The Dirty Dozen of the SAT

The Dirty Dozen of the SATSAT/Keystone Exam PreparationWhat is the Dirty Dozen?Twelve language skills and/or errors commonly tested on the SAT exam.

Which Skills are Included?The Run-on SentenceThe Sentence FragmentError in the Case of a Noun or PronounSubject / Verb AgreementPronoun / Antecedent AgreementVerb TenseSubjunctive MoodAdjective Comparison (best vs. better)Adjective / Adverb ConfusionDangling ModifiersParallel StructureDiction (word choice) Error (affect vs. effect)Why do we study these?(besides the fact that our brain thirsts for knowledge, Mr. Stadnycki)Introduction to some complex grammatical issues well discuss later

Awareness of possible testing questions

Repeated exposure is bestSet OneThe Run On SentenceThe Sentence FragmentParallel StructureReviewing Independent Clausesand coordinating conjunctions (FANBOYS)Review: Whats an independent clause?A series of words that contains a subject and a verb.

It must also exist as a complete thought.

I went to the grocery store.

I bought candy corn.

Linking Independent ClausesI went to the grocery store.

I bought candy corn.

I went to the grocery store, and I bought some candy corn.Related independent clauses can be linked by a comma and coordinating conjunction (FANBOYS)F.A.N.B.O.Y.S.Coordinating ConjunctionsFor

And

NorBut

Or

Yet

So (sometimes)Run-on SentencesRun-on SentencesExample 1:We went to see Prometheus in the theater I had some popcorn covered in delicious, greasy butter.

Problem:We have two independent clauses linked in one sentence with no evidence of where one ends and the next begins.

Example 1:We went to see Prometheus in the theater I had some popcorn covered in delicious, greasy butter.Run-on SentencesExample 2:The Avengers was a perfect mix of action and humor and we went back to see the movie again and again.

Problem:We have two independent clauses linked by a conjunction with no comma

Example 2:The Avengers was a perfect mix of action and humor and we went back to see the movie again and again.

Run-on SentencesExplanation:Run-ons are sentences that combine or fuse two independent thoughts together without necessary punctuation.

Why is this a problem?Run-on Sentences confuse readers because theyre often unclear.

Fixing Run-on SentencesRule 1:If the independent clauses are unrelated, place a period in between the independent clauses to create two sentences

We went to see Prometheus in the theater. I had some popcorn covered in delicious, greasy butter.

Fixing Run-on SentencesRule 2:If the independent clauses are related, use a comma and coordinating conjunction (FANBOYS) to link the two sentences together.

Example 2:The Avengers was a perfect mix of action and humor, and we went back to see the movie again and again.

Fixing Run-on SentencesRule 3:Semicolons are acceptable punctuation to join independent clauses. The semicolon means that both independent clauses are related.

However, comma and coordinating conjunction are a better form of connection because the semicolon is less clear about how the clauses are connected.

Example 2:The Avengers was a perfect mix of action and humor; we went back to see the movie again and again.

Sentence FragmentsSubject/Verb RelationshipsZach ran faster than a speeding bullet.

Eds funny jokes always make me laugh.

When Kiana went to the store, she forgot to buy milk.Sentence FragmentsExplanation:Fragments may be missing a subject/verb relationship. Some fragments might have a S/V relationship, but they dont form a complete thought.

Why are fragments a problem?Language is essentially built of things and the actions those things are doing.We need the thing, we need the action, and it must make sense.

Sentence FragmentsExamples:Ran faster than a speeding bulletEds funny jokes.When Kiana went to the store.

What is the problem with each of these examples above?

Examples:Ran faster than a speeding bulletEds funny jokes.When Kiana went to the store.

Fixing Sentence FragmentsExample #1:

Ran faster than a speeding bulletMissing a subject.Something/someone needs to be DOING the running.

Zach ran faster than a speeding bullet.Now, the subject is attached to a verb.Their relationship creates a complete thought.Fixing Sentence FragmentsExample #2:

Eds funny jokes.Missing a verb What are Ed and his sense of humor doing?

Eds funny jokes always make me laugh.Fixing Sentence FragmentsExamples #3:

When Kiana went to the store.We have a noun and a verb, so whats wrong?This isnt a complete thought.

Kiana went to the store.

When Kiana went to the store, she forgot to buy milk.Sentence Fragment FixesRule for Fix:

Add a subject / predicate

AND / OR

Complete the thought

Parallel StructureCorrect Parallel StructureExamples:Jon brought salty chips, crunchy crackers, and tasty dip.Nate always runs fast, jumps high, and slides low.Emily loves to write, to read, and to reflect.

General Rule:Rule: Express parallel ideas in the same grammatical form.

Coordinate Ideas - Type 1Rule Explanation:all of the items in a list (typically two or more) must be in the same grammatical format: either verb, verb, verb; noun, noun, noun; or gerund, gerund, gerund. No mixing and matching!

Correct Parallel StructureExamples:Jonbrought salty chips, crunchy crackers, and tasty dip. adj. n adj. n adj. n

Nate always runs fast, jumps high, and slides low. v adv. v adv. v adv.Emily loves to write, to read, and to reflect. inf. verb inf. verb inf. verb

Explanation:Items in this list are the same grammatical format.Incorrect Parallel StructureExamples:Jeremy brought salty chips, crunchy crackers, and ran home. adj. n adj. n v n

Nate always runs fast, jumps high, and to slide. v adv. v adv. inf. verb

Emily loves to write, to read, and hamburgers. inf. verb inf. verb nNon-List Parallel StructureComplication! Complication!

The SAT loves testing two-part parallel structure because it deals with entire phrases.

Most SAT prep books dont cover this error!

Non-List Parallel StructureIncorrect:

President Obama called forenforcement of tobacco regulations andinvestigating motivations for smoking.

President Obama called forenforcement of tobacco regulations andinvestigating motivations for smoking.President Obama called forEnforcement of tobacco regulations noun + prep + adj. + noun

Investigating motivations for smoking. gerund + noun + prep + noun

Issue:These sides must begin grammatically paralleled. They dont need to be entirely identical after that.

Think of this as balancing a mathematical equation.

President Obama called forEnforcement of tobacco regulations noun + prep + adj. + noun

Wrong:Investigating motivations for smoking. gerund + noun + prep + noun

Corrected:an investigation of motivations for smoking. noun + prep + noun + prep + noun

Corrected Parallel PhrasesPresident Obama called forenforcement of tobacco regulations andan investigation of motivations for smoking.

Example Phrases Question(October '06 test, section 10, #14)Acquaintances of Alex have commented that he is at once annoying because of his unpredictabilitybut his imagination is still a delight.

(A)but his imagination is still a delight(B) although he is delightfully imaginative(C) and he is delightful in his imagination too(D) while being imaginative and they are delighted(E) and delightful because of his imaginationExample Phrases Question(October '06 test, section 10, #14)Acquaintances of Alex have commented that he is at once annoying because of his unpredictabilitybut his imagination is still a delight.

(A)but his imagination is still a delight(B) although he is delightfully imaginative(C) and he is delightful in his imagination too(D) while being imaginative and they are delighted(E) and delightful because of his imagination

Steps for Solving:Break down which phrases seem to be paralleled (look for a signal word to tell you where the first begins).Look at the word directly past the signal word.Decide its part of speech and which answer best mirrors the beginning of that phrase.

Example Phrases Question(October '06 test, section 10, #14)Acquaintances of Alex have commented that he is at once annoying because of his unpredictabilitybut his imagination is still a delight.

(A)but his imagination is still a delight(B) although he is delightfully imaginative(C) and he is delightful in his imagination too(D) while being imaginative and they are delighted(E) and delightful because of his imagination Fixing Parallel Structure IssuesList-Style Fix:Change all items in the series (list) so that they are in grammatically identical structures.

Balancing Phrases Fix:Balance the beginning part of speech of each phrase.

Set TwoSubjunctive MoodSubject-Verb AgreementVerb Tense

Subjunctive MoodSubjunctive MoodExample:If I were going to Wawa, Id get a blue-raspberry Icee because they are the bomb-diggity.If I was going to Wawa, Id get a blue-raspberry Icee because they are the bomb-diggity.

Explanation:The subjunctive mood were is used in contrary-to-fact statements (after if or as though) and in statements expressing a wish.This is true because was implies past tense. Given that the subjunctive is a conditional statement (it may or may not happen), we cant use the past tense.

Rule to Fix:If wish, if, or as though is stated or implied, change was to were.Statements contrary to fact. (if, as though)Statements expressing a wish.Subjunctive ExamplesCorrect or incorrect?I wish that was true.Rule: This is a wish statement.Was he my counselor, Id have an easier time choosing a college.Rule: What word is implied here?If I were you , Id save the money.Rule: This is a contrary to fact statement. I am NOT you.She talked as though she was my mother.Why is this not correct?Were he taller, hed be a champion.What word is implied?Subject-Verb AgreementSubject-Verb AgreementExample:He runs to the store.They run to the store

Explanation:A verb agrees with its subject in number.Singular Subjects need Singular VerbsPlural Subjects need Plural verbs.

IMPORTANT: The number of a subject is not changed by a phrase following the subject (think prep phrase).

The sound of the violins are/is deafening. The sound of the violins is deafening.

How to Fix:Fix:Identify the subject. Decide plural or singular. Match with the correct plural or singular verb.

Lets practice

Singular PronounsThe following pronouns are always singular:

Example:Each (singular) of us is (singular) happy with the decision.

Helpful Tip:Think: Use one to help you remember that these pronouns are singular.Any(one)body.

Lets PracticeEach (one)Either (one)Neither (one)OneEveryoneEverybodyNo oneNobodyAnyoneAnybodySomeoneSomebodyPlural pronouns The following pronouns are always plural: SeveralFewBothMany

Several (plural) of us are (plural) going to the movies.A few (plural) of them jump (plural) into the pool.Both (plural) groups run (plural) well.Many (plural) of the dogs jump (plural) higher than the cats.Lets Practice

Singular/Plural Pronouns (Can be Both)The following pronouns can be singular OR plural, depending on the meaning of the sentence.

Acronym: SAAMNSomeAnyAllMostNone

These are plural if they refer to a plural word. They are singular if they refer to a singular word.

That reference word often appears in a prepositional phrase that follows the pronoun.S.A.A.M.N = Plural or SingularSome:Some (S or P) of the cargo (singular) was (singular) lost.Depends on the word cargoSome (S or P) of the books (plural) were (plural) damaged.Depends on the word books

Any:Has (Singular) any (S or P) of the paint (singular) been delivered? Depends on the word paint, which is singular.Have (Plural) any (S or P) of the guests (plural) arrived?Depends on the word guests, which is plural.Compound Subject RulesCompound Subjects joined by and take a plural verb.

Examples:

Oscar and she (comp. singular subjects) do (plural) the gardening.

His arm and his leg (comp. singular subjects) were (plural) broken.

Compound Subjects (Cont)Singular subjects joined by or or nor take a singular verb.

Examples

Neither rain nor snow (comp. singular subjects) stops (sing. verb) the delivery of mail.

Neither the record nor the tape (comp. singular subjects) works (sing. verb) very well.

Compound Subjects (Cont)When a singular subject and a plural subject are joined by or or nor, the verb agrees with the nearer subject.

Examples:Neither their brother (singular) nor the girls (plural) want (plural verb) to go to the pool. [girls want]

Either his assistants (plural) or the cook (singular) himself is (singular verb) at fault.[cookis]Verb TenseVerb TenseAll verbs have tenses.

Tense to the time of the action of the sentence or idea expressed in the sentence.Verb TenseThere are six major tenses:TenseMeaning of TenseForm of to usePresentIt happens regularly in the present, occurs now in the present timeusePastIt happened in the past, not continuing into the presentusedFutureIt is likely to happen in the futurewill usePresent PerfectThe action just endedhave usedPast PerfectThe action happened before another past action or before some time in the pasthad usedFuture PerfectIt will be completed before a designated time

will have usedVerb FormVerbs also have form, of which there are three:

NOTE: Progressive is sometimes called continuous.

TenseBasic Form(may add helping verb)Progressive Form(adds to be verb and/or helping verb)Emphatic Form(adds form of do)Continues to HappenProvides EmphasisPresentuseam using do usePastusedwas usingdid useFuturewill usewill be usingN/APresent Perfecthave usedhave been usingN/APast Perfecthad usedhad been usingN/AFuture Perfectwill have usedwill have been usingN/AProblemsJust as with subject-verb agreement, multiple verbs in the same sentence have to agree.They must agree in their tense.

So, multiple verbs must align in tense or be correct based on sentence context.ExamplesThe class officers canceled the party after I made all the arrangements for it.Debbie based her decision on the old proverb that honesty was the best policy.By the time I graduate, my sister will be practicing law for five years.Even though his innocence was previously proved, he was not released.If you had been here earlier, you met Maria.

ExamplesThe class officers canceled the party after I made all the arrangements for it.The class officers canceled the party after I had made all the arrangements for it.

Debbie based her decision on the old proverb that honesty was the best policy.Debbie based her decision on the old proverb that honesty is the best policy.

ExamplesBy the time I graduate, my sister will be practicing law for five years.By the time I graduate, my sister will have been practicing law for five years.

Even though his innocence was previously proved, he was not released.Even though his innocence was previously proved, he has not been released.

If you had been here earlier, you met Maria.If you had been here earlier, you would have met Maria.Set ThreeAdjective-Adverb ConfusionComparison of Adjectives (better/best)Dangling ModifiersAdjective/Adverb ConfusionComparison of AdjectivesDangling ModifiersExample:

Explanation:

Rule to Fix:Set FourNoun and Pronoun CasePronoun-Antecedent AgreementDiction (word choice) Error

Noun/Pronoun CaseNoun and Pronoun CaseExample:

Explanation:

Rule to Fix:Pronoun/Antecedent AgreementPronoun-Antecedent AgreementExample:

Explanation:

Rule to Fix:Diction(Super Bowl of Diction)