By Laura Whitmore
Are you looking to boost your English score on the SAT? You're in the right place. We'll break down essential grammar hacks that can make a big difference in your performance. From understanding subject-verb agreement to mastering punctuation rules, these tips are designed to simplify complex concepts and help you succeed.
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Tip 1: Understand Subject-Verb Agreement
Subject-verb agreement is a common area where students make mistakes. For instance, if you have a sentence that says, "The box of chocolates are on the table," it's incorrect because the subject "the box" is singular. The phrase "of chocolates" is a prepositional phrase that describes more about the subject but doesn't affect its number. When choosing the correct verb, make sure to identify and focus on the main subject. So, the correct sentence would be "The box is on the table."
Tip 2: Identify Non-Essential Clauses
The SAT often hides the subject from the verb with non-essential clauses. These clauses can be removed without changing the fundamental meaning of the sentence. For example, "The commissioner, along with his 20 staff members, runs a tight campaign against the incumbent." Here, "the commissioner" is the subject, and the clause "along with his 20 staff members" is non-essential. To simplify, remove the non-essential clause and check if the sentence still makes sense: "The commissioner runs a tight campaign."
Tip 3: Use the Pronoun Trick
When facing verb tense questions, the pronoun trick can be very helpful. Replace the subject with a singular and plural pronoun to see which verb fits. For example, in a list of choices like "he is," "they are," "they have been," and "they were," the variation indicates a subject-verb agreement question. Typically, the correct answer is the one that matches the number of the subject.
Tip 4: Master Parallelism
Parallelism requires matching verb tenses within a sentence. For example, if a sentence starts with a present tense modifier, the rest of the sentence should match. Consider the sentence: "Today, Paik is considered the first video artist." The present tense "is considered" matches the modifier "today." Similarly, phrases like "since that time" indicate the need for present perfect tense: "has remained."
Tip 5: Know Your Punctuation Rules
Understanding punctuation rules is crucial:
Colons need a complete sentence before them, and the information after can be a list, explanation, or detail that expands on the previous statement.
Semicolons separate two complete sentences or can be used in complex lists.
Commas cannot separate two complete sentences unless followed by a conjunction like "and" or "but." Additionally, commas should be used consistently to separate non-essential information.
For example, if you see a semicolon already in a sentence, it's likely separating items in a list. In such cases, follow the existing pattern.
Tip 6: Recognize Modifiers
Modifiers introduce the subject of the sentence and are followed by a comma. The subject should immediately follow the introductory phrase. For example, "As the country with the most mega cities in the world, China..." Here, "China" should follow the comma as it matches the introductory modifier.
These tips are designed to help students and parents alike understand and tackle the SAT grammar section more effectively. For those looking for more structured preparation, I highly recommend our Self-Paced Digital SAT English Course. This course offer exclusive videos, materials, and comprehensive strategies to ensure success on the SAT.
Happy prepping!
