SAT Grammar Rules: The Basics

The SAT tests grammar rules in the Reading and Writing section, which is 2 hours long and has two 32 minute modules of 27 questions. This section accounts for 400 to 800 of the total 400 to 1600 score. Grammar rules are tested in the context of sentences and passages.

Subject-verb agreement is a basic grammar rule. It states that the subject of a sentence must agree with the verb in number, either singular or plural. For example, 'the dog runs' is correct, but 'the dog run' is incorrect. Spending 30 minutes reviewing subject-verb agreement rules can help improve scores.

Verb tense consistency is another important grammar rule. It means that the verb tense should be consistent throughout a sentence or passage. For instance, 'I went to the store, and I buy milk' is incorrect, but 'I went to the store, and I bought milk' is correct. Practicing with sample sentences can help identify and correct inconsistent verb tenses.

Punctuation is also tested on the SAT. Commas, semicolons, and colons are used to separate clauses and phrases. For example, 'I had eggs, toast, and orange juice for breakfast' uses commas to separate items in a list. Reviewing punctuation rules can take 20 minutes, but it can make a big difference in scores. The tradeoff is that reviewing punctuation rules may take time away from reviewing other grammar rules.

Some common grammar mistakes on the SAT include using 'me' instead of 'I', or using 'its' instead of 'it's'. For example, 'my friend and me are going to the movies' is incorrect, but 'my friend and I are going to the movies' is correct. Reviewing common grammar mistakes can help avoid losing points on the test. The Digital SAT is section adaptive, so doing well on the first module can lead to an easier second module.

To master SAT grammar rules, practice and review are necessary. Students can practice with sample questions and review the rules regularly. The goal is to be able to apply the rules quickly and accurately on the test. Reviewing grammar rules for 15 minutes each day can be more effective than reviewing for 1 hour once a week.