Grammar Matters: Common Mistakes That Can Tank Your SAT Verbal Score

As a former high school English teacher and current SAT prep tutor, I've seen how small grammar errors can have a big impact on verbal section scores. While the SAT has evolved, its focus on standard English conventions remains crucial. Let's break down some common grammar mistakes that could cost you points and how to avoid them.

 

1. Subject-Verb Agreement

 

Ensure your subjects and verbs match in number. "The group of students are studying" should be "The group of students is studying." Remember, the subject is "group" (singular), not "students."

 

2. Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement

 

Pronouns must agree in number with their antecedents. "Each student must bring their book" is incorrect. Use "Each student must bring his or her book" or rephrase to "All students must bring their books."

 

3. Comma Splices

 

Avoid joining two independent clauses with just a comma. "It's raining, I'll stay home" is incorrect. Fix it with a period, semicolon, or conjunction: "It's raining, so I'll stay home."

 

4. Dangling Modifiers

 

Ensure modifying phrases are close to what they're modifying. "Walking down the street, the trees were beautiful" is incorrect. The trees aren't walking. Try "Walking down the street, I saw beautiful trees."

 

5. Apostrophe Misuse

 

Use apostrophes for possession and contractions, not plurals. "The dog's are barking" should be "The dogs are barking."

 

6. Parallelism

 

Keep parallel structures in a sentence, especially in lists. "She likes swimming, to hike, and biking" should be "She likes swimming, hiking, and biking."

 

7. Who vs. Whom

 

Use "who" for subjects and "whom" for objects. "Who did you give the book to?" should be "To whom did you give the book?"

 

8. Fewer vs. Less

 

Use "fewer" for countable nouns and "less" for uncountable nouns. "Less people attended" should be "Fewer people attended."

 

9. Faulty Comparisons

 

Ensure you're comparing like things. "My car is faster than John" should be "My car is faster than John's car."

 

10. Redundancy

 

Avoid repeating information unnecessarily. "She nodded her head yes" can simply be "She nodded."

 

Remember, the SAT verbal section isn't about tricky "gotcha" questions. It's testing your ability to communicate clearly and effectively in standard written English.

 

In my years of teaching, I've seen students dramatically improve their scores by systematically addressing these common errors. Practice identifying and correcting these mistakes, and you'll be well on your way to a higher Writing score.

 

Struggling with grammar on the SAT? In our tutoring sessions, we can work on identifying these common errors in context, understanding the rules behind them, and practicing quick, accurate corrections. We'll use real SAT questions to hone your skills and boost your confidence.

 

Don't let avoidable grammar mistakes hold back your SAT verbal score. Book a session today, and let's start polishing your grammar skills to perfection. With practice, you'll be spotting and correcting these errors effortlessly on test day.

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