Hey guys, I'm brushing up on my SAT grammar, and it’s a bit overwhelming. Can anyone point out the top grammar rules I absolutely need to know to nail the writing and language section of the SAT?
Understanding your concern with the vast landscape of grammar rules, I'd suggest you focus on a few key areas that are frequently tested on the SAT.
Firstly, get comfortable with punctuation rules, especially the use of commas, semicolons, colons, and dashes. They often test these with nonessential clauses and lists. Additionally, mastery of subject-verb agreement is critical; ensure you can spot when plural nouns are mistakenly paired with singular verbs and vice versa. Pronoun agreement is another area to pay attention to; pronouns must agree in number and gender with the nouns they replace. Consistency in tense and voice throughout a passage is often assessed, too.
Another common element you might encounter is the proper use of modifiers, making sure they are placed next to the word they modify to avoid a misplaced or dangling modifier. Lastly, parallel structure in lists or comparisons is a must-know. For example, if a sentence starts a list with gerunds, all elements should be gerunds to maintain parallelism.
Working on these rules with practice tests will help reinforce your knowledge and give you confidence. There are resources like 'The College Panda’s SAT Writing: Advanced Guide and Workbook' which can provide you with targeted practice.
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