SAT Writing Practice-2

SAT Writing Practice Questions – SAT Writing practice Videos-2

25) Writing: Possessive determiners — Basic example

26) Writing: Possessive determiners — Harder example

27) Writing: Subject-verb agreement — Basic example

28) Writing: Subject-verb agreement — Harder example

29) Writing: Noun agreement — Basic example

30) Writing: Noun agreement — Harder example

31) Writing: Frequently confused words — Basic example

32) Writing: Frequently confused words — Harder example

33) Writing: Conventional expression— Basic example

34) Writing: Conventional expression— Harder example

35) Writing: Logical comparison — Basic example

36) Writing: Logical comparison — Harder example

37) Writing: End-of-sentence punctuation— Basic example

38) Writing: End-of-sentence punctuation— Harder example

39) Writing: Within-Sentence punctuation— Harder example-1

40) Writing: Within-Sentence punctuation— Harder example-2

41) Writing: Possessive Pronouns— Basic example

42) Writing: Possessive Pronouns— Harder example

43) Writing: Items in a series— Basic example

44) Writing: Items in a series— Harder example

45) Writing: Parentheticals— Basic example

46) Writing: Parentheticals— Harder example

What are nonessential elements?

Nonessential elements are descriptive words, phrases, or clauses that aren’t necessary for the sentence to make sense.
In other words, if nonessential elements are removed from a sentence, that sentence will still be grammatically correct.
On your official SAT, you’re likely to see 1-2 questions that require you to appropriately punctuate a nonessential element.
Nonessential elements must be separated from the rest of the sentence. This separation can be accomplished with commas, parentheses, or dashes.

Rule 1: At the beginning or end of a sentence, punctuation is only needed on one side of a nonessential element

Incorrect: More commonly referred to as the northern lights the aurora borealis is much better known than its southern equivalent, the aurora australis.
Correct: More commonly referred to as the northern lights, the aurora borealis is much better known than its southern equivalent, the aurora australis.
Explanation: The introductory modifying phrase “more . . . lights” is a nonessential element, so it needs punctuation after it. Also, notice that “the aurora australis” is another nonessential phrase that appears at the end of the sentence, appropriately set off by a comma.

Rule 2: In the middle of a sentence, punctuation is needed on both sides of a nonessential element

The most common mistake made with nonessential elements is mixing different punctuation marks.
  • Punctuation on either side of a nonessential element must match
Incorrect:
  • The aurora borealis—more commonly referred to as the northern lights, is much better known than its southern equivalent, the aurora australis.
Correct:
  • The aurora borealis, more commonly referred to as the northern lights, is much better known than its southern equivalent, the aurora australis.
  • The aurora borealis—more commonly referred to as the northern lights—is much better known than its southern equivalent, the aurora australis.
  • The aurora borealis (more commonly referred to as the northern lights) is much better known than its southern equivalent, the aurora australis.
Explanation: Commas, dashes, and parentheses can all work, so long as we use the same type of punctuation on both sides of the nonessential element.
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