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SAT Reading and Writing Unit 4: Standard English conventions

These questions test grammar and punctuation in context: complete sentences, comma and semicolon use, agreement and verb forms.

Covers: Boundaries (sentences, clauses, punctuation), form, structure and sense (agreement, verb tense, pronouns, modifiers)

Study guide

Standard English Conventions questions test grammar, usage and punctuation, and they have one correct answer by the rules. Boundaries questions are about joining and separating clauses. An independent clause can stand alone as a sentence. Two independent clauses can be joined with a period, a semicolon, or a comma plus a coordinating conjunction (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so). A comma alone between them is a comma splice, and nothing at all is a run-on. A colon follows a complete clause to introduce a list, explanation or example. Dashes can set off an interruption, used in pairs like commas.

Commas have specific jobs: after introductory phrases, between items in a list, before a coordinating conjunction joining clauses, and around nonessential information (extra details that can be removed without changing the meaning). Essential information that identifies which one gets no commas. Never put a single comma between a subject and its verb, or between a verb and its object.

Form, structure and sense questions test agreement and clarity. Verbs must agree with their subjects; ignore prepositional phrases between them ("The results of the study show"). Verb tense should be consistent with the passage's timeline. Pronouns must agree with their antecedents in number (its for singular nouns, their for plural) and be clear about what they refer to. Possessives use apostrophes (the scientist's notes, the scientists' notes), while its, their and whose have none. Modifiers must sit next to the word they describe, so a sentence beginning "Walking to school," must be followed by the person who walked.

Every grammar question uses the same stem, 'Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?', so read the answer choices first to see which rule is being tested: punctuation differences point to Boundaries, and different verb or noun forms point to Form, Structure and Sense. The most common rules are joining or separating complete sentences, matching paired commas or dashes around extra information, using no punctuation between a subject and its verb, finite versus nonfinite verbs, subject-verb agreement and modifier placement.

Every sentence needs at least one finite verb, a verb that shows tense and agrees with a subject, such as "reveals" or "revealed." Forms like "revealing," "to reveal" and "having revealed" can't be a sentence's main verb on their own. They are used in modifying phrases. Don't put a comma between a descriptive title and the name it identifies when the title is essential, as in "the biologist Rachel Carson" or "the novel Beloved." Use commas only when the name is extra information about a unique noun: "her first novel, Beloved."

A direct question ends with a question mark ("What causes the tides?"). An indirect question is reported inside a statement ("Scientists asked what causes the tides."), so it ends with a period and keeps statement word order. After a modal verb (can, could, may, might, must, should, will, would), use the plain base form of the main verb: "might explain," not "might explains" or "might explained."

A participial phrase that adds information to the end of a complete clause is usually set off with a comma: "The river flooded the valley, destroying several farms." Leaving out the comma makes the phrase seem to describe the nearest noun.

Key ideas

• Find the subject and verb first; make sure each sentence is complete.
• Two independent clauses need a period, semicolon, or comma + FANBOYS.
• Don't put a comma between a subject and its verb.
• Verbs and pronouns must agree with their subjects and antecedents.
• Possessives: its/their (no apostrophe); plural possessive: students'.

Formulas and rules

Common mistakes

• Choosing a comma between two complete sentences.
• Matching a verb to the nearest noun instead of the real subject.

Words to know

Independent clause

A complete sentence; join two with a period, semicolon, or comma + FANBOYS.

Subject–verb comma rule

Never put a single comma between a subject and its verb.

Subject–verb agreement

The verb matches its subject, not a nearby noun: The results of the study show.

its (possessive)

Belonging to it; no apostrophe.

Colon rule

Use it after a complete clause.

Comma splice

Two independent clauses joined by only a comma.

Run-on sentence

Two independent clauses joined with no punctuation.

FANBOYS

For, and, nor, but, or, yet, so.

Semicolon rule

Joins two independent clauses without a conjunction.

Nonessential element

Extra information set off by commas (or dashes) on both sides.

Pronoun-antecedent agreement

its for singular nouns, their for plural.

Verb tense consistency

Match the passage's timeline.

Dangling modifier

An opening phrase not followed by the person or thing it describes.

Plural possessive

scientists' (apostrophe after the s).

Sample practice questions

102 more questions like these, from level 1 to 5, are in the practice set.