Acceptable Sentence Structures on the ACT and SAT
As we’ve discussed in the past, the ACT and SAT require a painstakingly-literal interpretation of traditional grammar rules. However, the number of rules that appear on the exam is actually quite limited and the options for correct answers even more so.
In this lesson, we’re going to look at the types of sentences that are acceptable on the ACT and SAT. Not only are these the only correct sentence structures for ACT English and SAT Writing and Language, they are also the structures you should follow for ACT Writing and the SAT Essay.
- Independent clause.
Marie goes to the gym every day.
- Independent clause; (semi-colon) independent clause.
Marie attends school Monday through Friday; she also goes to the gym every day.
- Independent clause; [transition], independent clause.
Marie attends school Monday through Friday; in addition, she goes to the gym every day.
- Independent, [conjunction] independent.
Marie attends school Monday through Friday, and she goes to the gym every day as well.
- Independent: [colon] dependent.
My father has a unique talent: the ability to listen to people without passing judgment.
Note: On the ACT and SAT, you can only use a colon to separate clauses when the second clause tells you something more about the first. What is the “unique talent?” It is “the ability to listen to people without passing judgment.” This rule also applies to lists:
Please buy the following for the party: soda, chips, and ice cream.
What is “the following?” It is “soda, chips, and ice cream.”
- Dependent, independent.
While she was at the gym, Marie ran into a classmate from elementary school.
Note: The subordinating conjunction “while” signals the beginning of the dependent clause.
- Independent dependent (no comma) OR Independent, dependent (comma).
Marie ran into a classmate from elementary school while she was at the gym.
Marie was very friendly toward her old classmate, although she did not remember the person at all.
Note: The ACT and SAT cannot make you choose between these two sentence structures. If you see both of them as answer choices to the same question, both of those choices are automatically incorrect.
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