GRAMMAR & IDENTIFYING SENTENCE ERRORS SAT Writing Section:

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GRAMMAR & IDENTIFYING SENTENCE ERRORS

SAT Writing Section:

Writing Section: MC

Multiple Choice question types1. Identifying Sentence Errors

2. Improving Sentences

3. Improving Paragraphs

Identifying Sentence Errors

Covers 4 main areas of written English1. Basic Grammar

2. Sentence Structure

3. Idiomatic Expressions

4. Choice of words (diction)

Strategies for Identifying Sentence Errors

Examine the underlined choices A to D• Consider which kind of correction may be

needed for each one

If you can’t identify the error, eliminate the choices that don’t contain errors. • Choose from the remaining answer

choices

Sentence Error Grammar Tips

Identify the subject and action in the sentence (sometimes they are separated)

• Match underlined verbs with their subject• Draw parenthesis around prepositional

phrases & modifiers b/w subj. & verb

Only the conjunction “and” can form a plural verb

Prepositions usually tell “where”• Above, over, under, in, at, on, of, to

Word pairs neither…nor and either…or take singular verbs, if each side of the pair is singular• If one noun is plural & the other singular,

the verb should agree with the closest noun

Find the antecedent of each pronoun• Antecedent: the noun that the pronoun replaced• There is an error if there is no antecedent or if it

could refer to more than one thing or person• Be wary of vague subject references (its, their, they,

and those). Something’s missing if you can’t tell what the pronoun refers to

To check the tense of a sentence, look for context clues (dates, times) or verbs that aren’t underlined

Example of Error ID

In 1965, Betty Friedan's publication of The Feminine AMystique has marked a turning point that resulted in B Cimproved labor rights and working conditions for Dwomen. No error E

A. B. C. D. E.

Who and Whom• Who: the subject of the pronoun• Whom: the object of the pronoun

Be cautious when you see “they” underlined

Read aloud to find idiomatic errors• Idiom: a wide range of commonly

accepted combinations of words

Question Of the Day

I agree thatA a knowledge of Latin is helpful to buildB a good English vocabulary, butC I do not think I have the capacity toD study the subject at the moment. No errorE.

A. B. C. D. E.

“I” verbs vs. “No I” verbs• “I” verbs have no object• No “I” verbs are action verbs with objects• Sit vs. set• Lie vs. lay• Rise vs. raise

Comparatives vs. Superlatives • -er compares 2 things and has 2

letters• -est compares 3 or more things and

has 3 letters• Identify what’s being compared by

underlining

Pay attention to the nouns in each sentence to help with number agreement• Underline, circle, star your nouns

Common Errors

1. When the subject follows the verb

Example:

Every night talks Anna on the phone.

Common Errors

2. When the subject and verb are separated

Example

A speaker from Family Services are giving a presentation next week.

Common Errors

3. When the subject seems plural but isn’t

Example

Each of the girls sing well.

http://www.grammarbook.com/grammar/subjectVerbAgree.asp

Common Errors

4. Wrong tenses

Example

If I have known the truth I wouldn’t be in this situation.

Common Errors

5. Incorrect use of past participles

Example

My friends had spoke with me about the subject.

Common Errors

6. Pronoun in the Wrong number

Example

The student forgot that they had a test.

Common Errors

7. Wrong Pronoun Case (subject vs. object)

Example

Mary gave the flowers to Kelly and I.

Common Errors

8. Pronoun Shift

Example

One must put forth effort if you want to get a good grade.

If you eat sensibly and watch your caloric intake, most people should be able to maintain their desired weight.

Common Errors

9. Pronoun with Ambiguous Reference

Example

Ethel told Lucy that her pie was wonderful.

(Whose pie? Ethel’s or Lucy’s)

Common Errors

10.Confusion of Infinitive and Gerund

Example

Mary keeps to talk about her problems.

Mary needs talking about her problems

Infinitives vs. Gerunds

List of verbs which are followed by a Gerund

http://www.englishpage.com/gerunds/gerund_list.htm

List of verbs which are followed by an Infinitive

http://www.englishpage.com/gerunds/infinitive_list.htm

Quirk Of the Day

Common Errors

11.Wrong preposition after verb agree on

No one could agree on anything. explain... to

It is difficult to explain a problem to people who don’t care. decide between

I cannot decide between the two. plan on

Why don’t you plan on staying at our place? refer to

If you are referring to me, you should say so. remind . . . of

You remind me of a bear. worry about

Mothers always worry about their children, and so do fathers.

Common Errors

11.Wrong preposition after verb

Comprehensive list found on this link

http://www.myenglishgrammar.com/list-18-prepositions/3-prepositions-after-verbs.html

Common Errors

12.Wrong word in context ACCEPT = aceptar EXCEPT = excepto

AFFECT = afectar EFFECT= efecto

CAN = to be able MAY = to be permitted/allowed or possiblity

CHOSE = past tense CHOOSE = present tense

CLOTHS = telas, trapos CLOTHES = ropas

COMPLEMENT = complementar, complemento

COMPLIMENT = cumplido, felicitar

CURRENTLY = right now PRESENTLY = immediate future/soon

FEWER = mass nouns LESS = count nouns

Common Errors

12.Wrong word in context ITS = belonging to it IT'S = contraction of it + is

MUCH= mass nouns MANY= count nouns

THAN = conjunction for comparisons THEN = time (adj or

THEIR = possessive THERE = location

THEY'RE= contraction they + are

FARTHER = physical distance

FURTHER = metaphorical/figurative distance

GOOD = adjective WELL = adverb

Common Errors

13.Faulty comparison

A faulty comparison is one that is not logical. Items that are compared must in fact be similar.

INCORRECT: I like Bruce Springsteen's songs more than Madonna.

CORRECT: I like Bruce Springsteen's songs more than Madonna's songs.

INCORRECT : The weather in Canada is colder than Mexico.

CORRECT : The weather in Canada is colder than the weather in Mexico.

Common Errors

14.Misuse of adjective or adverbAdjectives only modify nouns and pronouns.

Adverbs modify verbs, adjectives, and other adverbs.

Never use a double superlative (-est) or comparative (-er).

Example:

That was the most stupidest book that I've ever read.

My glass was more fuller than his.

Common Errors

14.Misuse of adjective or adverbAdjectives usually come before the nouns and pronouns that they modify, but they may also follow them, and they answer many questions:

What kind? Which one? How many? What color? What size?

Adverbs modify verbs, adjectives, and other adverbs. They also answer many questions:

When? Where? How? How often? How much? To what degree? Why?

Good is an adjective. It is never an adverb. One cannot play good.

Well is an adverb. It is never an adjective. One does play well.

Common Errors

15.Double negativeIn formal written English, you should never use two negative expressions to express a single negation. To correct a double negative, simply delete one of the negatives and add any other necessary words.

Examples:

Jeff did not do no lab report.

Jeff thought the instructor would not say nothing to him about it.

scarcely, hardly, and barely are negatives, do not combine them with NO or NOT

1. When the subject follows the verb

2. When the subject and verb are separated

3. When the subject seems plural but isn’t

4. Wrong tenses

5. Incorrect use of past participles

6. Pronoun in the Wrong number

7. Wrong Pronoun Case (subject vs. object)

8. Pronoun Shift

9. Pronoun with Ambiguous Reference

10.Confusion of Infinitive and Gerund

11.Wrong preposition after verb

12.Wrong word in context

13.Faulty comparison

14.Misuse of adjective or adverb

15.Double negative

Practice Time

1. 1. Determination ofA the long-term effects ofB aerosols on the upper atmosphere isC currently one of the more challengingD problems in climate research. No errorE.

Practice Time

2. The mostA important skill I had learnedB in my two years ofC senior high school was toD direct the course of my own studies. No errorE.

Practice Time

3. I have nearA written all the new tests forB inclusion in the revised edition of my book, and hope to finishC the work withinD a week. No errorE.

Practice Time

4. Neither of the answers provided in the memorandumA addressB my concerns aboutCthe validity ofD the procedure. No errorE.

Practice Time

55. . Katz claimed that reading classic novels isA more illuminatingB than to readC autobiographies written byD their authors. No errorE.

Practice Time

66. Suzanne recountedA her improbableB tale withC enthusiasm and in a convincing mannerD. No errorE.

Practice Time

7. The students have beenA practicing for the concert sinceB three weeks, andC in that time haveD improved considerably. No errorE.

Practice Time

88. If you were willingA to ask for directions, instead of doggedlyB driving on, we might get to ourC destination soonerD. No errorE.

Practice Time

9. Critics acclaim thatA the soundtrack of Hugo is much more B memorable thanC the movie DjangoD. No ErrorE

Practice Time

10. No president neverA gives a speech toB the general public without the consentC of congress orD the senate. No errorE.

Practice Time

11. If Sharon had spokeA with herB sister before the election there wouldC have been noD problem. No errorE.

Practice Time

12. If you wereA to study the anatomy of the body oneB would find that thereC are manyD organs. No errorE.

Practice Time

13. The professor becameA exasperated when he hadB to explain forC the students the theory ofD relativity. No errorE.

Practice Time

14. Congress, afterA prolonged deliberation, haveB decided notC to engage in furtherD debate over healthcare. No errorE.

Practice Time

15. It would have beenA better if herB and I kept talkingC to the teacher because of ourD knowledge of the material. No errorE.

ANSWERS!

Practice Time

1. 1. Determination ofA the long-term effects ofB aerosols on the upper atmosphere isC currently one of the more challengingD problems in climate research. No errorE.

D – More implies there are only two problems, in which case the “one” would be unnecessary

Comparatives vs. superlatives

Practice Time

2. The mostA important skill I had learnedB in my two years ofC senior high school was toD direct the course of my own studies. No errorE.

B – past perfect needs changes to past

Wrong tenses

Practice Time

3. I have nearA written all the new tests forB inclusion in the revised edition of my book, and hope to finishC the work withinD a week. No errorE.

A – Nearly, adverb that modifies written.

Adverb

Misuse of adjective or adverb

My favorite color is purple.

Also, I like unicorns!

Shine bright like a Diamond!

-Ms. Amanda

Practice Time

4. Neither of the answers provided in the memorandumA addressB my concerns aboutCthe validity ofD the procedure. No errorE.

B – Neither is singular and requires a singular verb, so use addresses.

When the subject seems plural but isn’t

Practice Time

55. . Katz claimed that reading classic novels isA more illuminatingB than to readC

autobiographies written byD their authors. No errorE.

C – To make the sentence construction parallel, change to read to reading.

List Parallelism

Practice Time

66. Suzanne recountedA her improbableB tale withC enthusiasm and in a convincing mannerD. No errorE.

D – Two items linked by and need to be parallel. Change “in a convincing manner” to “conviction”.

List Parallelism

Practice Time

7. The students have beenA practicing for the concert sinceB three weeks, andC in that time haveD improved considerably. No errorE.

B – “Since” is used to refer to a definite point in time, not a duration. Change since to for.

Wrong word in context

Practice Time

8. If you were willingA to ask for directions, instead of doggedlyB driving on, we might get to ourC destination soonerD. No errorE.

E – no error

Practice Time

9. Critics acclaim thatA the soundtrack of Hugo is much more B memorable thanC the movie DjangoD. No ErrorE

D – Compare like items, soundtrack to a soundtrack, not to a movie

Faulty comparison

Practice Time

10. No president neverA gives a speech toB the general public without the consentC of congress orD the senate. No errorE.

A – should be ever

Double negative

Practice Time

11. If Sharon had spokeA with herB sister before the election there wouldC have been noD problem. No errorE.

A – should be “spoken”

Incorrect use of past participles

Practice Time

12. If you wereA to study the anatomy of the body oneB would find that thereC are manyD organs. No errorE.

B – one should be “you”

Pronoun Shift

Practice Time

13. The professor becameA exasperated when he hadB to explain forC the students the theory ofD relativity. No errorE.

C – for should be “to”

Wrong preposition after verb

Practice Time

14. Congress, afterA prolonged deliberation, haveB decided notC to engage in furtherD debate over healthcare. No errorE.

B – have should be “has”

When the subject and verb are separated

Practice Time

15. It would have beenA better if herB and I kept talkingC to the teacher because of ourD knowledge of the material. No errorE.

B – her should be “she” because they are the subject

Wrong Pronoun Case (subject vs. object)

Done!!!!

For now.

IMPROVING SENTENCESSAT Writing Section:

Improving Sentences

Tests your ability to recognize and write clear, effective and accurate sentences

Errors generally involve the structure of the whole sentence

Improving Sentences

Strategies1. Read the sentence carefully, and listen for an

2. Identify the error or errors

3. Eliminate the choices that don’t address the error, and choose the most correct, concise, and relevant answer

When choosing b/w 2 choices, look at the shortest answer choice 1st (short is usually better)

4. Read the revised sentence

Improving Sentences Grammar Tips

An independent clause has a subject and a complete verb and can stand alone

A dependent (subordinate) clause has a subject and a complete verb but needs an independent clause to become a sentence

To combine 2 independent clauses

1. Insert a semicolon

2. Make one clause dependent

3. Use a (FANBOYS) conjunction: For, And, Nor, But, Or, Yet, So

When you see a long sentence with just a comma in the middle, suspect a run-on sentence• Look at the answer choices to see the chosen

Sentences with 2+ similar elements must be worded similarly• Lists, series, comparisons, connective pairs• Take the 1st item in a list & compare it to the

others

Match the modifier with the noun they modify• Modifier must be positioned so it is clear

which word is being modified• If the sentence starts with a gerund (-ing

verb), you could have a misplaced modifier

Use parallel structure with connective phrases such as neither…nor

Determine the relationship b/w the 2 sentence’s clauses• Conjunctions connect 2 independent

clauses (FANBOYS) There must be a logical relation b/w the

clauses to use conjunctions Take out the conjunction to see what the

relationship is b/w the clauses

2+ dependent (subordinate) clauses• Connective words that indicate a dependent

clause Since, because, so that, if

• If a dependent clause begins a sentence, an independent clause must follow somewhere in the sentence

A sentence that uses more words than necessary doesn’t have any grammatical errors but a style error: wordiness

Improving Sentences Common Errors

1. Run-On Sentences

2. Sentence Fragments

3. Misplaced Modifiers

4. Faulty Parallelism

5. Faulty Transitions in Clauses and Phrases

6. Wordiness

Practice

Let’s take a look at the Improving Sentences Guide & Practice

Review the errors Practice

Weekly Vocabulary Quiz

Take Week 3 Vocabulary Quiz by going to the web20.org website

This Week’s Assignments

1. Download and print “8 Week SAT Prep Plan”

• Complete the 4th Week’s assignments by next session

2. Download and print “SAT Word List 4”3. Study for vocabulary quiz

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