Language - Conventions of Standard English
What this domain tests
Language: Conventions of Standard English checks your control of grammar, usage, punctuation, and spelling in context. Grade 8 items often ask you to choose the sentence that correctly uses verbals, voice, or mood, or to fix punctuation in a sentence with an interrupting phrase.
Core rules
- Verbals. A gerund is an -ing verb used as a noun (Swimming is good exercise). A participle is a verb form used as an adjective (the broken lamp). An infinitive is to plus a verb (to win).
- Active and passive voice. Active voice puts the doer first: The committee approved the plan. Passive voice puts the receiver first: The plan was approved by the committee. Use active voice unless the doer is unknown or the receiver deserves emphasis.
- Verb moods. Indicative states a fact; imperative gives a command; interrogative asks a question; conditional expresses a condition; subjunctive expresses a wish, suggestion, or contrary-to-fact idea (If I were taller...).
- Punctuation. Commas set off nonrestrictive information; dashes emphasize; ellipses show omission or trailing off. Do not use a comma to join two complete sentences.
- Agreement. Find the true subject, not the noun in a prepositional phrase: The box of markers is on the shelf.
Worked example
Choose the correct sentence: A. The scientist, who studied coral reefs for decades, published her findings. B. The scientist who studied coral reefs for decades, published her findings. C. The scientist, who studied coral reefs for decades published her findings. D. The scientist who studied coral reefs for decades published, her findings.
Reasoning: The clause who studied coral reefs for decades is nonrestrictive-it adds information but is not needed to identify the scientist-so it needs commas on both sides. A does this. B closes the clause but leaves the main verb stranded after a comma. C opens the clause but never closes it. D misplaces the comma before the object.
Traps that cost marks
- Matching the verb to the nearest noun instead of the subject.
- Using a comma splice or joining sentences with only a comma.
- Confusing its and it's, or their, there, and they're.
- Using passive voice when the doer is clear and important.
- Placing a modifier so it describes the wrong noun.