5 Key Grammar Rules for the SAT Writing

Preparing for the Digital SAT could be a piece of cake with the right guidelines and knowledge. 10-15 questions are from the punctuation and grammar side. Stop thinking you could mark what ‘sounds right’ and it will turn out so. English grammar rules for the SAT have been modified. Hence cracking the SAT writing section and studying abroad, particularly in the United States sounds like a far-fetched dream. Get one step closer to achieving the best results. Develop an understanding of 5 key grammar rules for SAT writing to build confidence for exam day

Subject-Verb Agreement

The subject is the doer of an action. Verbs count as an action. Remember that verbs with an S are singular and without an S are plural. Let’s take an example.

Example:

1. Sarah and I work together.

Here Sarah and I are the subject, which is plural. Hence work without s is used, which is plural. When we’re dealing with a singular subject, the verb must be singular.

2. Sarah works here.

Sarah is a singular subject, hence “S” indicates the singularity of the verb.

3. The girl with the green eyes studies in my class.

Here the girl is a singular subject and studies a singular verb. Green eyes are complicating the sentence propelling you to consider it plural, but don’t be tricked, it’s not the subject.

Collective Nouns are Singular

Often subject-verb agreement is complicated by the use of collective nouns. Remember to use singular verbs with a collective noun.

Example:

• Incorrect: The jury are charging Sarah guilty.
• Correct: The jury is taking Sarah guilty.

Team, group, committee, and squads are collective nouns.

Prepositional Phrases Are Distractions

When you’re looking for subject-verb agreement, try to look for head nouns, rather than prepositional phrases. Prepositional phrases are relationships of head nouns providing additional information.

• Incorrect: The class with 5 toppers are extremely genius.
• Correct: The class with 5 toppers is extremely genius.

Modifiers/modifying Phrases Should Be Side-by-side

The SAT writing section is filled with scattered modifiers. Misplaced modifiers create ambiguity and confusion. Modifiers are words that provide additional information. Hence they must be placed next to modifying sentences.

• Incorrect: Sarah welcomed everyone warmly at the party after her arrival
• Correct: After her arrival, Sarah welcomed everyone warmly at the party.

Circle the modifier and draw an arrow close to the word that has been modified to make your answer absolutely clear.

Difference Between Possessive Pronouns And Contractions:

Contractions shrink the phrase by combining two words. It’s (it is/it has) (they’re/they are). Possessive pronouns show belongings or ownership. (its) (their). Keeping in mind that apostrophes are for contractions will help you with it’s/its target score on the SAT Writing and Language Test.

• Example: The butterfly can’t see its wings
• Explanation: The pronoun it is singular for butterfly. ‘Its’ is a possessive pronoun that shows belonging.

• Example: It’s a beautiful day.
• Explanation: A day is singular, whereas ‘it’s’ shows contractions with an apostrophe.