Language: Conventions, Usage, and Sentence Revision
The Language domain tests standard English conventions: grammar, usage, punctuation, capitalization, spelling, and sentence structure. Items may ask you to choose the correctly written sentence or revise an underlined portion.
Core rules and concepts
- Subject-verb agreement: a singular subject takes a singular verb. Ignore prepositional phrases between them. Each, either, neither, everyone, and nobody are singular.
- Pronoun-antecedent agreement: a pronoun must match its antecedent in number and gender. Make pronoun reference clear.
- Keep verb tense consistent unless the meaning requires a shift.
- Commas set off introductory elements, items in a series, compound sentences, and nonessential clauses. Do not use a comma to join two independent clauses without a conjunction.
- Apostrophes show possession or contraction: its is possessive; it's means it is. Plural possessives usually add an apostrophe after the s.
- Place modifiers next to the word they modify. Avoid dangling modifiers at the start of a sentence.
- Check homophones: their, there, they're; to, too, two; then, than.
Worked example
Choose: Each of the students (has/have) a copy. Reasoning: The subject is Each, a singular indefinite pronoun. Of the students is a prepositional phrase and does not change the subject number. The correct verb is has.
Traps that cost marks
Being fooled by a phrase after the subject; treating a compound subject joined by or as plural; inserting commas around essential clauses; using a pronoun with no clear antecedent; and confusing possessive its with contraction it's.
Key points
Find the true subject, match pronouns, and punctuate by rule, not by pause.