SAT Writing : Identifying Punctuation Errors: Commas for Dependent Clauses
Study concepts, example questions & explanations for SAT Writing
All SAT Writing Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #1 : Identifying Punctuation Errors: Commas For Dependent Clauses
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Although he initially refused to go to the cinema, James finally saw the movie, that his friends had recommended. No error
had recommended
refused to go to the cinema
movie, that
No error
Although he
movie, that
Commas, gramatically speaking, should never be used before or after the word "that." The correct sentence would have: "James finally saw the movie that his friends . . ."
"Had recommended" could be changed to "recommended", for the sake of simplicity, but the comma error is more flagrant.
Example Question #1 : Identifying Punctuation Errors: Commas For Dependent Clauses
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Joey will reluctantly eat broccoli and spinach but his favorite green vegetables are peas and green beans. No error
are
green beans
reluctantly
No error
spinach but
spinach but
The sentence consists of two independent clauses ("Joey will reluctantly eat broccoli and spinach" and "his favorite green vegetables are peas and green beans") joined by a coordinating conjunction, "but." (Other coordinating conjunctions can include "and," "or," "nor," "yet," "so," and "for.") When two independent clauses are joined by a coordinating conjunction, a comma is required after the first clause immediately before the conjunction. The corrected sentence would read, "Joey will reluctantly eat broccoli and spinach, but his favorite green vegetables are peas and green beans."
Example Question #1151 : Identifying Sentence Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
While I would love to go to the beach with you I have to study instead. No error
While I
No error
study instead
love to
you I
you I
“While I would love to go to the beach with you” is a dependent clause, which means that if it is removed from the sentence, the rest of the sentence (“I have to study instead”) will still be a complete sentence. Because commas are always used to separate a dependent clause from an independent clause when the dependent clause precedes the independent clause, a comma must appear between “with you” and “I have.”
Example Question #1152 : Identifying Sentence Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Wherever they go, they can’t seem to find a vacation spot, that suits their needs. No error
can't seem
spot,
Wherever
go,
No error
spot,
“Wherever they go” is a dependent clause, so it must be separated from the rest of the sentence by a comma. However, commas generally don’t appear before or after the word “that,” so no comma is necessary there. (Specifically, commas are not generally needed to separate dependent clauses from independent clauses when the dependent clause follows the independent clause.)
Example Question #1153 : Identifying Sentence Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Being a strong math student Chris didn’t understand his classmates’ confusion with prime numbers, logarithms, or exponents. No error
student
No error.
prime numbers,
logarithms,
classmates'
student
“Being a strong student” is a modifier that describes “Chris,” so a comma is needed to separate the two. The three items in the list are properly punctuated with commas, and since "classmates" is plural, the correct possessive is "classmates’."
Example Question #5 : Identifying Punctuation Errors: Commas For Dependent Clauses
Select the underlined word or words that need to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences may not contain an error.
Here’s the situation: your dog isn’t properly trained to be around children, adults or other animals. No error
No error
children,
adults
Your
situation:
adults
Because “Here’s the situation” is an independent clause introducing another independent clause, a colon is the correct punctuation mark to use to separate them. A comma is required after “adults,” though, since it’s an item in a list.
Example Question #1154 : Identifying Sentence Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Jane wanted to go parasailing over vacation but then, a fierce storm rolled in and flooded the harbor. No error
No error
vacation but then, a
over
and
wanted to
vacation but then, a
The placement of the comma in this sentence between "then" and "a" is incorrect. The comma should instead appear between "vacation" and "but" in order to correctly connect the compound sentence's two independent clauses using a comma followed by a conjunction.
Example Question #1155 : Identifying Sentence Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
The crowd jumped out of their seats and cheered loudly, when the home team scored the game-winning shot at the buzzer. No error.
game-winning
loudly, when
out of
No error
at
loudly, when
The comma between "loudly" and "when" is unnecessary, creating and punctuation error in the sentence.
Example Question #1156 : Identifying Sentence Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Although Danny was not the best swimmer his friends always said he threw the best pool parties. No error.
Although
swimmer his
threw
always said
No error
swimmer his
The sentence requires a comma after "swimmer" in order to correctly join its dependent and independent clauses ("Although Danny was not the best swimmer" and "his friends always said he threw the best pool parties").
Example Question #1157 : Identifying Sentence Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
While I don't agree with your opinion about how life on Earth began I do respect your right to believe it. No error.
While
your right
No error
about
began I
began I
The sentence consists of two separate clauses ("While I don't agree with your opinion about how life on Earth began" and "I do respect your right to believe it"); therefore, the sentence requires a comma after "began" to properly separate the clauses.
All SAT Writing Resources
