SAT Grammar Rules & Practice

1 Periods and Semicolons

Rule:

Use a semicolon to join two closely related independent clauses without a conjunction. Use a period to end an independent clause.

Key Points:

• Semicolons join independent clauses that share a close idea.
• Periods end an independent clause.
• Use a semicolon before conjunctive adverbs (however, therefore, etc.) but not before FANBOYS.
• Never join independent clauses with only a comma (comma splice).

2Colons and Dashes

Rule:

Colons and em dashes (—) introduce lists and explanations. They must follow a complete sentence.

Key Points:

• Em dashes (—) are used for emphasis, interruptions, or to set off non-essential information.
  Correct: "She had one goal—to win."
• En dashes (–) are used for ranges (e.g., pages 10–15) or connections (e.g., New York–London flight). The SAT typically focuses on em dashes.
• Never mix dashes with commas or parentheses for the same non-essential clause.
  Incorrect: "My brother—who lives abroad, is visiting." (Mixed dash and comma)

3FANBOYS (Coordinating Conjunctions)

Rule:

FANBOYS (For, And, Nor, But, Or, Yet, So) are coordinating conjunctions that join two independent clauses with a comma.

Key Points:

• Use a comma before FANBOYS when joining two independent clauses
• No comma needed when the second clause doesn't have a subject
• FANBOYS = For, And, Nor, But, Or, Yet, So

4 Dependent Clauses

Rule:

When a dependent clause begins a sentence, follow it with a comma. If it follows the main clause, omit the comma unless it adds non-restrictive information or clarifies meaning.

Key Points:

• Use a comma after an introductory clause.
• Omit the comma if the clause is essential (restrictive).
• Add the comma if the clause is non-restrictive or improves clarity.

5Transitions (Conjunctive Adverbs)

Rule:

Transitions like however, therefore, furthermore connect ideas and require specific punctuation.

Key Points:

• Use semicolon before and comma after when connecting sentences
• Common transitions: however, therefore, furthermore, nevertheless, consequently
• Choose transitions that match the logical relationship

6Non-Essential Information

Rule:

Non-essential information should be set off with matching punctuation: commas, dashes, or parentheses.

Key Points:

• Use two commas, two dashes, or two parentheses
• Never mix different types of punctuation
• The sentence should make sense without the non-essential information

7Essential vs. Non-Essential

Rule:

Essential information identifies which specific thing you're talking about. Non-essential information provides extra details.

Key Points:

• Essential information: no commas
• Non-essential information: use commas, dashes, or parentheses
• Ask: "Do I need this information to identify what I'm talking about?"

8Comma Rules

Rule:

Commas separate items in lists, coordinate adjectives, and set off introductory elements.

Key Points:

• Use commas to separate items in a series
• Use commas between coordinate adjectives
• Never separate subject and verb with a comma
• Use commas after introductory elements

9Apostrophes

Rule:

Apostrophes show possession and form contractions. Know the difference between its/it's, whose/who's, etc.

10Pronoun Agreement

Rule:

Pronouns must agree with their antecedents in number and gender. Use who/whom correctly.

Key Points:

• Singular antecedents take singular pronouns
• Use "who" for subjects, "whom" for objects
• Use "which" for things, "who" for people
• Collective nouns are usually singular

11 Collective Nouns

Rule:

Treat collective nouns (team, committee, family) as singular—unless the sentence emphasizes individual members, in which case use a plural verb.

Key Points:

• Standard: The team is winning.
• Emphasizing members: The team are arguing among themselves.

12Parallel Structure

Rule:

Items in a series should be in the same grammatical form (all nouns, all verbs, all phrases, etc.).

Key Points:

• Keep the same grammatical form in lists
• All gerunds, all infinitives, or all base verbs
• All nouns, all adjectives, or all phrases
• Maintain consistency throughout the series

13Dangling Modifiers

Rule:

Modifying phrases must clearly refer to the subject that immediately follows them.

Key Points:

• The subject after the comma must be doing the action in the modifier
• Common problem: modifier seems to refer to the wrong noun
• Fix by making the correct subject follow the modifier

14Idioms

Rule:

Certain words require specific prepositions. These combinations must be memorized.

Key Points:

• Good at, responsible for, different from, capable of
• Talent for, interested in, worried about
• These combinations are fixed and must be memorized
• Context doesn't change the required preposition

15 Reported Speech

Rule:

In indirect (reported) speech, backshift present- and future-tense verbs: “will” → “would,” “can” → “could,” “have” → “had.” Keep the past perfect for actions completed before another past action.

Key Points:

• “will” → “would”
• “can” → “could”
• “have” → “had”
• Use past perfect for earlier actions (had finished)

16Adjectives vs. Adverbs

Rule:

Use adjectives to modify nouns and after linking verbs. Use adverbs to modify verbs, adjectives, and other adverbs.

Key Points:

• Adjectives modify nouns and follow linking verbs
• Adverbs modify verbs, adjectives, and other adverbs
• Linking verbs: be, seem, appear, taste, feel, sound, look
• Good/well, bad/badly are commonly confused