Reading and Writing · 02 · Grammar Foundations · Free
Parts of Speech
Notes
Key points
- Eight parts: noun, pronoun, verb, adjective, adverb, preposition, conjunction, interjection.
- The SAT never asks you to name a part of speech — it tests the form.
- One word, different jobs: “light” can be a noun, a verb or an adjective.
- Adjective → describes a noun. Adverb → describes a verb, adjective or adverb.
- In every Conventions question, find the subject and main verb first.
Rules
Adjectives describe nouns; adverbs describe verbs, adjectives and adverbs.
The results were surprisingly consistent.
The results were surprising consistent.
Every sentence needs a subject and a main verb.
The researchers tested the samples.
The researchers testing the samples.
Common traps
- Taking a noun inside a prepositional phrase for the subject.
- Treating an -ing word as the main verb: “testing” alone can't be one.
SAT tip
When the four choices differ only in form (quick/quickly, its/it's), ask what job the word does in the sentence.
Test yourself
10 official SAT questions on Parts of Speech, easiest first.