SAT Digital Reading and Writing Test quick start guide: Difference between revisions

*** they are forms of "to be" and are linking verbs (see below)

* the verb is the basis of the '''predicate''' of a sentence

*the predicate = the action and its result/s, modifier/s or object/s

(i.e., what is or happens)

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'''BIG IDEA''': for the SAT, identify if a verb is '''''finite''''' or '''''non-finite'''''

*has a subject

*finite verbs form the core of a sentence or clause

*** S-V of relative clause = I + like

* does not have a subject

* non-finite verbs act as a noun (gerund), adjective (past or present participle) or infinitive ("to" form of a verb)

*** note that participle phrases are attached to an independent clause by a comma and not a coordinating conjunction (FANBOYS)

*a finite verb (has a subject) that "links" a noun or adjective (the complement) to the subject

***instead, they have "complements

*"conjugation" means "to inflect" a verb according to the "person" of its subject

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*tense = verb forms that indicate time (when)

*** ''people using the bottle gourd'' << does not create a subject-verb match

*A sentence is a grammatically correct, complete thought.

***and/or phrases, especially participle phrases (see below)

*the "core" of a sentence is its subject-verb

*for the SAT, identify the "sentence core" in order to   

**correctly answer subject-verb match questions

* we can divide a sentence into two core parts:   

** SUBJECT and PREDICATE

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* a clause has a finite verb

**i.e. it consists of a subject + verb

*has a finite verb

**i.e., if by itself it would make a (simple) sentence

*has a finite verb

*dependent clauses are formed by '''subordinating conjunctions''' or '''relative pronouns'''

*"subordinate" = "below" or "under"

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*adds modifying information

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* with the relative pronoun "'''that'''" <u>no punctuation is used</u>   

*do not confuse the subject-verb of the relative clause with the subject-verb of the independent clause (IC)

*a phrase is two or more words that do not contain a finite verb

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*'''prepositions'''  

**include ''about, by, from, near, of, on'' , etc.

*see [[SAT Writing section techniques, strategies & approaches#prepositional%20phrase|SAT Writing section #prepositional phrase]] for more

*participles are the verb forms of using ''-ing'' and ''-ed''

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* The SAT will:

****to "''After taking Algebra in eighth grade, ninth graders take Geometry''

*combines ICs (FANBOYS)

**''I was hungry, so I bought a burger''

**"however" is a "conjunctive adverb", or "transition word"

* = turns an IC into a DC by requiring additional ideas to complete the thought of the clause

*ex. ''I was hungry, so I bought a burger'' = two IC w/ a CC

**see "Relative clause" below for more on essential and non-essential sentence elements

* "Transition words" are "conjunctive adverbs" that compare or relate two or more ideas (predicates) either between or within a sentence.  

= Punctuation quick start guide =

*'''periods''' separate sentences

*periods do '''ONE''' thing =

# separate grammatically correct and complete thoughts that are distinct sentences

<u>periods</u>:   

*periods separate grammatically correct and complete thoughts that are distinct sentences

****= "[you] Take this idea, for example." << as a sentence or independent clause

*combine independent clauses for comparison, contrast or some relation between them     

**as opposed to periods which completely separate the ideas/ thoughts

* <span style="margin-left:15px" ;>a semicolon may also be used -- uncommonly -- as a "super comma" in order to emphasize separate elements in a list of common examples, usually following a colon:</span>

<u>semicolons</u>:   

  The work of Kiowa painter T.C. Cannon derives its power in part from the tension among his ______ influences<span style="background:yellow>''':''' </span>classic European portraiture, with its realistic treatment of face<span style="background:yellow>'''s;''' </span>the American pop art movement, with its vivid colors<span style="background:yellow>''';''' </span>and flatstyle, the intertribal painting style that rejects the effect of depth typically achieved through shading and perspective.  

<u>commas</u>:     

#combine IC, DC, or DC, IC

****= a single comma between the subject "Joey" and its verb "jumped" because the comma creates a list and not a grammatical separation of the subject and verb

*distinguish additional information following an IC, usually a list, explanation, or example to clarify or extend the idea presented in the IC

*colons = do '''ONE''' thing:  

*****(a comma separating the IC and DC is okay)

** have multiple colons in a sentence

<u>colons</u>:   

#extend or provide examples following an IC

***but do not eliminate the dash yet, because it does two things, 1) act like a colon; 2) act like parentheses)

*separate ideas within a sentence, either parenthetically or like a colon

*dashes do '''TWO''' things:

# act like parentheses (...) = -...-

<u>dashes</u>:   

# act like a colon     

**if there is NOT another dash in the sentence, then the dash is NOT acting parenthetically (...)

*'''apostrophes''' do two things:

**create contractions ("it's" from "it is" or "can't" from "can not")