SAT Essential Grammar

CHAPTER 15511!ESSENTIALGRAMMAR and Misplaced Misplaced Modifier Subjunctive IdeasFinding VerbsThe verb is the most important part of a sentence, butverbs aren t always easy to spot. Consider the wordswimin the sentences The ducks swim in the pond andThe ducks love to swim. In the first sentence, swimisthe verb. In the second sentence, swimis part of anoun phrase. (To swimis the thingthat the duckslove.) So how do we spot verbs?A verb is what conveys the Essential meaning ofa clause(a string of words that convey an idea).Every idea requires a verb. The sentence Theducks swim in the pondsays that Somethingswims somewhere,so the verb is ducks love to swimsays thatSomething loves something,so the verb is verb requires a subject, that is, whatdoesthe verb. In both sentences , the subject verb may also require an object,thatis, what receivesthe verb. In The ducks love toswim,the object is to swim,because that is thethingthat is :When David approached third base, the coachwaved him sentence contains two related ideas, so it containstwo clauses, and therefore two verbs:Clause 1:When Davidapproachedthird baseVerb:approachedSubject:DavidObject:t hird baseClause 2:the coachwavedhim homeVerb:wavedSubject:the coachObject:himSubject-Verb Disagreement (SVD)Every verb must agree in number(singular orplura)

Lesson 2:Trimming Sentences 516 MCGRAW-HILL’S SAT Modifiers are adjectives and adverbs, as well as modi-fying phrases like participial phrases (see Lesson 7). Most modifiers are not essential to a sentence, but some are. Use your best judgment. One kind of essen-tial adjective is a predicate adjective, that is, an adjec-

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