Skip to content
Marlow Works

SAT Reading and Writing / Standard English Conventions

SAT topic

Standard English conventions

Boundaries, agreement, modifiers, and punctuation.

Learning goals

  • Read the full sentence, not only the underlined part.
  • Check sentence boundaries, agreement, and modifiers in that order.

Explanation

Common areas include sentence boundaries, subject-verb agreement, pronouns, modifiers, punctuation, and transitions. Read the full sentence, not only the underlined part.

Common mistakes

  • Fixing punctuation while leaving a subject-verb mismatch.
  • Creating a comma splice by joining two complete sentences with only a comma.

Practice

1 of 2Transitions · medium · multiple choice

A paragraph presents a claim and then introduces evidence that contradicts it. Which type of transition is most likely appropriate between the claim and the evidence?

Original Marlow Works item — not a College Board question.

Take your time—this is practice, not a test.

Quick review

  1. 01Find the subject and verb of each clause.
  2. 02Check that a modifier sits next to what it describes.
  3. 03If two clauses are complete, use a period, semicolon, or conjunction—not a lone comma.
Previous topicNext topic

Related resources

External links with reuse status. Marlow Works is independent and does not copy restricted exam or textbook material.

  • Official / link only

    Official SAT practice hub

    College Board SAT practice landing page, including links to tests and tools.

    College Board · All rights reserved · accessed 2026-10-01

    Open source

  • Official / link only

    Bluebook full-length practice

    Official digital SAT practice tests in the Bluebook app.

    College Board · All rights reserved · accessed 2026-10-01

    Open source

  • Official / link only

    Student Question Bank

    Official SAT practice questions hosted by College Board.

    College Board · All rights reserved · accessed 2026-10-01

    Use as an external link. Do not republish question stems.

    Open source

  • Official / link only

    Official SAT Prep on Khan Academy

    College Board describes this as free Official SAT Prep with lessons, hints, and walkthroughs.

    Khan Academy / College Board · All rights reserved · accessed 2026-10-01

    Open source