Trigger Words
Common Triggers Same Direction because and since in fact colon (:) semicolon (;)
Very often on sentence completions, the most important clue to ETS’s answer is a trigger word: a single revealing word or expression that lets you know exactly where ETS is heading. About half of all SAT sentence completions contain trigger words. Combining trigger words with your clue makes filling in the blank a breeze.
Change Direction however although/though but in contrast to rather despite yet
Trigger words can either change the direction the sentence is going in or keep it the same. The most common change-direction trigger words are but, though, and although. These words change the direction or focus of a sentence. The most common same-direction trigger words are and and because. These are words that maintain the direction of a sentence.
Both types of trigger words provide terrific clues that you can use to find ETS’s answer. To see what we mean, take a look at the following incomplete sentences. For each one, fill in a few words that complete the thought in a plausible way. There’s no single correct answer. Just fill in something that makes sense in the context of the entire sentence: Change-direction trigger words are more common on the SAT than samedirection trigger words.
I really like you, but . I really like you, and . Here’s how one of our students filled in the blanks: I really like you, but I’m going to leave you. I really like you, and I’m going to hug you.
Analysis
In the first sentence, the word but indicates that the second half of the sentence will contradict the first half. Because the first half of the sentence is positive, the second half must be negative. I like you, but I’m going to leave you. The sentence changes direction after the trigger word but.
In the second sentence, the word and indicates that the second half of the sentence will confirm or support the first half. Because the first half of the sentence is positive, the second half must be positive as well. I like you, and I’m going to hug you. In this case, the sentence continues in the same direction after the trigger word and.
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