SAT GRAMMAR

Types of Questions Improving Sentences Identifying Sentence Error Improving Paragraphs

Skills and Strategy Grammar is a game of matching Questions in each “question type” section get harder as they go along Find the answer yourself first before you read the answers Know your skip strategy

Parts of Speech Noun - is a person, place or, thing. Answers the question: who or what? Verb - is an action, state of occurrence, or a state of being Adjective - is a descriptive word used for a noun Adverb - is a descriptive word used for a verb Preposition - is a word which shows relationships among other words in the sentence Conjunction - is a joiner, a word that connects (conjoins) parts of a sentence Coordinating, Subordinating, Conjunctive Adverb Gerund - is a noun formed by taking a verb and adding the suffix “-ing.” Participle - is a a word formed from a verb (e.g., going, gone, being, been ) and used as an adjective (e.g., working woman, burned toast ) or a noun (e.g., good breeding )

Parts of a Sentence Subject Versus Object Mike hit the baseball. Subject = performs the action Object = receives the action; answers the question to what or to whom? Mike hit the baseball. The baseball was hit by Mike.

Active and Passive Voice In a sentence using active voice, the subject of the sentence performs the action expressed in the verb. Subject > Verb > Object 1) The dog jumped onto the boy. The dog (subject) is doing the jumping (verb) onto the boy (object). 2) Kristy will give a book report to the class. Kristy (subject) is doing the giving (verb) to the class (object). 3) The computer ate my paper. The computer (subject) is doing the eating (verb)of the paper (object).

Active and Passive Voice In a sentence using passive voice, the subject is acted upon; he or she receives the action expressed by the verb. The subject becomes the passive recipient of the action. Object > Verb > “by” > Subject 1) A book report will be given by Kristy to the class. Report (object) will be given (verb) by Kristy (subject). 2) My paper was eaten by the computer. Paper (object) was being eaten (verb) by the computer (subject).

Questions on Passive and Active Voice Key Note: The SAT does not like Passive Voice. It wants you to change it to Active Voice. Passive voice is usually only tested in Improve the Sentence questions. Example: 1.The letter is written by Sir Andrew and Sir Toby as a trick to make a fool of Malvin. (A) The letter is written by Sir Andrew and Sir Toby
 (B)  Sir Andrew and Sir Toby write the letter (C)  The letter, which is written by Sir Andrew and Sir Toby,
 (D)  The letter having been written by Sir Andrew and Sir Toby
 (E)  Sir Andrew and Sir Toby are the authors of the letter used

Dangling Modifiers -A modifier does exactly what it sounds like: it changes, alters, limits, or adds more info to something else in the sentence. A modifier is considered dangling when the sentence isn't clear about what is being modified. For example, "The big" doesn't make sense without telling what is big which leaves "big" as a dangling modifier; but, "the big dog" is a complete phrase. Example: After reading the great new book, the movie based on it is sure to be exciting Problem: We are left wondering exactly who read the great new book. The phrase can't possibly be modifying the movie, since the movie can't read. Correction: A subject must be added so the modifier has something to describe, change or limit. After reading the great new book, Anna thought the movie based on it was sure to be exciting.

Subject-Verb Agreement When the subject of a sentence is composed of two or more nouns or pronouns connected by and, use a plural verb. She and her friends are at the fair. When two or more singular nouns or pronouns are connected by or or nor, use a singular verb. The book or the pen is in the drawer. 3. When a compound subject contains both a singular and a plural noun or pronoun joined by or or nor, the verb should agree with the part of the subject that is nearer the verb. The boy or his friends run every day. His friends or the boy runs every day.

Parallelism Parallel structure means using the same pattern of words to show that two or more ideas have the same level of importance. This can happen at the word, phrase, or clause level. The usual way to join parallel structures is with the use of coordinating conjunctions such as "and" or "or.” With the -ing form of words: Parallel: Mary likes hiking, swimming, and bicycling.With Infinitive phrases: Parallel: Mary likes to hike, to swim, and to ride a bicycle. OR Mary likes to hike, swim, and ride a bicycle.

However and Whereas Use 'however' (followed by a comma) at the beginning of a sentence to contrast with the previous sentence: Ex) Some people believe that schools are responsible for the behavior of their students. However, others argue that discipline is the responsibility of parents. Use 'whereas' (after a comma) to contrast two ideas in the same sentence: Ex) Some people believe that schools are responsible for the behavior of their students, whereas others argue that discipline is the responsibility of parents. You can use 'on the other hand' or 'by contrast' in the same way as 'however'. You can use 'while' instead of 'whereas'.