Standard English that requires a
and its
to be next to one another.
Incorrect:
Consumed in the form of sugars and starches, the human body uses carbohydrates as its primary source of energy.
Correct:
Consumed in the form of sugars and starches, carbohydrates serve as the primary source of energy for the human body.
Subject-modifier placement may be tested in one of the Form, structure, and sense questions that you encounter on test day.
How to identify subject-modifier placement questions
When approaching form, structure, and sense questions, it's important to identify which Standard English conventions are being tested.
You may want to look for subject-modifier placement errors if
the blank is longer than a few words
the choices rearrange words or phrases into different orders
If you don't see one or both of these features, then the question likely doesn't deal with subject-modifier placement.
Let's look at a subject-modifier placement question now:
Subject-Modifier placement example
Rabinal Achí is a precolonial Maya dance drama performed annually in Rabinal, a town in the Guatemalan highlands. Based on events that occurred when Rabinal was a city-state ruled by a king, ______ had once been an ally of the king but was later captured while leading an invading force against him.
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
Choose 1 answer:
A
Rabinal Achí tells the story of K’iche’ Achí, a military leader who
B
K’iche’ Achí, the military leader in the story of Rabinal Achí,
C
there was a military leader, K’iche’ Achí, who in Rabinal Achí
D
the military leader whose story is told in Rabinal Achí, K’iche’ Achí,
Top tips
Double-check introductory modifiers
When modifying phrases come at the beginning of a sentence, our brains will often do the work of connecting the modifier to whichever noun it logically describes. But these modifying phrases don't apply to the whole sentence: they still need to be placed right next to their subjects.
Any time you see a blank come after an introductory modifying phrase, the very next word that follows should be the noun that’s being described.
Beware possessive nouns
When a noun phrase starts with a possessive noun, it can make modifier placement extra confusing. Remember that possessive nouns really function as adjectives: the noun that follows the possessive is the actual focus of the noun phrase. That's the noun the modifier needs to describe.
Your turn
Subject-Modifier Placement
Having returned from the ocean to the stream where it was born, ______, after which its offspring start the cycle anew.
Choose 1 answer:
A
an adult salmon's life cycle ends when it spawns and dies,
B
an adult salmon spawns and dies, completing its life cycle,
C
the spawning and death of an adult salmon complete its life cycle,
D
the life cycle of an adult salmon is complete when it spawns and die,
Subject-Modifier Placement
While popular depiction might characterize surfing as a summer sport, the reality is that winter conditions are considered better for surfing. Generated by seasonal storms far off the coast, ______
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
Choose 1 answer:
A
surfers highly prize the large, predictable sets of waves that are created by winter swells.
B
winter swells reach the shore as large, predictable sets of waves that are highly prized by surfers.
C
the shore causes large winter swells to break in predictable sets of waves highly prized by surfers.
D
winter is highly prized by surfers for large swells that break in large, predictable sets of waves.
What are clauses?
A clause is a series of words that contains a subject and a conjugated verb. There are two main types of clauses:
An independent clause can stand on its own as a complete sentence.
A dependent clause must be linked to an independent clause.
The SAT focuses on how clauses can be linked together (or kept apart). These conventions may be tested in Boundaries questions that you encounter on test day.
Linking clauses
There are several ways to link clauses. The SAT focuses on end of sentence punctuation, coordination, subordination, and semicolons.
Let's look at each in turn:
End of sentence punctuation
Using end punctuation (like a period or question mark) is the simplest way to separate clauses. You should be very familiar with using end punctuation in your own writing.
There are only two rules for end punctuation:
The punctuation mark must match the function of the sentence it follows.
End punctuation can only be used to separate two independent clauses.
Coordination
Coordination involves the linking of two independent clauses within a single sentence. To coordinate independent clauses, we must use two things:
a comma (,)
a coordinating conjunction
The only coordinating conjunctions in English are known as the FANBOYS (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so).
Subordination
Subordination involves linking two clauses by making one of the clauses dependent. To subordinate an independent clause, we must use two things:
a subordinating conjunction
a comma (,)*
Subordinating conjunctions are words that turn an independent clause into a dependent clause. There are many subordinating conjunctions, but some examples include although, since, because, while, when, and after.
*Note: Some subordinating conjunctions can link clauses without a comma, but only if the dependent clause comes second.
Semicolons
Semicolons can be used to link two independent clauses without any conjunction.
How to identify linking clauses questions
When approaching boundaries questions, it's important to identify which Standard English conventions are being tested.
You may want to look for errors in linking clauses if
the choices add or remove commas and FANBOYS conjunctions
the choices add or remove end punctuation like periods or question marks
any choice contains a semicolon
If you don't see any of these features, then the question likely doesn't deal with linking clauses.
Let's look at a linking clauses question now:
Linking clauses example
Detroit natives Timothy Paule and Nicole Lindsey have combined their two passions, Detroit and beekeeping, to improve the health of their city’s flowers and other vegetation. In 2017, the couple converted a vacant lot in the city into an ______ in the years that followed they acquired nine additional lots and established more than 35 hives.
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
Choose 1 answer:
A
apiary
B
apiary,
C
apiary and
D
apiary, and
Top tips
Use the before and after test
When you see choices that offer a variety of punctuation options, check if what comes before and after the blank are independent clauses. Then, apply the rules you know to the answer choices. For example, if there are two independent clauses on either side of the blank, we know we can’t use just a comma, as this would create a comma splice. Therefore, the answer with just a comma (and no conjunction) would be incorrect.
Your turn
Linking clauses
It is tempting to glamorize the hunt for dinosaur ______ majority of fieldwork is characterized by a daily routine of heat, insects, and tedious labor.
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
Choose 1 answer:
A
fossils, the
B
fossils the
C
fossils but the
D
fossils, but the
Linking clauses
Though Paul Revere is best known today for his "midnight ride" during the American _____ was famous in his own day as a prosperous silversmith and businessman.
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
Choose 1 answer:
A
Revolution; he
B
Revolution, but Revere
C
Revolution, he
D
Revolution he
What are supplements?
Supplements are words, phrases, and relative clauses that add extra information to a sentence, often for the purpose of description or elaboration. There are two main types of supplements:
Essential elements are necessary for the sentence to function and don't require punctuation.
Nonessential elements are not necessary for the sentence to function. They must be separated from the main sentence by punctuation.
The SAT focuses on whether supplements should be separated from the rest of the sentence by punctuation, as well as what punctuation marks should be used. These conventions may be tested in boundaries questions that you encounter on test day.
How are supplements punctuated?
There are several factors that govern how supplements should be treated within a sentence. Let's look at each in turn.
Essential or nonessential
The first question is whether a given supplement should be punctuated. Try reading the sentence without the supplemental information.
If the sentence no longer makes sense, then the supplement is an essential element. No punctuation should be used.
If the sentence still makes sense, then the supplement is nonessential. The supplement must be separated from the rest of the sentence by punctuation.
Position in the sentence
Once you determine a supplement is nonessential, you must decide how to punctuate it.
If the supplement begins or ends the sentence, it only requires one punctuation mark (between the supplement and the rest of the sentence).
If the supplement comes in the middle of the sentence, it requires punctuation on both sides.
Type of punctuation
Nonessential elements can be separated from the rest of a sentence using three different types of punctuation marks:
Commas (,)
Parentheses ()
Dashes (—)
In formatting supplements, these punctuation marks are basically interchangeable. However, there is one important rule: the same type of punctuation must appear before and after a nonessential element.
In other words, we don't want to be mixing different punctuation marks together.
How to identify supplements questions
When approaching boundaries questions, it's important to identify which Standard English conventions are being tested.
You may want to look for errors in supplements if
the choices add or remove commas, but not conjunctions
the choices include multiple types of punctuation, like commas and dashes
If you don't see either of these features, then the question likely doesn't deal with supplements.
Let's look at a supplements question now:
Supplements example
Luci Tapahonso is the inaugural poet laureate of the Navajo Nation. Her book Sáanii Dahataal/The Women Are Singing—a combination of fiction and memoir, poetry and ______ serves as a testament to her versatility as a writer.
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
Choose 1 answer:
A
prose—
B
prose
C
prose,
D
prose;
Top tips
Be consistent!
SAT questions will often include just one side of a nonessential element in the blank. Be sure to check the other side of the element for consistency: the same punctuation mark should be used on both sides!
Don't worry about style!
When it comes to setting off nonessential supplements on the SAT, you can think of all the correct punctuation options (a pair of commas, a pair of dashes, or parentheses) as interchangeable. The SAT won't test you on the stylistic differences among them. In other words, there will always only be one grammatically correct choice.
Don't pair semicolons or colons!
Commas, parentheses, and dashes are the only options when separating a nonessential element from the rest of the sentence. We should never use two semicolons or colons around a nonessential element.
Mind your thats and whiches!
Relative clauses that begin with “that” almost always carry essential information and should not be set off with commas. So when you see a supplement beginning with “that”, remember not to add a comma before or after the supplement.
Relative clauses that begin with “which” are almost always nonessential, so they do need to be set off with commas, dashes, or parentheses.
Your turn
Supplements
The sandhill ______ to North America, has the longest fossil history of any extant bird at ten million years.
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
Choose 1 answer:
A
crane a large bird native
B
crane—a large bird native
C
crane, a large bird native,
D
crane, a large bird native
Supplements
Saint Lucia—a sovereign island in the ______ the only country in the world named after a historical woman.
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
Choose 1 answer:
A
Caribbean, is
B
Caribbean—is
C
Caribbean is
D
Caribbean; is
What punctuation marks are tested on the SAT?
Punctuation appears as part of a variety of questions on the SAT. Whether we're linking clauses or adding supplements to a sentence, we'll need to appropriately employ punctuation. We may also need to identify instances where no punctuation is necessary.
The SAT may test your knowledge of
Commas (,)
Semicolons (;)
Colons (:)
Dashes (—)
Appropriate punctuation will be essential to all Boundaries questions that you encounter on test day.
Punctuation marks
Different punctuation marks have different uses and different rules. Let's look at each in turn.*
*Note: some punctuation marks have additional uses not named here (e.g., formatting dialogue with commas). This article focuses only on how these punctuation marks are tested on the SAT.
Commas (,)
Commas should only be used to...
Separate list items
Separate nonessential elements from the sentence
Link dependent clauses to independent clauses
Link independent clauses with help from a coordinating (FANBOYS) conjunction
Commas should not...
Split a subject and a verb
Come before
Separate items in a list of two
Using a comma in any of these ways creates an error.
Semicolons (;)
Semicolons should only be used to...
Link independent clauses (without a conjunction)
Separate list items that already contain commas
Any other use of a semicolon creates an error.
Colons (:)
Colons can only come at the end of an independent clause. They can introduce...
Explanations and extra information
Lists
Any other use of a colon creates an error.
Dashes (—)
Dashes should only be used to separate nonessential elements from the rest of the sentence.
Any other use of a dash creates an error.
How to identify punctuation questions
When approaching boundaries questions, it's important to identify which Standard English conventions are being tested.
You may want to look for errors in punctuation if
the choices add or remove punctuation
the choices offer a variety of punctuation marks
If you don't see either of these features, then the question likely doesn't deal with punctuation.
Let's look at a punctuation question now:
Punctuation example (supplements)
According to Naomi Nakayama of the University of Edinburgh, the reason seeds from a dying dandelion appear to float in the air while ______ is that their porous plumes enhance drag, allowing the seeds to stay airborne long enough for the wind to disperse them throughout the surrounding area.
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
Choose 1 answer:
A
falling,
B
falling:
C
falling;
D
falling
Top tips
Use the before/after test for semicolons
Unless it appears in a list, a semicolon must have an independent clause both before and after it. If you think a semicolon might be right, check to make sure you have an independent clause on either side. If you don't, you can't use a semicolon.
Use the before test for colons
A colon can only appear at the end of an independent clause. If you think a colon might be right, check to make sure what comes before is a complete independent clause. If it's not, you can't use a colon.
Double-check commas
Many writers overuse commas (or use them as a default punctuation mark). Double-check to make sure a comma is both necessary and appropriate before selecting it as your answer.
If the comma is linking clauses, make sure it has the coordinating or subordinating conjunction it needs to do so.
If the comma isn't linking clauses, make sure it serves a purpose and doesn't unnecessarily interrupt some other function of the sentence.
Your turn
Punctuation
An element's atomic number is ______ the number of protons in its nucleus, the number electrons in its uncharged state, and approximately half of its atomic mass.
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
Choose 1 answer:
A
equal to:
B
equal to;
C
equal to,
D
equal to
Punctuation
When he returned from the Galapagos islands in 1835, Charles Darwin brought back a young tortoise named ______ would live over 170 years before passing away at the Australia Zoo in 2006.
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
Choose 1 answer:
A
Harriet, she
B
Harriet; who
C
Harriet she
D
Harriet; she