SAT Grammar Rule #1: Each sentence needs a noun, a verb, and to express a full thought. -
ANSWER ➜ He was tired.
✖ Because he was tired.
SAT Grammar Rule #2: Don't combine whole sentences with a comma. - ANSWER ➜I
can't hear you. Can you please use the megaphone?
✖ I can't hear you, can you please use the megaphone?
SAT Grammar Rule #3:"And" alone is not enough - ANSWER ➜ I can't hear you, so can
you please use the megaphone?
✖ I can't hear you and can you please use the megaphone?
SAT Grammar Rule #4: Every comma should serve a purpose, so never place one without a
reason. - ANSWER ➜ If you tend to get confused when using commas, keep in mind that
every comma should serve
a purpose, so never place one without a reason.
✖ If you tend to get confused, when using commas, keep in mind, that every comma should
serve a purpose, so, never place one without a reason.
SAT Grammar Rule #5: Commas may go between independent clauses, but only when paired
with a coordinating conjunction (FANBOYS). - ANSWER ➜ The dog raced after the car, but
he was left in the dust.
✖ The dog raced after the car but he was left in the dust.
SAT Grammar Rule #6: Commas may go after dependent clauses, prepositional phrases, or
other descriptive phrases at the beginning of sentences - ANSWER ➜ On the other hand,
the fortune teller had been correct.
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, ✖ On the other hand the fortune teller had been correct.
SAT Grammar Rule #7: Commas may be surrounding non-essential phrases, such as apposi-
tives. - ANSWER ➜ Betsy, a lovely woman, offered to knit us socks.
✖ Betsy a lovely woman offered to knit us socks.
SAT Grammar Rule #8: Commas may go between elements in a list. - ANSWER ➜ The
child ate cotton candy, fried cookies, and ice cream at the fair.
✖ The child ate cotton candy fried cookies and ice cream at the fair
SAT Grammar Rule #9: Commas may go between two adjectives that describe the same
noun AND are interchangeable. - ANSWER ➜ My nephew made me a funny, cute card.
✖ My nephew made me a funny cute card.
SAT Grammar Rule #10: Commas may separate transitional words/phrases from the rest of
the sentence. - ANSWER ➜ However, the judge disagreed.
✖ However the judge disagreed.
SAT Grammar Rule #11: Commas go before or after quotes. - ANSWER ➜ He asked,
"Why?" "Because it just makes sense," she replied.
✖ He asked "Why?" "Because it just makes sense" she replied.
SAT Grammar Rule #12: Commas are used when addressing a person by name. - ANSWER
➜ Peter, would you pass the pepper?
✖ Peter would you pass the pepper?
SAT Grammar Rule #13: If you see a comma or an "and" underlined in a writing multiple
choice question (but not used together), ask yourself whether they can be replaced by a
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ANSWER ➜ He was tired.
✖ Because he was tired.
SAT Grammar Rule #2: Don't combine whole sentences with a comma. - ANSWER ➜I
can't hear you. Can you please use the megaphone?
✖ I can't hear you, can you please use the megaphone?
SAT Grammar Rule #3:"And" alone is not enough - ANSWER ➜ I can't hear you, so can
you please use the megaphone?
✖ I can't hear you and can you please use the megaphone?
SAT Grammar Rule #4: Every comma should serve a purpose, so never place one without a
reason. - ANSWER ➜ If you tend to get confused when using commas, keep in mind that
every comma should serve
a purpose, so never place one without a reason.
✖ If you tend to get confused, when using commas, keep in mind, that every comma should
serve a purpose, so, never place one without a reason.
SAT Grammar Rule #5: Commas may go between independent clauses, but only when paired
with a coordinating conjunction (FANBOYS). - ANSWER ➜ The dog raced after the car, but
he was left in the dust.
✖ The dog raced after the car but he was left in the dust.
SAT Grammar Rule #6: Commas may go after dependent clauses, prepositional phrases, or
other descriptive phrases at the beginning of sentences - ANSWER ➜ On the other hand,
the fortune teller had been correct.
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, ✖ On the other hand the fortune teller had been correct.
SAT Grammar Rule #7: Commas may be surrounding non-essential phrases, such as apposi-
tives. - ANSWER ➜ Betsy, a lovely woman, offered to knit us socks.
✖ Betsy a lovely woman offered to knit us socks.
SAT Grammar Rule #8: Commas may go between elements in a list. - ANSWER ➜ The
child ate cotton candy, fried cookies, and ice cream at the fair.
✖ The child ate cotton candy fried cookies and ice cream at the fair
SAT Grammar Rule #9: Commas may go between two adjectives that describe the same
noun AND are interchangeable. - ANSWER ➜ My nephew made me a funny, cute card.
✖ My nephew made me a funny cute card.
SAT Grammar Rule #10: Commas may separate transitional words/phrases from the rest of
the sentence. - ANSWER ➜ However, the judge disagreed.
✖ However the judge disagreed.
SAT Grammar Rule #11: Commas go before or after quotes. - ANSWER ➜ He asked,
"Why?" "Because it just makes sense," she replied.
✖ He asked "Why?" "Because it just makes sense" she replied.
SAT Grammar Rule #12: Commas are used when addressing a person by name. - ANSWER
➜ Peter, would you pass the pepper?
✖ Peter would you pass the pepper?
SAT Grammar Rule #13: If you see a comma or an "and" underlined in a writing multiple
choice question (but not used together), ask yourself whether they can be replaced by a
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