SAT Writing Section GRAMMAR IDENTIFYING SENTENCE ERRORS Writing

SAT Writing Section: GRAMMAR & IDENTIFYING SENTENCE ERRORS

Writing Section: MC § Multiple Choice question types 1. Identifying Sentence Errors 2. Improving Sentences 3. Improving Paragraphs

Identifying Sentence Errors § Covers 4 main areas of written English 1. 2. 3. 4. Basic Grammar Sentence Structure Idiomatic Expressions 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

Sentence Error Grammar Tips § 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

Sentence Error Grammar Tips § 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 A Mystique has marked a turning point that resulted in B C improved labor rights and working conditions for D women. No error E § A. B. C. D. E.

Sentence Error Grammar Tips § 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 that. A a knowledge of Latin is helpful to build. B a good English vocabulary, but. C I do not think I have the capacity to. D study the subject at the moment. No error. E. § A. B. C. D. E.

Sentence Error Grammar Tips § “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

Sentence Error Grammar Tips § 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

Sentence Error Grammar Tips § 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/subject. Verb. Agree. 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 -prepositionsafter-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 adv) § 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'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 adverb Adjectives 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 adverb Adjectives 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 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 negative In 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. Determination of. A the long-term effects of. B aerosols on the upper atmosphere is. C currently one of the more challenging. D problems in climate research. No error. E.

Practice Time 2. The most. A important skill I had learned. B in my two years of. C senior high school was to. D direct the course of my own studies. No error. E.

Practice Time 3. I have near. A written all the new tests for. B inclusion in the revised edition of my book, and hope to finish. C the work within. D a week. No error. E.

Practice Time 4. Neither of the answers provided in the memorandum. A address. B my concerns about. Cthe validity of. D the procedure. No error. E.

Practice Time 5. Katz claimed that reading classic novels is. A more illuminating. B than to read. C autobiographies written by. D their authors. No error. E.

Practice Time 6. Suzanne recounted. A her improbable. B tale with. C enthusiasm and in a convincing manner. D. No error. E.

Practice Time 7. The students have been. A practicing for the concert since. B three weeks, and. C in that time have. D improved considerably. No error. E.

Practice Time 8. If you were willing. A to ask for directions, instead of doggedly. B driving on, we might get to our. C destination sooner. D. No error. E.

Practice Time 9. Critics acclaim that. A the soundtrack of Hugo is much more B memorable than. C the movie Django. D. No Error. E

Practice Time 10. No president never. A gives a speech to. B the general public without the consent. C of congress or. D the senate. No error. E.

Practice Time 11. If Sharon had spoke. A with her. B sister before the election there would. C have been no. D problem. No error. E.

Practice Time 12. If you were. A to study the anatomy of the body one. B would find that there. C are many. D organs. No error. E.

Practice Time 13. The professor became. A exasperated when he had. B to explain for. C the students theory of. D relativity. No error. E.

Practice Time 14. Congress, after. A prolonged deliberation, have. B decided not. C to engage in further. D debate over healthcare. No error. E.

Practice Time 15. It would have been. A better if her. B and I kept talking. C to the teacher because of our. D knowledge of the material. No error. E.

ANSWERS!

Practice Time 1. Determination of. A the long-term effects of. B aerosols on the upper atmosphere is. C currently one of the more challenging. D problems in climate research. No error. E. D – More implies there are only two problems, in which case the “one” would be unnecessary Comparatives vs. superlatives

Practice Time 2. The most. A important skill I had learned. B in my two years of. C senior high school was to. D direct the course of my own studies. No error. E. B – past perfect needs changes to past Wrong tenses

Practice Time 3. I have near. A written all the new tests for. B inclusion in the revised edition of my book, and hope to finish. C the work within. D a week. No error. E. A – Nearly, adverb that modifies written. Adverb Misuse of adjective or adverb

Shine § 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 memorandum. A address. B my concerns about. Cthe validity of. D the procedure. No error. E. B – Neither is singular and requires a singular verb, so use addresses. When the subject seems plural but isn’t

Practice Time 5. Katz claimed that reading classic novels is. A more illuminating. B than to read. C autobiographies written by. D their authors. No error. E. C – To make the sentence construction parallel, change to reading. List Parallelism

Practice Time 6. Suzanne recounted. A her improbable. B tale with. C enthusiasm and in a convincing manner. D. No error. E. 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 been. A practicing for the concert since. B three weeks, and. C in that time have. D improved considerably. No error. E. 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 willing. A to ask for directions, instead of doggedly. B driving on, we might get to our. C destination sooner. D. No error. E. E – no error

Practice Time 9. Critics acclaim that. A the soundtrack of Hugo is much more B memorable than. C the movie Django. D. No Error. E D – Compare like items, soundtrack to a soundtrack, not to a movie Faulty comparison

Practice Time 10. No president never. A gives a speech to. B the general public without the consent. C of congress or. D the senate. No error. E. A – should be ever Double negative

Practice Time 11. If Sharon had spoke. A with her. B sister before the election there would. C have been no. D problem. No error. E. A – should be “spoken” Incorrect use of past participles

Practice Time 12. If you were. A to study the anatomy of the body one. B would find that there. C are many. D organs. No error. E. B – one should be “you” Pronoun Shift

Practice Time 13. The professor became. A exasperated when he had. B to explain for. C the students theory of. D relativity. No error. E. C – for should be “to” Wrong preposition after verb

Practice Time 14. Congress, after. A prolonged deliberation, have. B decided not. C to engage in further. D debate over healthcare. No error. E. B – have should be “has” When the subject and verb are separated

Practice Time 15. It would have been. A better if her. B and I kept talking. C to the teacher because of our. D knowledge of the material. No error. E. B – her should be “she” because they are the subject Wrong Pronoun Case (subject vs. object)

Done!!!! For now.

SAT Writing Section: IMPROVING SENTENCES

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

Improving Sentences

Improving Sentences § Strategies 1. Read the sentence carefully, and listen for an error 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 1 st (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

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

Improving Sentences Grammar Tips § 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

Improving Sentences Grammar Tips § 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

Improving Sentences Grammar Tips § 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. 2. 3. 4. 5. Run-On Sentences Sentence Fragments Misplaced Modifiers Faulty Parallelism 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 web 20. org website

This Week’s Assignments 1. Download and print “ 8 Week SAT Prep Plan” • Complete the 4 th Week’s assignments by next session 2. Download and print “SAT Word List 4” 3. Study for vocabulary quiz