SAT Writing Grammar Errors: Part 2

Grammar Errors: Part 2

• NounAgreement
• Nouns must agree in number when they are connected with other nouns by a linking verb.
• This is a likely error when a noun is underlined and/or a profession is mentioned.
• Comparatives vs. Superlatives
• Comparatives are the –er form of an adjective or the form with moreadded to it. They compare only twothings.
• Superlatives are the –est form of an adjective or the form with mostadded to it. They are used only to compare three or morethings.
• Relative Pronouns
• Who is for people. Which is for non-people.
• You will not be tested on who vs. whom. If whom is underlined, ignore it.
• Which takes a comma before it. It is used to set off a non-essential clause.
• That does not take a comma. It’s used to set off an essential clause.
• Where is for places; for events, use which.
• When is for time periods. Don’t use where, although in which is acceptable.
• Double Negatives / Double Positives
• Don’t double up negative words such as no with other negative words such as scarcely and hardly.
• Don’t use more or most with the comparative or superlative form of an adjective.
• Conjunctions
• Continuers such as and, in addition, furthermore, and moreover indicate that a sentence is continuing in the same direction.
• Contradictors such as but, yet, and however indicate that the sentence is changing direction.
• Cause-and-effect conjunctions such as so, for, therefore, and since indicate that an action or occurrence is causing a particular result.
• Only one conjunction is usually necessary to connect two clauses. The SAT will occasionally make a sentence incorrect by adding an unnecessary conjunction.
• Redundancy
• The SAT occasionally includes redundant phrases in sentences. Watch out for them.
• ForExtra Grammar Help
• See Erica Meltzer’s The Ultimate Guide to SAT Grammar
• Watch our English Grammar course.
• Essays not written on the essay assignment will receive a score of zero.
• Recommended supplementary material to view SAT questions featured in lesson answer guides: The Official SAT Study Guide by the College Board.