Standard English Conventions Crash Course

Standard English

Conventions

Crash Course

Standard English Conventions Questions

26% of the Digital SAT is made of Standard English Conventions questions.These are
sometimes referred to as “Boundaries” questions on the DSAT and are designed to evaluate your grasp of standard english grammar, like sentence structure and punctuation.

These “boundaries’ questions explore the message conveyed within a passage as well as HOW it is conveyed. The need for sentences to be structurally sound and complete and adhere to the conventions of standard written english is essential.

The questions are always phrased as “Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of standard english” but be careful- Form, Structure and Sense questions also use the same thing but instead ask things about subject-verb agreement instead.

Part 1- Sentence Structure Basics

Sentence Structure Basics

Multiple Choice

NOTE- you can click on the image to expand before answering.

Click the answer choice

• a

• b

• c

• d

Here is the explanation for that one:

Open Ended

Correct this run on with a punctuation mark:

The new arts center just opened it has a crafts room for children under 13.

Open Ended

Correct the fragment by adding a subject

Brought snacks to the weekend study session.

Multiple Choice

Which is the correct answer

• a

• b

• c

• d

​Here is why:

Multiple Choice

Which is the correct answer

• a

• b

• c

• d

​Here is why:

Part 2- Punctuation Commas, Dashes and Colons

Multiple Choice

Which is the best answer

• a

• b

• c

• d

​Here is why:

Multiple Choice

what is the correct answer

• a

• b

• c

• d

​Explanation for that question:

Multiple Choice

Edit the sentence to correct the punctuation issue:

The fact that koala fingerprints are nearly indistinguishable from human fingerprints has occasionally led to mistakes at crime scenes.

• no correction needed

• The fact that koala fingerprints are nearly indistinguishable from human fingerprints, has occasionally led to mistakes at crime scenes.

• The fact that koala fingerprints are nearly indistinguishable from human fingerprints: has occasionally led to mistakes at crime scenes.

• The fact, that koala fingerprints are nearly indistinguishable from human fingerprints, has occasionally led to mistakes at crime scenes.

Multiple Choice

Edit the sentence to correct the punctuation issue:

For my birthday, I asked for my favorite dessert chocolate pecan pie.

• For my birthday, I asked for my favorite dessert: chocolate pecan pie.

• For my birthday, I asked for my favorite dessert, chocolate pecan pie.

• For my birthday, I asked for my favorite dessert; chocolate pecan pie.

• For my birthday, I asked for my favorite dessert chocolate pecan pie.

Multiple Choice

Which is the correct answer?

• A

• B

• C

• D

Here is why:

Topic 3- Agreement- Verbs

Multiple Choice

Choose the correct parallel structure

• The aquatic science club's activities include attending a marine biology lecture, performing a pond ecosystem experiment, and a behind-the-scenes tour at the aquarium.

• The aquatic science club's activities include attending a marine biology lecture, performing a pond ecosystem experiment, and then a behind-the-scenes tour at the aquarium.

• The aquatic science club's activities include attending a marine biology lecture, performing a pond ecosystem experiment, and engaging in a behind-the-scenes tour at the aquarium

Fill in the Blanks

Anasia audition for the school play yesterday.

Multiple Choice

which is the correct answer

• a

• b

• c

• d

​explanation:

​Topic 4- Pronoun Issues

​Antecedent example:
Mrs Peltier took Mrs Peltier's computer and put the computer on Mrs Peltier 's desk.

Instead, we replace those words (antecedents) with pronouns:
Mrs Peltier took her computer and put it on her desk.

Open Ended

Fix the pronoun issue in this sentence:

Although the teacher gave the student detention after school, she was not angry.

(this is an unclear antecedent- was the student not angry, or the teacher? make that clearer.)

Fill in the Blanks

My favorite singer, who I have wanted to see in person for years, will give a concert a week after my birthday.

Write the ONE word correction for this question.

Multiple Choice

what is the correct answer?

• a

• b

• c

• d

​Here is why:

Multiple Choice

What is the correct answer?

• a

• b

• c

• d

​Here is why: