Bluebook SAT Test Boundaries Punctuation and Grammar 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which sentence correctly uses a comma with a coordinating conjunction?
- She studied hard, and she passed the exam. (Correct answer)
- She studied hard and, she passed the exam.
- She studied, hard and she passed the exam.
- She studied hard and she, passed the exam.
Correct answer: She studied hard, and she passed the exam.
A comma before a coordinating conjunction (FANBOYS) joining two independent clauses is correct.
When two independent clauses are joined by a coordinating conjunction (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so — FANBOYS), a comma is placed before the conjunction. 'She studied hard' and 'she passed the exam' are both independent clauses, so a comma before 'and' is required.
Question 2: Which sentence is a comma splice?
- I love pizza, but I hate olives.
- She ran fast, she won the race. (Correct answer)
- He is tall; she is short.
- They left early because of the rain.
Correct answer: She ran fast, she won the race.
A comma splice occurs when two independent clauses are joined with only a comma. 'She ran fast' and 'she won the race' are joined incorrectly.
A comma splice is when two independent clauses are joined with just a comma and no coordinating conjunction. 'She ran fast, she won the race' has two independent clauses joined only by a comma — a comma splice. It should be corrected to: 'She ran fast; she won the race' or 'She ran fast, so she won the race.'
Question 3: Which correctly uses a possessive apostrophe?
- The student's notebook was left behind. (Correct answer)
- The students notebook was left behind.
- The students' notebook was left behind.
- The student's' notebook was left behind.
Correct answer: The student's notebook was left behind.
One student's notebook: singular possessive = student's (apostrophe before s).
To show that the notebook belongs to one student, use the singular possessive: student's. The apostrophe goes before the 's' for singular nouns. Option C ('students'') would mean multiple students own one notebook together. Option B has no apostrophe. Option D is not a real form.
Question 4: Which transition word creates the MOST logical connection: 'She practiced every day. __, she still struggled during the performance.'?
- Therefore
- Furthermore
- Nevertheless (Correct answer)
- Similarly
Correct answer: Nevertheless
'Nevertheless' shows contrast — she practiced but still struggled, which is unexpected.
'Nevertheless' is a concessive transition that signals an unexpected or contradictory result despite previous effort. Since she practiced daily (suggesting success) but still struggled, 'Nevertheless' correctly introduces the surprising contrast. 'Therefore' implies logical consequence, 'Furthermore' adds information, and 'Similarly' draws a comparison.
Question 5: Which sentence is grammatically correct?
- Running down the street, the keys fell from my pocket.
- Running down the street, I dropped my keys. (Correct answer)
- Running down the street, my keys were dropped.
- The keys, running down the street, fell from my pocket.
Correct answer: Running down the street, I dropped my keys.
The participial phrase 'Running down the street' must modify the subject 'I,' not the keys.
An introductory participial phrase must modify the grammatical subject of the main clause. In Option B, 'I' is the subject and 'I' can run — this is correct. Options A, C, and D create dangling modifiers: keys cannot run down the street.
Question 6: Which sentence uses the correct form of the verb?
- The data shows a clear trend.
- The data show a clear trend. (Correct answer)
- The data are showed a clear trend.
- The data is show a clear trend.
Correct answer: The data show a clear trend.
'Data' is the plural of 'datum' and takes a plural verb in formal writing. 'Data show' is correct.
In formal and academic English, 'data' is the plural of 'datum' and takes a plural verb: 'data show.' On the SAT, this distinction is tested. Options C and D are grammatically malformed. While 'data shows' is common in everyday speech, the SAT follows formal grammar rules.
Question 7: Which of the following is NOT a complete sentence?
- She arrived early.
- Running through the park on a sunny afternoon. (Correct answer)
- The cat sat on the mat.
- He called his mother.
Correct answer: Running through the park on a sunny afternoon.
'Running through the park on a sunny afternoon' is a phrase with no subject or main verb — it is a fragment.
A sentence fragment lacks either a subject, a main verb, or both. 'Running through the park on a sunny afternoon' has no subject and 'running' here is a participial (non-finite) form, not a main verb. It is a fragment. All other options have a subject and a finite verb.
Question 8: Which sentence correctly places the comma after an introductory element?
- After the concert we went to dinner.
- After the concert, we went to dinner. (Correct answer)
- After, the concert we went to dinner.
- After the concert we, went to dinner.
Correct answer: After the concert, we went to dinner.
A comma after an introductory prepositional phrase ('After the concert') is correct SAT style.
When a sentence begins with an introductory phrase or clause, a comma separates it from the main clause. 'After the concert' is an introductory prepositional phrase, so a comma is needed after 'concert' before 'we went to dinner.'
Bluebook SAT Test Boundaries Punctuation and Grammar 2
Which sentence correctly uses a comma with a coordinating conjunction?