Practice quiz · by a Quizcard user

SAT Reading and Writing: Grammar and Conventions Rules — quiz

20 multiple-choice questions covering Sentence Boundaries, Semicolons and Colons, Commas with Clauses and Lists, Subject-Verb Agreement, Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement. One answer each; you get a score at the end and the explanation for every question. No account needed.

Updated 2026-11-03. Keys 1–4 pick an answer, Enter moves on. Redo it any time, in order or shuffled.

The questions

Answers and explanations are shown after you finish.

1. Sentence Boundaries

   Which of the following sentences contains a comma splice?

   • Because she was tired.
   • The movie was long, we left early.
   • He was late, so he missed the bus.
   • I love reading I read every day.
2. Sentence Boundaries

   Which revision correctly fixes the run-on 'She studied hard she passed the test'?

   • She studied hard so, she passed the test.
   • She studied hard, she passed the test.
   • She studied hard; so she passed the test.
   • She studied hard, so she passed the test.
3. Semicolons and Colons

   Which sentence correctly uses a semicolon with a conjunctive adverb?

   • I was tired, however I kept working.
   • I was tired, however, I kept working.
   • I was tired; however I kept working.
   • I was tired; however, I kept working.
4. Semicolons and Colons

   Which sentence uses a colon correctly?

   • The recipe requires three ingredients: flour, sugar, and eggs.
   • My favorite subjects are: math and science.
   • The ingredients are: flour, sugar, and eggs.
   • She bought: apples, bananas, and pears.
5. Commas with Clauses and Lists

   Which sentence correctly omits the comma because it has one subject performing two verbs rather than two independent clauses?

   • She cooked dinner, and cleaned the kitchen.
   • She cooked, dinner and cleaned the kitchen.
   • She, cooked dinner and cleaned the kitchen.
   • She cooked dinner and cleaned the kitchen.
6. Commas with Clauses and Lists

   Which sentence correctly signals, through comma placement, that the writer has only one brother?

   • My brother, who lives in Texas is a doctor.
   • My brother who lives in Texas is a doctor.
   • My brother, who lives in Texas, is a doctor.
   • My brother who lives in Texas, is a doctor.
7. Commas with Clauses and Lists

   Which sentence correctly follows the SAT's standard comma rule for a list of three or more items?

   • I bought, apples, bananas and pears.
   • I bought apples bananas, and pears.
   • I bought apples, bananas, and pears.
   • I bought apples, bananas and pears.
8. Subject-Verb Agreement

   Which sentence shows correct subject-verb agreement when a prepositional phrase separates the subject and verb?

   • The list of items are on the table.
   • The list of item are on the table.
   • The list of items is on the table.
   • The lists of items is on the table.
9. Subject-Verb Agreement

   Which sentence is correct?

   • Each of the student has a book.
   • Each of the students were having a book.
   • Each of the students have a book.
   • Each of the students has a book.
10. Subject-Verb Agreement

    Which sentence correctly applies the rule for subjects joined by 'nor'?

    • Neither the teacher nor the students were ready.
    • Neither the teacher nor the students was ready.
    • Neither the teachers nor the student were ready.
    • Neither the teacher and the students were ready.
11. Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement

    Which revision fixes the pronoun-antecedent error in 'Every student must bring their own pencil' while keeping the sentence singular?

    • Every student must bring his or her own pencil.
    • Every student must bring their own pencils.
    • All students must bring their own pencil.
    • Every student must bring our own pencil.
12. Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement

    Which sentence fixes the ambiguous pronoun reference in 'When Sarah met Lisa, she was nervous'?

    • When Sarah met Lisa, they were nervous.
    • When Sarah met Lisa, Sarah was nervous.
    • When Sarah met Lisa, she was very nervous.
    • When Sarah met Lisa, she herself was nervous.
13. Verb Tense Consistency

    Which sentence correctly uses past perfect tense to show one past action occurred before another?

    • After she had finished her homework, she watched TV.
    • After she has finished her homework, she watched TV.
    • After she finishes her homework, she had watched TV.
    • After she finished her homework, she watches TV.
14. Modifiers and Parallelism

    Which sentence correctly places the modifier so it logically describes the person performing the action?

    • The bus, running down the street, was missed by John.
    • Running down the street, John missed the bus.
    • Running down the street, the bus was missed by John.
    • John running down the street missed the bus.
15. Modifiers and Parallelism

    Which sentence correctly maintains parallel structure with the correlative conjunction 'not only...but also'?

    • She not only enjoys reading but also to write.
    • She not only reading but also writes.
    • She enjoys not only to read but also writing.
    • She not only enjoys reading but also enjoys writing.
16. Apostrophes and Possessives

    Which sentence correctly uses the possessive form of 'it'?

    • The dog wagged its' tail.
    • The dog wagged its tail.
    • The dog wagged it is tail.
    • The dog wagged it's tail.
17. Apostrophes and Possessives

    Which sentence correctly forms the possessive for a plural noun that already ends in s?

    • The students's books were lost.
    • The student's books were lost.
    • The students books' were lost.
    • The students' books were lost.
18. Transitions

    Which transition word correctly completes: 'The hike was long __ the view made it worthwhile'?

    • therefore
    • however
    • moreover
    • for example
19. Transitions

    Which sentence correctly uses a transition to introduce a specific illustration of a general claim?

    • Many fruits are rich in vitamin C; however, oranges and strawberries.
    • Many fruits are rich in vitamin C; moreover, oranges and strawberries.
    • Many fruits are rich in vitamin C; for instance, oranges and strawberries.
    • Many fruits are rich in vitamin C; therefore, oranges and strawberries.
20. Rhetorical Synthesis

    On a rhetorical synthesis question, why might an answer choice be incorrect even if it is grammatically perfect and factually accurate?

    • It uses passive voice.
    • It uses a semicolon instead of a period.
    • It fails to accomplish the specific goal stated in the question stem.
    • It contains a serial comma.