2020-09-30 SAT class

Greg Malivuk
greg.malivuk@gmail.com
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Identifying and correcting common errors are useful for the TOEFL writing, the SAT Writing and Language section, and the SAT essay.
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clause = a group of words that includes a subject and verb
independent clause = a clause that can exist by itself as a complete sentence
dependent clause = a clause that only makes sense if it’s combined with an independent clause

sentence fragments: the sentence doesn’t have enough in it
	*Because it was raining. - This is just a dependent clause. It gives a cause, but not what happened.
		-> Because it was raining, I took my umbrella.
	*The author who wrote my favorite book, The Fifth Season.
		-> The author who wrote my favorite book, The Fifth Season, is giving a talk tomorrow.
run-on sentence: the sentence has “too much” in it
	*The author is giving a talk tomorrow, she wrote my favorite book.
		- These are both independent clauses. We can’t join them with just a comma.
		The author is giving a talk tomorrow, and she wrote my favorite book. (comma + conj)
		The author is giving a talk tomorrow; she wrote my favorite book. (semicolon)
		The author is giving a talk tomorrow. She wrote my favorite book. (new sentence)
		The author who wrote my favorite book is giving a talk tomorrow.
pronoun agreement: pronouns need to agree (in person and number) with their nouns
	*When someone learns a new language, they learn a new culture as well.
		-> When someone learns a new language, he or she learns a new culture as well.
		-> When people learn a new language, they learn a new culture as well.
		OR: When people learn new languages, they learn new cultures as well.
	*Someone is at the door. I wonder what they want.
		-> Someone is at the door. I wonder what he or she wants.
subject-verb agreement: verbs also need to agree with the person and number of the subject
	*There are a lot of confusion and problems with this topic.
		-> There is a lot of confusion and problems with this topic.
		(There is/There are must agree with the first noun after it.)
	There is a table and four chairs in the dining room.
	There are four chairs and a table in the dining room.
	A table and four chairs are in the dining room.
	Four chairs and a table are in the dining room.
	*Neither success nor money are sufficient.
		-> Neither success nor money is sufficient.
parallel structure: When things are combined in a list or with a conjunction, they need to have the same grammatical structure and fit into the sentence the same way.
	*My goals include starting a business, a family, and a house.
		-> My goals include starting a business, starting a family, and building a house.
		-> My goals include a business, a family, and a house.
		-> My goals include having a business, a family, and a house.
		-> My goals include (starting (a business and a family) and building (a house)).
	*I like to watch TV and playing video games.
		-> I like to watch TV and play video games.
		-> I like watching TV and playing video games.
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p. 2 part A - Correct these sentences. (Some of them have more than one problem.)
1 It's difficult to decide which is better: working with a team or working independently.
  It’s difficult to decide whether working with a team or working independently is better.
2 If someone works with a group, he or she learns many skills, such as cooperation and tolerance.
  ...many skills. For example, he or she can learn cooperation or tolerance.
3 Everyone who works in a team should have a chance to say his or her opinion.
  People who work in a team should have a chance to say their opinions.
4 ...personality problem, which can cause conflicts and be very destructive.
5 Everyone who works in a team has to cooperate with the others.
6 People who work alone only have to think about themselves.
7 You need to have initiative, creativity, and a lot of confidence.
8 I learned that it is important to be on time and (to) have a positive attitude.
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Valeriia, you have to trust yourself.
Both of you have to trust yourselves.
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parallelism-grassroots.pdf page 2 - Decide which item is not parallel, and then try to fix them.
1 boating
2 They dig for clams.
3 [preposition] his eyes
4 pictures / paintings / paints
5 sadness
6 driven in a Rolls Royce (the structure should be passive)
7 strength
8 flew
9 meat pie stands
10 stressed in the fall (We need an adjective describing a feeling.)
- The structure has to be the same, but also the meaning should be related. An adjective that isn’t about how you feel wouldn’t really make sense here, even if the grammar is fine.
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part B - Correct the parallelism in these sentences.
1 Tom enjoys swimming and skating.
2 He wore a green suede jacket, flowered shirt, multicolored platform shoes.
3 At 16, I was a wild, outspoken, and uncaring person.
4 The work was difficult and dangerous.
5 Like many women, she had several roles: wife, mother, student, worker.
6 When the teacher left the room, I talked loudly, fought with my classmates, threw paper airplanes, and even climbed on the desks.
7 When I disobeyed, my parents punished me: no going out, no talking on the phone, and no having company.
  no going out, talking on the phone, or having company
  I couldn’t go out, talk on the phone, or have company.
  I wasn’t allowed to go out, talk on the phone, or have company.