Metro Parent / February 2012 / 8 Grammar Tips to Help Kids on the SAT

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8 Grammar Tips to Help Kids on the SAT

Teens biting their nails over this portion of the College Board exam? Or simply looking for tricks to brush up on the ol' English? Get help here!

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5. Apples and Oranges: Comparison mismatch

Take a look at the following examples and see if you can spot the comparison mismatch.

• The novels of Ernest Hemingway are shorter than William Faulkner.
• The skyscrapers in New York are bigger than San Francisco.
• Buying soda in six packs is usually cheaper than single bottles.

The first example compares novels to people. The second compares skyscrapers to cities. The third compares buying to bottles. All three need to be made longer in order to be grammatically correct. For example:

• The novels of Ernest Hemingway are shorter than the novels of William Faulkner.
• The skyscrapers in New York are bigger than those in San Francisco.
• Buying soda in six packs is usually cheaper than buying single bottles.

These examples are all longer than their incorrect counterparts, but the extra words add precision and clarity. In short, parallel structure.