5. Punctuation (SAT) (SAT WRITING)

​Digital SAT
Grammar Section


Lesson 5

​Punctuation

1. Comma ,
2. Semi-colons ;
3. Colons :
4. Dashes and Parenthesis - ()

​Commas ,
4. Non-Essential Information: Enclose clauses or phrases that can be omitted without changing the main sentence's meaning.
Exp: My brother, who lives in New York, is visiting us.

5. Coordinate Adjectives: Separate two or more adjectives modifying a noun equally with a comma.
Exp: It was a long, tiring journey.

6. Direct Address: Use a comma when addressing someone directly.
Exp: Lisa, can you help me with this?

​Commas ,
1. Lists: Use commas to separate items in a series of three or more. Exp: We bought apples, oranges, bananas, and pears.

2. Coordinating Conjunctions: Place a comma before conjunctions (FANBOYS) when they link two independent clauses.
Exp: I wanted to go for a walk, but it was raining.

3. Introductory Elements: Use a comma after introductory phrases, words, or clauses.
Exp: After the show, we went out to dinner.

​Semi-colons ; = .
1. To link two related independent clauses without a conjunction, emphasizing their connection.
Exp: She loves books; she visits the library weekly.

2. To separate items in a list that already include commas, ensuring clarity.
Exp: .The conference had speakers from London, England; Paris, France; and Berlin, Germany.

​Colons :
1. Introduce Lists or Quotations: A colon precedes a list or quote when it follows an independent clause.
Exp: He has three competitions: hiking, swimming, and cycling.

2. Clarify or Expand on a Statement: A colon can introduce an explanation or example that directly follows a complete sentence.
Exp: She faced a dilemma: she could either stay with her current team or accept a new job offer.

​Dashes and Parentheses - ()
1. Dashes and Parentheses are used to insert additional information into a sentence without disturbing its main flow. This information is usually supplementary and not essential to the main point of the sentence.

Exp: The author's first book (published in 2005) won several awards.
The author's first book - published in 2005 - won several awards.

Practice

Place comma where needed​
1. After our trip to Venice many people asked to see our photographs.

2. My brother a doctor lives in San Francisco.

3. On March 21 1989 their first child was born.

4. She planned to study late into the night however her friends had other ideas.

5. They moved to Chicago Illinois last year.

6. Well it seems they’ve done it again.

7. She bought all the ingredients eggs milk butter and cheese for the recipe.

8. Can you believe it of all people he forgot to show up!

9. The meeting scheduled for December 5th was postponed.

10. Yes I understand your point.

Place Semi-colons where needed​
1. She loves to travel she has been to over 30 countries.

2. I have a big project due tomorrow I haven’t started yet.

3. He loves reading he finds it relaxing.

4. Our vacation spots this year are Paris France Tokyo Japan and Sydney Australia.

5. She can play the guitar in fact, she performs in a band.

6. They couldn’t make it to the wedding however, they sent a lovely gift.

7. I ordered the steak my wife ordered the fish.

8. I need to go shopping my refrigerator is completely empty.

9. It’s time to begin planning we can't delay any longer.

10. She was an interesting person she knew four languages and had lived on three continents.

Place Colons where needed​
1. He promised this he would never gamble again.

2. You know what to do find him, talk to him, and bring him here.

3. I want the following items butter, sugar, flour, and eggs.

4. She has three choices run, hide, or fight.

5. There are two paths you can take the hard right or the easy wrong.

6. Here is the plan we'll meet at noon, take the bus to downtown, and enjoy the concert.

7. My goal is simple to find peace in my daily life.

8. She had one focus in life to become a successful writer.

9. We faced many challenges funding, time, and scope.

10. The conference has three main goals educate, inspire, and connect.

Place Dash & Parenthsis where needed​
1. He will win the championship unless he gets injured.

2. She bought all the groceries bread, milk, and eggs that we needed.

3. The plan as crazy as it sounds might actually work.

4. My favorite teacher Mrs. Thompson is retiring this year.

5. There are many benefits to yoga increased flexibility, stress reduction, and improved concentration.

6. He said he would never return and he never did.

7. The solution to the problem which we had not considered was right in front of us.

8. Our cat a Siamese is very vocal.

9. It was a fantastic performance truly a night to remember!

10. She moved to New York in 2009 the year of the great snowstorm.