A few tips for  SAT grammar section:

-Be careful with "ing" endings (having, beginning); they are usually used incorrectly.

Ej: At only four-feet-eight-inches and ninety-four pounds, a small frame necessary for a gymnast, Mary Lou Retton captured the hearts of the American people and won a gold medal in the 1984 Olympic Games.
a.) a small frame being necessary for a gymnast
b.) having a small frame necessary for a gymnast
c.) being small-framed necessarily for gymnastics
d.) a small frame necessary for gymnastics
e.) because her small frame is necessarily for gymnastics

The correct answer is d.), although b.) is tempting. Remember to detect faulty "ing" uses on questions such as these.


-Remember to check for the noun followed by the appropriate verb.
I know this one's a must for anyone who has studied even a bit, but it's usually forgotten. Remind yourself to check at all times.

Ej: In the past, the small nation a.) had been commited to self-managed socialism, a system b.) under which the workers, c.) rather than the state, d.) owns most enterprises. e.) No error.

The correct answer is d.) because workers own enterprises, they don't owns enterprises. See how the question is set up so that you ignore the "owns" followed by "the state". This is a typical ploy used by the SAT to distract you from the correct answer. Don't be fooled by it.


-Compoud verbs with subsequent appropriate verbs.

Ej: a.) No matter how many times Julie hears her favorite song, whenever b.) it is played on the radio, she c.) will dance around the room d.) as if she has never heard the song before. e.) No error

The correct answer is c.) because "hears" does not compound with "will dance around" in order to achieve symmetry. Since "will dance around" does not compound with "hears", it needs to be chanced to "dances around".


-Check for redundancy.
This one's an easy one but it is often overlooked. Remember to check for "additional extra" or other redundant words.


-"Each" requires a singular verb.

Ej. "Each person has", not "each person have". "Each of the suspects has", not "each of the suspects have."


-Plural nouns require plural subsequent nouns.

Ej. A doctor who treats patients with broken bones to their legs or feet typically a.) outlines several stages of rehabilitation, including b.) one c.) during which such patients use d.) a cane. e.) No error

The correct answer is d.) because patients use canes, they don't use A cane.