Cracking The SAT Premium

The speakers    of  what    has come    to  be  known   as   1 Appalachian  English has used    a   form    of

English that    few can explain.

1.

A) NO CHANGE

B) Appalachian  English uses

C) Appalachian  English use

D) Appalachian  English using

Here’s How to Crack It

First, as always, check what’s changing in the answer choices. In this case, Appalachian English stays the
same, but the forms of the verb to use change. Therefore, because the verbs change, we know that the
question is testing verbs.

When you see verbs changing in the answer choices, the first thing to check is the subject of the sentence.
Is the verb consistent with the subject? In this case, it’s not. The subject of this sentence is speakers,
which is plural. Therefore, (A) and (B) have to be eliminated, and (D) creates an incomplete idea. Only
(C) can work in the context.

Thus, when you see verbs changing in the answer choices, check the subject first. Subjects and verbs need
to be consistent with each other.

Let’s have a look at another.

Many    scholars    believe Appalachian pronunciation   comes   from    Scots-Irish immigration,    but 

2 some  theorizes   that    this    dialect of  English may be  closer  to  what    Londoners   spoke   in

Elizabethan times.

2.

A) NO CHANGE

B) some theorized

C) some have    theorized

D) some theorize

Here’s How to Crack It

Check what’s changing in the answer choices. The word some remains consistent, but the verbs are
changing. Remember from the first question that whenever you see verbs changing, make sure the verb is
consistent with the subject. Because the subject of this sentence is some, you can eliminate (A), which
isn’t consistent.