SAT The Game: How to Beat the House Writing Edition

The Basics

There are 2 corrected writing sections multiple choice sections and one essay (that will be discussed later in the book). For the multiple choice:

• 35 questions in 25 minutes

o Fixing Sentences (questions 1-11 on the first section)

o Error-Identification (questions 12-29 on the first section)

o Fixing Paragraphs (questions 30-35)

• 14 questions in 10 minutes (last section on the test)

o All are Fixing Sentences questions.

Fixing Sentences: Choose the best answer that fixes the error in the sentence

Error- Identification: Choose the answer that contains an error

Fixing Paragraphs: Choose the best answer that either fixes a sentence(s) in the paragraph and makes the most sense in regards to the paragraph

Although each subsection tests certain concepts, it's better just to learn all of them. The content is important, not knowing what concepts will be on each subsection.

More Advice

The following will explain the fundamentals on how to tackle the multiple choice.

• Fixing Sentences should be completed in 10 minutes max.

• Error-Identification should also be completed in 10 minutes max.

• Fixing Paragraphs should take up the last 5 minutes.

• If you have extra time, always go back and check questions that you have trouble or were confused about.

• Examine each answer choice carefully. Don't rush for the answers (increases your chances of making a mistake)

• Write on the test! Cross off wrong answer choices and scribble all over if necessary! You didn't pay to be nice to it!

• Spend the whole period focusing on the test. If you finish early, double-check and make sure every answer is right. Don't be those fools who finish early and close the book.

• Keep moving forward! It's a timed test, so you need to make the best decisions while spending the least amount of time.

Types of Clauses

The SAT is filled with clauses. Distinguishing clauses can help cross out wrong answers. There are two clauses that exist in the English language.

Independent Clauses - Independent clauses are parts of the sentence that can stand by themselves. Although they may be considered simple, they are grammatically correct because they contain a subject (a noun) and a verb.

Example: Tom was watching his favorite TV show. He enjoyed the protagonist deterministic personality. He wished he could be like him.

A dependent clause, or fragment, is a part of the sentence that is used to describe the subject. They can be taken out of the sentence because they are used as descriptions of the subject. There are two forms of dependent clauses: non-essential clauses and essential clauses

Non-essential clauses are surrounded by commas. In addition, if you took it out of the sentence, it would still be grammatically correct. There are two types of non-essential clauses: relative non-essential clauses and appositives.

Relative non-essential clauses are clauses that begin with the relative pronouns (who, whose, where, which). In other words, they begin with the w-words.

Example:

The Transcontinental Railroad, which was completed in 1869, connected the west coast with the east coast.

If you took out the relative clause, it would still make sense. The Transcontinental Railroad….connected the west coast with the east coast.

Appositives are non-essential clauses that don't begin with relative pronouns. However, they still are marked by commas and are used to describe the subject.

Example:

Larry Bird, one of the best basketball players, won two championships with the Boston Celtics.

Take out the appositive, and the sentence still stands. Larry Bird….won two championships with the Boston Celtics.

Essential Clauses are dependent clauses that are not marked by commas. They are referred to as relative because they begin with the relative pronoun that.

Example:

Soda is a beverage that has helped increase obesity rates in America.

A prepositional phrase is not considered a dependent clauses, but they have similar properties as dependent clauses. Prepositional phrases, as the name says, begin with prepositions. They are used to describe the subject, and they can be taken out of the sentence.

Example:

The nuclear reactors in the Fukushima Prefecture are still releasing radioactive waste.

Take out the prepositional phrase, and the sentence still makes is grammatically correct. The nuclear reactors….are still releasing radioactive waste.

Knowing the basic types of clauses helps when figuring out subject-verb agreement questions. The SAT frequently touches on this area.

Subject-Verb Agreement

In all sentences, all subjects must agree with their verbs. Singular subjects go with singular verbs, and plural subjects go with plural verbs.

In general, 3rd person singular verbs have an s at the end, and 3rd person plural verbs do not.

Singular Verbs that d not follow the Rule: is, was, has

Plural Verbs that do not follow the Rule: are, were, have

A. The Non-essential/Essential Clause

For these types of questions, they usually put the non-essential clause between the subject and the verb in order to distract you from the fact that the subject is singular and the verb is plural or vice-versa. In most cases, you take out the clause and see if the sentence is grammatically correct.

Incorrect: Fidel Castro, who held many Cuban political positions, are still alive.

Correct: Fidel Castro, who held many Cuban political positions, is still alive.

However, don't cross out the clause just yet! The SAT likes to be tricky and include the error inside the clause.

Incorrect: Adolf Hitler, who were the leader of the Nazi Party, caused the Holocaust.

Correct: Adolf Hitler, who was the leader of the Nazi Party, caused the Holocaust.

Sometimes, those evil test-makers put and after a clause. This structure is wrong in all the rules of grammar because it doesn't make any sense.

Incorrect: Adolf Hitler, who was the leader of the Nazi Party, and he caused the Holocaust.

Correct: Adolf Hitler…and he caused the Holocaust.

It is easier to spot errors in sentences involving non-essential clauses than essential clauses. Essential clauses still have to agree with their subjects though.

Incorrect: Coffee is a drink that have made America wanting more.

Correct: Coffee is a drink that has made America wanting more.

B. Prepositional Phrases

Prepositional phrases are put in a number of places.

1. Between subject and verb

2. Before Subject and verb

3. After verb but before subject

1. Subject - Prepositional Phrase - Verb

Like the clauses section, prepositional phrases are used to separate the subject and the verb in order to distract you from subject-verb disagreements.

Incorrect: Trading between other countries affect prices on consumer goods and the wealth of a country.

Correct: Trading between other countries affects pries on consumer goods and the wealth of a country.

At first, the first sentence seems correct because countries is plural and therefore it needs a plural noun. However, since it is part of the prepositional phrase, it is not considered part of the sentence. Delete that part, leaving you "trading affect…" Trading is singular, and as a result, needs a singular verb. Affects is plural, so to make the sentence correct, affect needs to replace affects. Cross out prepositional phrases and check out subject-verb agreement.

2. Prepositional Phrase - Verb - Subject

Although it may sound weird, make sure that the subject and the verb still agree. The subject is underlined, the prepositional phrase is in italics, and the verb is bolded.

Incorrect: Towards the end of the bridge lies a garden and a mansion owned by the great Mr. Watson.

Correct: Towards the end of the bridge lie a garden and a mansion owned by the great Mr. Watson.

Since the subject is plural (a garden and a mansion), the verb needs to be plural. And makes it plural because the subject now includes two objects (garden and mansion) than one.

3. Verb - Prepositional Phrase - Subject

Sometimes, this structure will appear. Although it sounds confusing, match the subject with the verb.

Incorrect: Standing near the flowers of the garden is Mr. Watson and his friends.

Correct: Standing near the flowers of the garden are Mr. Watson and his friends.

Although these sentences both sound relatively similar and correct, you can rearrange the sentence to find out if the subject and verb agree. Otherwise, you can identify the subject and the verb and see if they are correct.

Mr. Watson and his friends are standing.

Or

Mr. Watson and his friends is standing.

The first one sounds more correct, so the verb are is needed.

Explanations

1. B

B is the correct answer because of the error that occurs. The subject is light, yet its verb is plural (are). Singular subjects must go with singular verbs.

2. A

A is the right answer because the verb is paired incorrectly with the subject. The subject involves many objects (duck and her ducklings), but it has the singular verb is. Plural subjects must go with plural verbs.

3. E

All the underlined portions are used correctly. The subject communication is singular and it is paired with a singular verb. The prepositions are used in the correct sense, and the verb use makes sense since it is paired up with the plural noun people. E is the correct answer.

4. B

All the underlined portions are used correctly except B. Since the subject consists of many people (Ben and his friends), the verb must be plural. However, the verb was is singular. B is the answer.

5. B

All the choices are used correctly in the sentence except B. The subject is James since he is performing the verb (running). Because one individual is considered singular, the verb must also be singular. Were is plural, and therefore B is the right answer.

Note: You could rearrange the sentence to see if it was correct. James was running sounds more correct, and literally is, than James were running.

Singular vs. Plural

Collective Nouns are Singular

For the SAT, collective nouns are singular nouns that refer to groups of people. Common examples of collective nouns are team, committee, audience, jury, company, and board. For SAT purposes, collective nouns always go with singular verbs.

Incorrect: Even though the Blackhawks were down 3-0 in the regional soccer finals, the team were able to score four goals to win the match.

Correct: Even though the Blackhawks were down 3-0 in the regional soccer finals, the team was able to score four goals to win the match.

Phrases

Neither…nor and Either…or = Singular

Both of these structures are singular when they are paired with two singular nouns. The SAT only incorrectly pairs singular nouns connected by neither…nor/either…or. Therefore, when you see the construction, use a singular verb.

Incorrect: Neither Billy nor Jane were able to stop James from stomping on the flowers.

Correct: Neither Billy nor Jane was able to stop James from stomping on the flowers.

When there is only half of the structure (just neither, not neither…nor) but is used with two singular nouns, a singular verb should be used as well.

Incorrect: Billy and Jane were urging James to stop him from stomping on the flowers, but neither were able to persuade him.

Correct: Billy and Jane were urging James to stop him from stomping on the flowers, but neither was able to persuade him.

A number of = Plural

The number = Singular

Correct: A number of players are protesting the new regulations that reduce player salaries.

Also correct: The number of players expected to protest against the new regulations is quite large.

Each = Singular

Incorrect: Each of the players on the team are expected to not consume illegal substances and alcohol.

Correct: Each of the players on the team is expected to not consume illegal substances and alcohol.

Everyone/One = Singular

Incorrect: Everyone in the Forizoni household are forbidden to drink soda and eat sugary foods.

Correct: Everyone in the Forizoni household is forbidden to drink soda and eat sugary foods.

Incorrect: One of the students in Mr. Wilson's class are expected to be in the school play.

Correct: One of the students in Mr. Wilson's class is expected to be in the school play.

Gerunds (-ing words that act as nouns) used as subjects = Singular

Incorrect: Running around the block for 30 minutes are a good way to get cardiovascular exercise.

Correct: Running around the block for 30 minutes is a good way to get cardiovascular exercise.

Note: Gerunds (jer-uh nds) are discussed briefly in the Verb Tense chapter and fully in the Wordiness and Gerund vs. Participle chapter.

Note: All words that have a form of one, body,