PSAT/NMSQT Prep 2022 - Eggert M.D., Strelka A. 2022

Sentence structure: the basics
Spotting and fixing errors: sentence structure, punctuation, and agreement
PSAT Reading

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

After this lesson, you will be able to:

· Determine the correct punctuation and/or conjunctions to form a complete sentence

· Identify and correct inappropriate uses of semicolons

To answer a question like this:

San Francisco’s cable cars get their name from the long, heavy cable that runs beneath the streets along which the cars 1 travel, this cable system resembles a giant laundry clothesline with a pulley at each end. Electricity turns the wheels of the pulleys, which in turn make the cable move.

1.

A. NO CHANGE

B.travel and this cable

C.travel this cable

D. travel; this cable

You need to know this:

Fragments and Run-Ons

A complete sentence must have both a subject and a verb and express a complete thought. If any one of these elements is missing, the sentence is a fragment. You can recognize a fragment because the sentence will not make sense as written. There are some examples in the table below.

The fragment “While Lola ran a marathon” is an example of a dependent clause: it has a subject (Lola) and a verb (ran), but it does not express a complete thought because it starts with a subordinating conjunction (while). Notice what the word “while” does to the meaning: While Lola ran a marathon, what happened? To fix this type of fragment, eliminate the subordinating conjunction or join the dependent clause to an independent clause using a comma. Subordinating conjunctions are words and phrases such as since, because, therefore, unless, although, and due to.

Unlike a dependent clause, an independent clause can stand on its own as a complete sentence. If a sentence has more than one independent clause, those clauses must be properly joined. If they are not, the sentence is a run-on: Lucas enjoys hiking, he climbs a new mountain every summer. There are several ways to correct a run-on as shown in the following table.

Semicolons

Semicolons are used in two specific ways:

· A semicolon may join two independent clauses that are not connected by a FANBOYS conjunction (also called a coordinating conjunction), just as you would use a period.

· Semicolons may be used to separate items in a list if those items already include commas.

You need to do this:

To recognize and correct errors involving fragments, run-ons, and semicolons, familiarize yourself with the ways in which they are tested.

· Fragments

o If a sentence is missing a subject, a verb, or a complete thought, it is a fragment.

o Correct the fragment by adding the missing element.

· Run-ons

o If a sentence includes two independent clauses, they must be properly joined.

o Employ one of the following options to properly punctuate independent clauses:

§ Use a period.

§ Insert a semicolon.

§ Use a comma and a FANBOYS (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so) conjunction.

§ Use a dash.

§ Make one clause dependent by using a subordinating conjunction (since, because, unless, although, due to, etc.).

· Semicolons

o A semicolon is used to join two independent clauses that are not connected by a comma and FANBOYS conjunction.

o Semicolons separate sublists within a longer list. (The items inside the sublists are separated by commas.)

Explanation:

If a clause could stand alone as a complete sentence, it is independent. As written, the sentence is a run-on because two independent clauses cannot be joined by only a comma, so (A) is incorrect. Only (D) corrects the run-on by joining the independent clauses with a semicolon. (B) is incorrect because the FANBOYS conjunction “and” must be preceded by a comma to join independent clauses. (C) is incorrect because it eliminates all punctuation and is still a run-on.

If sentence formation or semicolons give you trouble, study the preceding information and try these Drill questions before completing the Try on Your Own questions that follow. Answers to the Drill can be found after the Try on Your Own questions.

Drill

a. Correct the fragment by adding a subject: Drove to the store to buy ice cream.

b. Correct the fragment by completing the thought: Despite arriving late to the movie.

c. Correct the run-on sentence with a punctuation mark: I hope that Zahra can attend the study session she has a gift for clearly explaining geometry questions.

d. Correct the run-on sentence with a conjunction: Visiting Washington, D.C., is a great experience because you can immerse yourself in the nation’s political history, another perk is the free admission at the Smithsonian museums.

e. Correct the run-on sentence by making one clause dependent: The early computer ENIAC could make only simple computations, it was still a landmark achievement.

Try on Your Own

Directions: Take as much time as you need on these questions. Work carefully and methodically. There will be an opportunity for timed practice at the end of the chapter.

Questions 2—6 refer to the following passage.

Penicillin

In 1928, bacteriologist Dr. Alexander Fleming observed that a spot of mold had contaminated one of the glass plates on which he was growing a colony of bacteria. Since he did not discard the plate 2 immediately. He noticed that bacteria were flourishing everywhere on the plate except in the mold’s vicinity. He decided to culture the 3 mold; and found that a broth filtered from it inhibited the growth of several species of bacteria. Nine years later, a team of scientists led by Howard Florey and Ernst Chain isolated the active antibacterial agent in Fleming’s broth: penicillin. Florey and Chain went on to demonstrate that penicillin could cure bacterial infections in mice and in humans. Penicillin became a “miracle drug.”

Since these discoveries, medical specialists have prescribed penicillin to effectively combat bacterial infections, but problems concerning usage of this antibiotic have begun to emerge. Some people are allergic to 4 penicillin. Though the number of those who are truly allergic is probably low. Side effects to the antibiotic are more frequent and include common reactions such as 5 nausea; rash; and vomiting; less-common reactions such as fever; wheezing; and irregular breathing; and rare, life-threatening reactions such as anaphylaxis and seizures. However, the most significant problem with penicillin usage is the increasing prevalence of bacteria that are becoming 6 penicillin-resistant, these bacteria cannot be effectively treated with current antibiotic strains. Despite these difficulties, careful penicillin administration will continue to save lives and reduce suffering from medical conditions.

2.

A. NO CHANGE

B.immediately and he

C.immediately, he

D. immediately; he

3.

A. NO CHANGE

B.mold and found

C.mold, and found

D. mold. And found

4.

A. NO CHANGE

B.penicillin,

C.penicillin, and though

D. penicillin, though

5.

A. NO CHANGE

B.nausea, rash, and vomiting, uncommon reactions such as fever, wheezing, and irregular breathing, and

C.nausea, rash, and vomiting, uncommon reactions such as fever, wheezing, and irregular breathing; and

D. nausea, rash, and vomiting; uncommon reactions such as fever, wheezing, and irregular breathing; and

6.

A. NO CHANGE

B.penicillin-resistant; these

C.penicillin-resistant these

D. penicillin-resistant; although these

Drill answers from before:

Note: These are not the only ways to correct the sentences; your answers may differ.

a. Harold drove to the store to buy ice cream.

b. Despite arriving late to the movie , I still understood the plot.

c. I hope that Zahra can attend the study session ; she has a gift for clearly explaining geometry questions.

d. Visiting Washington, D.C., is a great experience because you can immerse yourself in the nation’s political history , and another perk is the free admission at the Smithsonian museums.

e. Although the early computer ENIAC could make only simple computations, it was still a landmark achievement.