Just as idioms lack any justification for the way they are constructed so too do idiomatic phrases. For instance, I just used a common idiomatic phrase (Just as\u2026so too; see below). In other words, certain phrases contain certain words and prepositions.<\/p>\n
To give you example, let\u2019s take the most common SAT idiomatic phrase (not only\u2026but also). When the words \u201cnot only\u201d appear, at some point in the sentence the words \u201cbut also\u201d must appear too. That\u2019s why I use those little dots in between the two phrases. Those dots mean that a bunch of words can come in between the \u201cnot only\u201d and \u201cbut also\u201d.<\/p>\n
To highlight this fact, I\u2019ve bolded the idiomatic phrase in each of the sentences below. I\u2019ve included the top 10 most common idiomatic phrases you are likely to encounter on the SAT. Indeed, this list accounts for the vast majority of idiomatic phrases you are likely to see test day.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Function<\/span>: Show that two ideas are similar. Make sure that parts of speech are parallel (I\u2019ve highlighted the parts of speech below).<\/p>\n I\u2019m not only<\/b> tired of waiting<\/i> in line but I am also frustrated at having to pay<\/i> so much for the tickets.<\/p>\n Pauline Kael not only<\/b> changed how movie reviews were written but also<\/b> influenced almost every single movie critic writing today.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Function<\/span>: Show difference between two nouns\/noun phrases<\/p>\n For the most part, when applying to college, you can take either <\/b> the SAT or <\/b>the ACT.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Function<\/span>: To show two nouns\/noun phrases do not apply in a certain instance. Remember: it is never \u201cneither\u2026or\u201d. Also, make sure that the two parts are parallel (though the SAT usually doesn\u2019t directly test this).<\/p>\n Neither<\/b> a perfect SAT score nor<\/b> a perfect GPA will guarantee admission into Harvard\u2014one must also show exceptional talent in a certain field.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Function<\/span>: Basically, whenever you see \u201cso\u201d followed by an adjective (adjective phrase) make sure that a \u201cthat\u201d follows the adjective phrase.<\/p>\n The mayor was so<\/b> revered during his time that<\/b> the citizens built a statue for him in the public square.<\/p>\n Galileo is so<\/b> often accorded the utmost respect for a scientist that<\/b> we forget that he did not always follow the scientific method in his work.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Function<\/span>: pretty straightforward<\/p>\n He was not<\/b> angry but<\/b> upset that I had forgotten to call him.<\/p>\n The SAT is not<\/b> a test of intellectual aptitude but<\/b> a measure of how well you take the SAT.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Function<\/span>: pretty straightforward<\/p>\n He likes to believe that his colleagues think of<\/b> him as<\/b> a nice guy.<\/p>\n His peers thought of<\/b> Rachmaninoff as<\/b> a throwback to the romantics; today, many musicologists maintain that the composer was far more forward thinking than his contemporaries knew.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Function<\/span>: compare two things. Remember, it is never \u201cas\u2026than\u201d<\/p>\n The lion is not as<\/b> fast as<\/b> the cheetah.<\/p>\n While the novels of Thomas Hardy are not as<\/b> wide known as <\/b>those of Charles Dickens, Hardy is more highly esteemed amongst academics than is Dickens.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Function<\/span>: To show that a person or thing has two opposite traits or behaves in two opposite ways. Therefore, A and B will basically be opposites.<\/p>\n At once<\/b> charming<\/i> and<\/b> rude<\/i>, George flattered the hosts while ignoring the other guests.<\/p>\n At once<\/b> enlightened<\/i> because of his extensive knowledge of ancient civilizations and<\/b> uninformed<\/i> because of his total lack of interest in current events, Johnson, it is said, lives in a time warp.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Function<\/span>: to show that two different nouns or noun phrases are equal. The parenthesis around the \u201ctoo\u201d means that the \u201ctoo\u201d is optional.<\/p>\n Just as<\/b> running will get you into quick shape, so<\/b> will swimming.<\/p>\n Just as<\/b> Picasso revolutionized the way an artist approaches the canvas, so too<\/b> Beethoven utterly changed the way <\/i>a composer approaches the symphonic form.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Function<\/span>: This is to show the difference between A and B (but I\u2019m sure you knew that). The reason this is tricky is that especially on the Identifying the Error section, the SAT will replace \u201cand\u201d with \u201cor\u201d.<\/p>\n Between<\/b> you and <\/b>me, the SAT likes to trap students who think that the pronoun \u201cI\u201d is always preferable to \u201cme\u201d.<\/p>\n Since colleges know that students will have trouble choosing between<\/b> one major and<\/b> the array of different fields offered by the college curriculum, they allow students to remain \u201cundecided\u201d for up to 2 years.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Just as idioms lack any justification for the way they are constructed so too do idiomatic phrases. For instance, I just used a common idiomatic phrase (Just as\u2026so too; see below). In other words, certain phrases contain certain words and prepositions. To give you example, let\u2019s take the most common SAT idiomatic phrase (not only\u2026but […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[91],"tags":[41,84],"ppma_author":[24882],"class_list":["post-1420","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-all","tag-sat-idioms","tag-sat-writing-section"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n2) Either\u2026or<\/h2>\n
3) Neither\u2026nor<\/h2>\n
4) So\u2026that<\/h2>\n
5) Not A but B<\/h2>\n
6) Think of\u2026as<\/h2>\n
7) As\u2026as<\/h2>\n
8) At once A and B (the A and B stand for adjectives that must come between \u201cat once\u201d and \u201cand\u201d)<\/h2>\n
9) Just as\u2026so(too)<\/h2>\n
10) Between A and B<\/h2>\n