SAT Grammar Strategies Overview

Overview

This lecture covers the top 10 time-saving grammar strategies for SAT English, focusing on rules and shortcuts to answer questions quickly and accurately.

Elimination and Punctuation Strategies

• Eliminate two answer choices if they use the same punctuation and function identically (e.g., period and semicolon).
• If only one answer option properly separates two complete sentences, choose it; periods, semicolons, colons work, commas do not.
• A semicolon can both separate two sentences and, when items in a list contain commas, separate list items.
• If you see a unique punctuation mark (like a dash or semicolon in a list), pick it, as it is likely correct.
• For dash questions, the SAT often uses two dashes to set off non-essential clauses—choose the dash.

Comma and Description Placement

• When a descriptive phrase precedes a specific name (e.g., "the chemical compound aluminum oxide"), do not use commas.
• Read sentences aloud to detect natural pauses that require commas.

Apostrophes and Possessives

• For possessive apostrophe questions, use "majority rules" to eliminate clearly incorrect choices, then check if singular/plural possessive is needed.
• Apostrophe before 's' = singular possessive; after 's' = plural possessive.

Verbs and Subject-Verb Agreement

• For verb questions, use the pronoun trick ("he" for singular, "they" for plural) to quickly identify correct subject-verb agreement.
• The subject must match the lead-in and be placed immediately after the introductory phrase.

Special Question Types

• On questions around #20 or #21 on Module 2, choose the "-ing" verb form to set off non-essential clauses.
• For lead-in questions, ensure the first word after the comma is a valid subject that matches the introductory phrase.
• For hybrid transition-punctuation questions:
  1. Identify what punctuation is needed by checking if both sides are complete sentences.
  2. Place the transition word in the sentence where it creates the needed contrast or connection.
  3. Never select a transition word answer with no punctuation immediately after.

Key Terms & Definitions

• Fanboys — Coordinating conjunctions: for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so.
• Lead-in — An introductory phrase leading into a sentence’s subject.
• Non-essential Clause — Extra information in a sentence, usually set off by commas, dashes, or parentheses.
• Subject-Verb Agreement — Verbs must match their subjects in number (singular/plural).

Action Items / Next Steps

• Download and review the linked workbook for additional strategies.
• Practice identifying and applying these grammar shortcuts to SAT practice questions.
• Review definitions and examples of possessives, punctuation rules, and subject-verb agreement.