Language
What This Domain Tests
The Language domain tests vocabulary in context, conventions, punctuation, capitalization, spelling, figurative language, word relationships, and academic vocabulary. Questions may ask you to choose the meaning of a word, correct a sentence, or identify how a metaphor or adage works.
Core Rules
- Context clues: look for definition, example, contrast, and cause/effect clues. Replace the word with your guess and check whether the sentence still makes sense.
- Word parts: prefixes (un-, re-, dis-, pre-), suffixes (-less, -ful, -tion), and roots help with unfamiliar words.
- Conventions: match subjects and verbs, keep verb tenses consistent, make pronouns agree with antecedents, form comparatives correctly, and avoid fragments and run-ons.
- Punctuation: use commas in series, after introductory phrases, and in dialogue; use apostrophes for possession and contractions; capitalize proper nouns and sentence beginnings.
- Figurative language: distinguish simile, metaphor, personification, idiom, and adage. Explain the intended meaning.
- Word relationships: synonyms, antonyms, homophones, and shades of meaning. Academic words such as analyze, cite, infer, and summarize appear in prompts.
Worked Example
Sentence: The trail was arduous, so many hikers turned back before reaching the summit. Question: What does arduous mean? Reasoning: so signals a result, and many hikers turned back shows the trail was too difficult to continue. Arduous means difficult or strenuous. Long is possible but not supported; the sentence emphasizes effort, not distance. Replace arduous with difficult and the sentence still makes sense.
Traps
Ignoring the words around a vocabulary item; choosing a synonym that fits the topic but not the sentence; missing subject-verb agreement when a phrase separates the subject and verb; confusing its and it's; using commas to join two complete sentences; identifying figurative language without explaining meaning.
Key Points
- Use context clues and word parts to determine meaning.
- Match subjects and verbs despite interrupting phrases.
- Use commas, apostrophes, and capitalization correctly.
- Explain figurative language by its intended meaning.
- Distinguish synonyms, antonyms, and homophones.
- Know academic prompt words such as cite, infer, and summarize.