Syntax Attack
Do you remember how to diagram a sentence? No? That’s okay, neither do we.
You won’t have to diagram any sentences on the SAT, but you will need to think
about sentences on a structural level in order to answer syntax questions. Syntax
refers to the arrangement of the elements of a sentence. . . . In other words, the
relationship among the subject, object, and predicate (verb).
Consider the following two sentences:
- Spot was a bad dog; Spot bit me.
- Spot was a bad dog; I was bitten by Spot.
Sentence 1 is the superior option for two reasons. First, if you start out talking
about the dog, you should stick to talking about the dog. “Spot bit me” most
logically supplements “Spot was a bad dog.” Furthermore, in sentence 2, the
second clause (“I was bitten by Spot”) uses the passive voice and emphasizes the
recipient of the action (“I”). Both sentences are grammatically correct, but
sentence 1 is better because its syntax is more logical and consistent from clause
to clause.
A note about passive/active voice: Go ahead and cross off any answer-
choice written in passive voice, especially if another clause in the sentence is in
active voice. Sentences with passive verbs and active verbs jumbled together can
get really confusing and won’t sound good to your inner ear. The passive voice
should be used only when you specifically want to emphasize the recipient of an
action, often to imply that it has little control over its fate (e.g., “The man was
struck by lightning”).
Here’s a practice question with wacky syntax:
The University of Kentucky men’s basketball team was dominant in the
2014–2015 season. That season, every team that Kentucky played was
defeated, except for the Wisconsin Badgers, who won in the Final Four.The author is considering changing the second sentence. Which of
the following would best replace this sentence?
A) NO CHANGE
B) Kentucky beat every team it played that season, except for
Wisconsin, to whom it lost in the Final Four.