Grammar on the SAT: Everything You Should Know

The digital SAT Reading and Writing portion goes by quickly: it’s 54 questions total, divided into two modules of 27 each. The test includes a wide variety of question types, evaluating skills like vocabulary, reading comprehension, punctuation, and grammar. Thankfully, the structure is pretty consistent no matter which version you get, making it easier to prepare.

I’ve studied hundreds of SAT tests, and I’ve noticed that some students tend to struggle with grammar in particular. In this guide, I’ll share everything you need to know to help you prep for the grammar questions on the SAT. 

What is grammar, and why do I need it for the SAT?

Grammar is the set of rules that determine how to choose the correct order and form of the words you use. Whenever you decide between the singular or plural form of a noun and verb, or when you clarify whether something has happened, is happening, or will happen, you are making a grammar decision.

The SAT’s Reading and Writing test comprises half of your overall SAT score. Of the 54 questions on this portion, six to nine (roughly 10-15%) focus on grammar. This means to get an optimal SAT score, you must know basic grammar rules.

Specifically, the SAT tests these aspects of grammar:

• Verb-tense agreement: The verb’s tense (past, present, future) must agree with the context, in terms of time.

• Subject-verb agreement: Nouns and verbs must agree in plurality—depending on if they’re singular or plural.

• “To be” verbs: Choosing the right form of the verb “to be”. For example, is, was, were, am, are, has been, will be, etc. 

• Transitions: The words you use to transition between sentences and ideas. For example, however, likewise, nevertheless, therefore, alternatively, etc.

Grammar Guide: What You Need to Know for the SAT

The SAT Reading and Writing section’s grammar questions focus on verb-tense agreement, subject-verb agreement, transitions, and forms of the verb “to be”. In the four sections below, I’lll cover everything you need to know about these grammar topics.

• Verb-tense agreement

• Subject-verb agreement

• “To be” verbs

• Transitions

Verb-Tense Agreement

Verbs, or “action words”, change form depending on when they occur—past, present, or future. The time-oriented version you use is called a “verb tense”. 

Here are some of the most common verb tenses:

• Past tense: He ran.

• Present tense: He runs.

• Future tense: He will run.

• Present continuous tense: You are running.

• Conditional tense: He would run (if)...

On the SAT, you’ll face questions that give you a long sentence, with a word or two omitted. You must choose the right verb tense to fill in the blank.

Tip: Use Context. Look at the other verbs in the sentence or paragraph. Are they past, present, or future tense? That’s your biggest clue—the right answer will probably be the same tense as the other verbs.

Subject-Verb Agreement (*For Present Tense Only)

When writing in the present tense, you need to match each verb with its subject’s plurality. When writing about a singular subject (except for “I”), add an ‘s’ to the verb. Remove the ‘s’ for plural subjects—when there is a quantity greater than one—and “I”. 

Subject-verb agreement only applies for present-tense verbs—not past or future tenses.

Here are the rules for subject-verb agreement:

• Singular subject: Add an ‘s’ to subjects that are only one in number.

  • Individuals

    • The mouse eats the cheese.

    • My mom laughs at my jokes.

    • Marlie always takes my binoculars.

  • Groups addressed as one unit 

    • My family gets on my nerves. 

    • The staff at my school acts rudely to me.

  • Actions serving as a noun

    • Your yelling makes me anxious.

    • Running by the pool is against the rules.

• Plural subject: No ‘s’ if the subject is ‘I’ or has a quantity greater than one.

  • Multiple people (or objects)

    • Peter and Lydia come over every week.

    • The Arizona Cardinals lose every game.

    • The birds fly overhead.

    • The raindrops fall from above. 

  • “I”

    • I run daily.

    • As a lifeguard, I save lives.

Tip: Make sure you identify the right subject. The SAT may trick you by giving an extra-long compound subject—a subject with multiple nouns—to confuse if the subject is singular or plural. Before choosing your answer, make sure you identify the real subject that the assigned verb addresses. It’s not necessarily the noun closest to the underlined portion.

• The group of PTA moms makes the rules.

  • The 'group of PTA moms’ is one group and therefore a singular subject, so the verb requires an ‘s’.

• The ducks of Canada eat a lot of bread. 

  • ‘Ducks of Canada’ is a plural subject, because there are multiple ducks, so the verb has no ‘s’.

• My friend, who enjoys watching movies with his parents, tells me he wins most of the time.

  • Even though there is that clause beginning with “who” causes confusion, the true subject is ‘my friend’ and the appropriate verb is ‘tells’.

“To Be” Verbs

The verb “to be” can take many different forms, depending on the tense and subject’s plurality. And the SAT loves to throw in a question or two where all the answer choices are different forms of “to be”, so it’s essential that you’re aware of when to use each kind. This grammar skill is basically a combination of the abovementioned two.

Here are some examples of how "to be" can change form:

• Before work… 

  • I/she was playing videogames.

  • They were playing videogames.

  • They/I/we had been playing videogames.

• Recently...

  • I/they/we have been playing video games.

  • He/she has been playing video games.

• Right now…

  • I am playing videogames.

  • They/we are playing videogames.

  • He/she is playing video games.

• After work…

  • I/he/she/they/we will be playing video games.

Transition Words

Every SAT devotes three or four questions to transition words, which connect ideas by highlighting their relationship. Like with the other grammar questions, you’ll get a paragraph with a blank space omitted. You must use the context surrounding the blank space, identifying how the sentences relate to each other, to choose which transition words demonstrates this relationship.

Commonly used SAT transition words:

• Furthermore: When the second part builds upon the first part’s point

• Likewise: When the second part shows a similar effect to the first part

• Additionally: When the second part builds on the first

• Instead: When the second part gives an unexpected alternative to the first

• Rather: When the second part gives an unexpected alternative to the first

• Moreover: When the second part confirms or agrees with the first

• Consequently: When the second part discusses the effects of the first

• Finally: Before the last of a chain of things

• Regardless: When the second part happens despite what the first thing might set you up to expect

• However: When the second part contradicts the first part

Tip: Compare what precedes the omitted space with what follows it. Read the full paragraph. Identify what’s going on leading up to the blank space. Then, identify what comes after the blank. How does this second part relate to the first? There will be one transition word that appropriately links the two.

How to Prepare for the SAT

The best way to prepare for the SAT overall is to create an account on CollegeBoard.org and take as many practice tests as you can. This will expose you not only to the grammar questions, but the SAT punctuation, vocab, and reading questions. 

Spending more time reading is helpful too—whether it’s fiction or nonfiction—and can prepare you for the various types of reading comprehension questions you’ll face on the SAT. If you want more one-on-one support, I’d love to work with you. Best of luck!