Core grammar and usage rules tested on the SAT Writing and Language section.
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- When a compound subject has 'and' between parts, is the verb singular or plural?
- Plural. Example: The cat and dog are playing.
- When a compound subject has 'or' or 'nor', what determines the verb form?
- The verb agrees with the nearest subject. Example: Either the teacher or the students are wrong.
- Do collective nouns (team, group, family) take singular or plural verbs?
- Singular if the group acts as one unit. Example: The team is winning.
- What is the rule for indefinite pronouns like 'everyone', 'someone', 'nobody'?
- They take singular verbs. Example: Everyone is ready.
- What is wrong with this sentence: 'The book that I read about are interesting'?
- Subject-verb disagreement. 'Book' is singular, so the verb should be 'is'.
- A pronoun should agree with its antecedent in what ways?
- In person, number, and gender. Example: The girl lost her book, not his.
- What is the error in: 'Each student must submit their homework'?
- Disagreement in number. 'Each' is singular, so use 'his or her' or restructure.
- Is 'which' or 'that' used in a restrictive (essential) clause?
- 'That' is used in restrictive clauses. Example: The house that I like is for sale.
- When should you use a semicolon instead of a comma?
- To join two independent clauses. Example: I love coffee; it energizes me.
- Can you join two independent clauses with just a comma?
- No, this creates a comma splice. Use a semicolon, period, or coordinating conjunction.
- What is a run-on sentence and how do you fix it?
- Two independent clauses joined incorrectly. Fix with a period, semicolon, or conjunction.
- When do you use an apostrophe in a word like 'its' vs 'it's'?
- 'Its' is possessive (no apostrophe); 'it's' means 'it is' (with apostrophe).
- What is the rule for using commas with introductory phrases?
- Use a comma after an introductory phrase. Example: After the game, we went home.
- Do you use a comma before a coordinating conjunction in a compound sentence?
- Yes, always. Example: I wanted to go, but it was raining.
- What is parallel structure and why does it matter?
- Items in a series or comparison must have the same grammatical form.