10 SAT grammar rules

Here are 10 essential grammar rules to help you ace the SAT Writing and Language section:

1. **Subject-Verb Agreement:** Ensure that the subject and verb in a sentence agree in number. For example, "The dog barks" (singular subject, singular verb) vs. "The dogs bark" (plural subject, plural verb).

2. **Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement:** Make sure that pronouns agree in number and gender with their antecedents. For example, "Each student must bring their textbook" should be "Each student must bring his or her textbook."

3. **Modifiers:** Ensure that modifiers are placed next to the words they are meant to modify. Misplaced modifiers can change the meaning of a sentence. For example, "Running quickly, the cat chased the mouse" should be "The cat chased the mouse quickly."

4. **Parallelism:** Maintain parallel structure in lists and comparisons. For example, "She likes swimming, hiking, and to ride bicycles" should be "She likes swimming, hiking, and riding bicycles."

5. **Verb Tense:** Use consistent verb tense throughout a sentence and paragraph. Avoid unnecessary shifts in tense. For example, "She walks to school, but yesterday she drove" should be "She walks to school, but yesterday she drove."

6. **Sentence Structure:** Vary sentence structure to avoid monotony. Mix simple, compound, and complex sentences. For example, "The sun was shining. The birds were singing" can be combined into "The sun was shining, and the birds were singing."

7. **Punctuation:** Use punctuation marks correctly, including commas, semicolons, colons, and dashes. Understand their functions and when to use them appropriately.

8. **Conjunctions:** Use conjunctions such as "and," "but," and "or" to connect words, phrases, and clauses. Ensure that they are used correctly to maintain clarity and coherence.

the smartest of all" (superlative) vs. "He is smarter than me" (comparative).
10. **Idioms and Commonly Confused Words:** Understand commonly confused words and phrases, such as "its" vs. "it's," "their" vs. "there" vs. "they're," and "affect" vs. "effect."

9. **Comparisons:** Use comparative and superlative forms of adjectives and adverbs correctly. For example, "He is
Mastering these grammar rules will not only help you excel in the SAT Writing and Language section but also improve your overall writing skills.