Is it "it's" OR is it "its"? Good question! Here are the TOP 10 most tested Grammar Rules on the SAT I Writing and Language Test and the ACT English Test. Take the time to study them. Good Luck!
1. SUBJECT-VERB AGREEMENT: The subject of a sentence (or clause) must agree in number with the verb. To find the subject, first find the verb, and ask “who?” or “what?” before the verb.
A singular subject requires a singular verb even when phrases such as as well as, in addition to, and together with are positioned between the subject and the verb.
Example: George, as well as the girls, is flying to the reunion.
The subject of a sentence can never be in a prepositional phrase. Putting parentheses around all prepositional phrases makes it easier to identify the subject of the sentence.
The sequence (of events) is very logical.
Every one (of the candidates) wants publicity.
Sometimes a subject will follow a verb, instead of its more common position of coming before a verb. When a sentence has this inverted word order, be careful to determine the correct subject and to make sure the verb agrees in number with its subject .
Typically, such inverted subject-verb word order occurs in sentences beginning with there and here or in sentences that are questions.
Incorrect: There was only one dog and one cat on the farm.
Correct: There were only one dog and one cat on the farm.
Incorrect: Where’s your brother and sister?
Correct: Where are your brother and sister?
Incorrect: Have any of the boys or girls confessed?
Correct: Has any of the boys and girls confessed?
Who is used when referring to the subject of a clause.
Whom is used as the object of verbs, prepositions, infinitives, etc.
3. PARALLEL CONSTRUCTION: Similar ideas must be expressed in the same (“parallel”) grammatical structure. For example, if one idea is expressed as an infinitive, then other equal ideas must also be expressed as infinitives.
Incorrect: I love to golf, to swim, and playing tennis.
Correct: I love to golf, to swim, and to play tennis.
Incorrect: Most days they spent swimming, and they would listen to records.
Correct: Most days they spent swimming and listening to records.
Incorrect: I will use the money either to take a vacation or for completing my education.
Correct: I will use the money either to take a vacation or to complete my education.
3. DANGLING MODIFIERS: Modifiers are participial phrases, prepositional phrases, or infinitive phrases used as adjectives that describe nouns or pronouns. These modifiers must be close to the noun or pronoun they are modifying. If not, they are considered “dangling” or misplaced.
Correct: Driving home at midnight, I was hit by a deer.
Correct: To be successful, one must have good grades.
Correct: A car with Ohio license plates stopped in front of my house.
Correct: Of all the teachers in the school, Ms. Adkins is the best.
4. POINT OF VIEW SHIFT: A sentence must carry the same point of view (1st, 2nd, 3rd person) throughout. Shifting the point of view obscures the meaning.
Correct: If one prepares well, he will have little trouble on the exam.
Correct: If a person works hard, he will be successful.
5. PUNCTUATION: Much of punctuation is arbitrary; that is, the rules apply only in so far as the intended meaning is conveyed. Therefore, the punctuation rules tested on the SAT I and ACT are the very basic rules which clearly create major grammatical errors, such as run-on sentences. In general, these rules focus on the use of semicolons, commas (as pauses), and apostrophes in the possessive form of nouns.
A SEMICOLON is used to separate two complete thoughts (independent clauses) that are not joined by the conjunctions and, but, or, nor, for, yet.
The music was so loud; no one could hear.
I want to leave; please get my coat.
To test correct usage: try to state the expression on each side of the semicolon as a complete thought. Each expression must be able to exist on its own.
A COLON means “note what follows” However, “what follows” does not have to be a list. “What follows” could also be another main clause.
I could put everything in my suitcase: my computer, my clothes, and all of my books.
The man has no brains: his IQ must be less than a whole number!
A DASH is used primarily to indicate a sudden break in thought. It cannot be used with a common to set off the break.
Incorrect: The winner-as luck would have it, is already a millionaire.
Correct: The winner-as luck would have it-is already a millionaire.
PARENTHESES are used to surround information that is incidental and not of major importance to the meaning of the sentence.
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6. NON-ESSENTIAL CLAUSES and PHRASES: are not essential to the meaning of the sentence, but simply add an idea to the sentence. Commas must be used to set off nonessential clauses and phrases.
Essential clauses and phrases are essential to the meaning of the sentence. They are not set off by commas.
The college that I like best is Dartmouth.
Dartmouth, which is on the East Coast, is my favorite college.
The nurse who gave me the medicine is my neighbor.
The nurse, who is my neighbor, gave me the medicine.
The student who studies diligently can increase his SAT scores.
Bill, who studied diligently, significantly raised his SAT scores.
Children tutored by their parents usually do not respond well.
7. PRONOUN AGREEMENT: A pronoun takes the place of a noun or another pronoun. A pronoun must agree in number and gender with the noun or pronoun to which it refers (its antecedent).
Incorrect: Does anyone want to share their pizza?
Correct: Does anyone want to share his pizza?
Incorrect: Neither admitted that they are wrong.
Correct: Neither admitted that he is wrong.
Incorrect: When an employee is interviewing you, they want to know about your experience.
Correct: When an employee is interviewing you, he wants to know about your experience.
Incorrect: Either Jane or Sara will take their camera with them.
Correct: Either Jane or Sara will take her camera with her.
Incorrect: Every one of the students likes their teacher.
Correct: Every one of the students likes his teacher.
It’s is a contraction; it stands for it is.
Its is a possessive pronoun: The dog chased its tail.
There’s is a contraction; it stands for there is.
Theirs is a possessive pronoun.
yours and its. There are no such words in the English language.
9. REDUNDANCY AND WORDINESS: Redundancy is repeating something that is needless and thus exceeding what is necessary, making the writing wordy.
Incorrect: Rap was first introduced in the United States.
Correct: Rap was introduced in the United States.
Incorrect: Eight people is sufficient enough to complete the task.
Correct: Eight people is sufficient to complete the task.
Incorrect: He received the exact same score as I did on the SAT I.
Correct: He received the same score as I did on the SAT I.
Incorrect: Both the parents as well as the students have the day off.
Correct: Both the parents and the students have the day off. - or - The parents as well as the students have the day off.
10. FAULTY COMPARISON: When making a comparison, (usually using than or as), you must be sure to compare similar things.
Incorrect: Many of his songs on the album are similar to his last album.
Correct: Many of his songs on the album are similar to those on his last album.
Incorrect: My average in the class is higher than any other student.
Correct: My average in the class is higher than the average of any other student.
Incorrect: Until my salary as an educator is equal to any other professional, I will not be satisfied.
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