Sentence Correction -- GMAT

idiom x was dated...

..at y

How long to spend on sentence correction:

1 minute 20 seconds

Sentence Correction Process

1. Take a first glance 2. Read for meaning 3. Find a starting point 4. Eliminate (everything you can) 5. Repeat ( until you have eliminated all wrong answers)

a is to b what y was to z.

Idiom

Adjective

Modifies only a noun or a pronoun

Their

The plural pronoun needs to point to a plural noun

Prepositional phrases

They are there mostly to distract you. The words in those prep phrases are not going to be the subject for the verb

Independent clauses

They, at the very least, have a subject and a verb. Every correct sentence must have at least one independent clause.

Dependent Clause

This also contains a verb but cannot stand alone as a sentence.

Idiom Estimated...

To be x...

Adverbial Modifiers

can modify verbs, entire clauses or other modifiers They can be further away from what they are modifying

Semicolon ";"

can only be used if the part before is a complete sentence and the part after is a complete sentence

Pronoun "which"

cannot modify people

Idiom

commonly used phrase where the literal meaning differs greatly from the figurative meaning For example: I'm down literally: speaker is in a position lower than that of the listener Actual: I am willing to do something

when you see the phrase "more than doubled" or"more than double" you need to think of a ....

comparison

so as to means...

in order to

The rule about .... , which is that

it is going to refer to the first noun before the comma that it can possibly refer to.

List of prepositions

of mice in Zambia to the store For milk with her on their orders by 1800 at that level from the office

"at some time" versus "some time"

put an actual time instead of some time to try and understand better. at 5:00 PM something happened

The pronouns "Who" and "whom"

these must modify people. On the other hand

The placement of only matters ....

think about who did what

Words that end with "ly"

usually are adverbs and modify Many adverbs end with "ly" since it is a quick way to turn an adjective into an adverb - "sad" becomes "sadly" and "perfect" becomes "perfectly." The "ly" suffix is also an excellent way to describe how something, or how often, something is done.

Dependent clauses

which begin with connecting words such as "who" or "because" cannot stand alone as sentences. Nor are they apart of the main subject or main verb; rather, they are always attached to independent clauses. If a dependent clause is stripped out of a sentence, what remains is still a complete sentence.

When the gmat serves you a description between commas, you can pretend those commas are parentheses, and pretty much ignore all of that

My cat, which has fleas, is big

Pay attention to three things during your first glance: 1. Is the underline very long? Very Short? 2. What is the first underlined word? What is the word right before? 3. What are the differences among the first word or two of each answer?

1. Very long underlines often signal issues with sentence structure, meaning, modifiers, and parallelism Very short underlines (less than 5 words) may lead you to compare the answers in full before reading the original sentence. 2. The nature of the first underlined word (or the word just before) can give you ca clue about one of the issues tested in the sentence. For example, if the word HAS is the first underlined word, the sentence is likely testing either subject-verb agreements or verb tense, since has is a verb 3. There will always be at least one difference at the beginning of the answers (as well as one at the end). It's easy to glance down the first word or two of each answer, so do so. If the first word switches between has and have, for example, then you know the sentence is testing singular vs plural. Now you can actively look for the relevant subject when you read the original sentence.

Cellular phones and fax machines are to today's business world "just as dictation and a stenographer was" to a former time. A.) just as dictation and a stenographer was B.) as dictation and stenographers have been C.) what dictation and stenographers were D.) what dictation and a stenographer is E.) just like dictation and stenographers are

A. No. Idiom: "a is to b what y was to z." Also, subject-verb agreement ("dictation and a stenographer" should go with "were" not was). B. No. Idiom: "a is to b what y was to z." Also, tense. You should use the simple past because the "former time" is over. C. Yes. The correct idiom is: "a is to b what y was to z." D. No. Subject-verb agreement ("dictation and a stenographer" should go with "are" not "is," except the correct tense would be "were"). E. No. Idiom: "a is to b what y was to z." Also, tense: this should be in the past tense. Subject Area: Sentence Correction Categories: Idiom

A noted psychoanalyst claims that the causes of mental illness are mainly environmental—extreme poverty, lack of adequate parenting, and sexual abuse—"and chemical imbalances rarely." A.) and chemical imbalances rarely B.) and chemical imbalance being rare C.) with chemical imbalance as rare D.) chemical imbalances a rarity E.) with chemical imbalance as a rarity

A. No. Parallel construction: you need a noun ("a rarity"). B. No. "Being" is almost always wrong on the GMAT. C. No. "As rare" as what? D. No. Missing a connector word. Also, "imbalances" does not parallel the previous singular nouns. E. Yes. Awful as it sounds, this is the correct choice. Subject Area: Sentence Correction Categories: Parallel Construction

The corporation's regulations require that "managers order a discharged employee to clean out their desk" immediately and turn in all company identification. A.) managers order a discharged employee to clean out their desk B.) a manager order discharged employees to clean out their desks C.) managers order discharged employees that they should clean out their desks D.) managers order a discharged employee that they should clean out their desks E.) a manager order discharged employees to clean out his desk

A. No. Pronoun ("employee" does not equal "their"). B. Yes. This choice corrects the pronoun problem by referring to "employees" as "their." C. No. Idiom ("order...to"). D. No. Pronoun ("employee" does not equal "they"). E. No. Pronoun ("employees" does not equal "his"). Subject Area: Sentence Correction Categories: Pronoun Agreement

The editorial revisions and the new, highly technical foreword "has helped make this edition superior to" previous ones. A.) has helped make this edition superior to B.) has helped make this edition superior to those of C.) has helped to make this edition more superior than D.) have helped to make this edition superior over the E.) have helped make this edition superior to

A. No. Subject/Verb Agreement. Because there are two subjects, revisions and foreword, you need a plural verb, not "has helped" which is singular. B. No. Subject/Verb Agreement. Because there are two subjects, revisions and foreword, you need a plural verb, not "has helped" which is singular. C. No. Subject/Verb Agreement. Because there are two subjects, revisions and foreword, you need a plural verb, not "has helped" which is singular. D. No. Idiom. The correct idiom is "superior to" not "superior over." E. Yes. This sentence demonstrates proper subject/verb agreement (revisions and foreword with have helped) and uses the idiom "superior to" correctly. Subject Area: Sentence Correction Categories: Subject Verb Agreement TPR Strategies: 2/3 Split Beginning

Forcing children who show a preference for their left hand to use their right hand may not only result in speech "difficulties, creating behavioral problems." A.) difficulties, creating behavioral problems B.) difficulties but also creating behavioral problems C.) difficulties but may also create behavioral problems D.) difficulties; it also creates behavioral problems E.) difficulties; behavioral problems themselves are also created by it

A. No. The idiom should be "not only ... but also." B. No. Since the verb in the first part of the "not only ... but also" idiom is "may result", the verb in the second part must have the same form. "May creating" is incorrect. C. Yes. The idiom should be "not only ... but also." D. No. The pronoun "it" is ambiguous, since it could refer to "preference" or to "hand." E. No. The pronoun "it" is ambiguous, since it could refer to "preference" or to "hand." Subject Area: Sentence Correction Categories: Idiom, Pronoun Ambiguity

Each of the participants in the seminar on linguistics needs to register by March 1, "send final payment no later than April 12, and order their textbooks at least two weeks before classes begin." A.) send final payment no later than April 12, and order their textbooks at least two weeks before classes begin. B.) send final payment no later than April 12, and order her textbooks at least two weeks before classes begin. C.)send their final payment no later than April 12, and order textbooks at least two weeks before classes begin. D.) send final payment and order textbooks no later than April 12, at least two weeks before classes begin. E.) send final payment before April 12, and have ordered her textbooks at least two weeks before classes begin.

A. No. The subject of the sentence is "each." The pronoun in this answer choice is "their." A singular pronoun needs to replace a singular subject. The correct answer choice is B. B. Yes. The subject of the sentence, "each," is singular, and the pronoun replacing it is also singular. The correct answer choice is B. C. No. The placement of the pronoun within the sentence is not the issue. The subject of the sentence is "each." The pronoun in this answer choice is "their." A singular pronoun needs to replace a singular subject. The correct answer choice is B. D. No. The plural pronoun is eliminated, but combining the parts of the sentence in this way changes the meaning of the sentence. The correct answer choice is B. E. No. This choice correctly changes "their" to "her", but it introduces a new error by unnecessarily changing the verb tense. The correct answer choice is B. Subject Area: Sentence Correction Categories: Pronoun Agreement

From tons of steel and miles of twisted cables, J.A. Roebling and his son W.A. Roebling constructed the Brooklyn Bridge, which has since withstood over one hundred years of damaging "weather so sturdy" that engineers expect it to last at least another hundred years. A.) weather so sturdy B.) weather being so sturdy C.) weather, yet its sturdiness is such D.) weather, and of such sturdiness E.) weather, and is so sturdy

A. No. This changes the meaning of the sentence. "The weather" isn't sturdy, the bridge is. B. No. Avoid "being." C. No. Avoid noun forms that replace perfectly good verb forms. "Its sturdiness is such" is wordy and awkward. D. No. Avoid noun forms that replace perfectly good verb forms. "Of such sturdiness" is wordy and awkward. E. Yes. This is clear. Subject Area: Sentence Correction Categories: Clauses and Connectors

"At first sight, Elsinor Castle, with its glass windows and sophisticated casements, was" disappointingly modern, but as one walks through the portal one begins to feel the presence of history. A.) At first sight, Elsinor Castle, with its glass windows and sophisticated casements, was B.) At first sight, Elsinor Castle, which has glass windows and sophisticated casements, was C.) At first sight, Elsinor Castle, with its glass windows and sophisticated casements, is D.) Elsinor Castle, with its glass windows and sophisticated casements at first sight is E.) Elsinor Castle, at first sight, with its glass windows and sophisticated casements, are

A. No. Verb Tense. Because the two verbs in the non-underlined portion of the sentence, walks and begins, are in the present tense, the verb in the underlined portion, was, should also be in the present tense. Remember: Read the entire sentence when looking for errors. B. No. Verb Tense. Because the two verbs in the non-underlined portion of the sentence, walks and begins, are in the present tense, the verb in the underlined portion, was, should also be in the present tense. Remember: Read the entire sentence when looking for errors. C. Yes. The verb in the underlined portion of the sentence (is) is in the present tense as are the verbs in the non-underlined portion of the sentence (walks and begins). D. No. Misplaced Modifier. A modifier should be next to the thing it modifies, right? So, the phrase at first sight should be next to Elsinor Castle, not casements. E. No. Subject/Verb Agreement. While the verb are is correctly in the present tense, it should be singular (is) to agree with its subject Elsinor Castle. Subject Area: Sentence Correction Categories: Parallel Construction

Some epidemiologists believe that the Ebola virus originally "has emerged from an animal host in less populated regions of Africa where there is more frequent contact" between humans and wild animals. A.) has emerged from an animal host in less populated regions of Africa where there is more frequent contact B.) was emerging from an animal host in a sparsely populated region of Africa where there is contact more frequent C.) emerged from an animal host where there is more frequent contact in a sparsely populated region of Africa D.) emerged from an animal host in less populated regions of Africa where there is more frequent contact E.) was emerging in a sparsely populated region of Africa from an animal host where there is more frequent contact

A. No. Verb tense: "has" signals an unfinished action, but "originally" tells us that the action must have been finished in the past. Thus, we need a simple past tense. B. No. Verb tense: "was emerging" means that the virus was in the process of emerging when something else in the past happened. However, there is no other simple past event occurring simultaneously in our sentence, so this tense must be incorrect. Also, this sentence contains a word order error: "contact more frequent" should be "more frequent contact." C. No. Idiom: "an animal host" is not a location, so it can't be followed by "where" ("where" is used for location only). The rest of the sentence is also awkward and unclear. D. Yes. The stem's Verb tense problem has been fixed by the use of the simple past "emerged." E. No. Verb tense: "was emerging" means that the virus was in the process of emerging when something else in the past happened. However, there is no other simple past event occurring simultaneously in our sentence, so this tense must be incorrect. Also, "an animal host" is not a location, so it can't be followed by "where." Subject Area: Sentence Correction Categories: Verb Tense - Present Perfect

Ski season in the continents of the Southern Hemisphere lasts from June to August "because these months consistently have the coldest temperatures." A.) because these months consistently have the coldest temperatures B.) since the coldest temperatures are consistent C.) since they consistently have the coldest temperatures D.) which consistently have the coldest temperatures E.) these consistently have the coldest temperature

A. Yes. Clear and concise. B. No. Meaning. This indicates that the cold is constant, and there is no reason for mentioning July and August specifically. C. No. Pronoun. "They" is ambiguous; does it mean the months or the "continents?" D. No. Pronoun. "Which" is ambiguous; does it mean the months or the "continents?" E. No. Pronoun. "These" is ambiguous; does it mean the months or the "continents?" Subject Area: Sentence Correction Categories: Pronoun Ambiguity

"From 1990 to 1996 the processing capacity of personal computers increased between 25 and 30 percent annually." A. From 1990 to 1996 the processing capacity of personal computers increased between 25 and 30 percent annually. B. Twenty-five to thirty percent is the annual increase in the processing capacity of personal computers in the years 1990 to 1996. C. The processing capacity of personal computers has increased annually 25 and 30 percent in the years 1982 to 1987. D. Annually an increase from 25 to 30 percent has occurred between 1990 and 1996 in the processing capacity of personal computers. E. Occurring from 1990 to 1996 was an annual increase of 25 to 30 percent in the processing capacity of personal computers

A. Yes. This is direct and to the point. B. No. Verb tense: we are dealing with the past, so the increase "was" 25-30%, not "is." C. No. Verb tense: we are dealing with an event completed in the past, so it's incorrect to say that the capacity "has" increased. Also, Idiom: the increase should be expressed as "between 25 and 30 percent" or as "25 to 30 percent." D. No. Verb tense: we are dealing with an event completed in the past, so it's incorrect to say that the increase "has" occurred. E. No. It is too awkward to make the increase the subject of the sentence. The subject should be "capacity" and increase should be what happened to the capacity. Subject Area: Sentence Correction Categories: Verb Tense - Present Perfect

Began vs. Begun

Began = Conjugated verb ( I began, They began to study yesterday) Begun = Past Participle (Use this in more complex verb forms like "they have begun" or

If you are going to use a -ing word to modify the word in front of it, there is not going to be a comma there. When there is a comma there the ing word will modify something else in the sentence.

EX: as the killer whale, growing Comma creates a separation between the whale and the growing, and it makes it seem as if the whale is not doing the growing.

Whats wrong and why? The processing capacity of personal computers has increased annually 25 and 30 percent in the years 1982 to 1987. Annually an increase from 25 to 30 percent has occurred between 1990 and 1996 in the processing capacity of personal computers.

No. Verb tense: we are dealing with an event completed in the past, so it's incorrect to say that the capacity "has" increased. Also, Idiom: the increase should be expressed as "between 25 and 30 percent" or as "25 to 30 percent." D. No. Verb tense: we are dealing with an event completed in the past, so it's incorrect to say that the increase "has" occurred.

which

Modifies or describes the word right before it.

Noun modifier Markers: Relative Pronouns

Noun modifiers are often introduced by relative pronouns such as the following: Which That Who Whose Whom Where When The words above always signal noun modifiers with the exception of the word "That" which can sometimes signal other structures. A noun followed immediately after the word that signal a noun modifier. A verb followed immediately by the word THAT signals the more complex sentence structure subject- verb -THAT - subject - verb - object

Idiom Paws are to dogs...feet are to people.

Paws are to dogs what feet are to people

A recent study suggests that an explosion in the sun some 100 million years ago may have caused changes in the Earth's atmospheric conditions, the onset of cyclic seasons, "splitting apart complex molecules", and alterations in the Earth's seismic zones. A.) splitting apart complex molecules B.) split apart complex molecules C.) the splitting apart of complex molecules D.) complex molecules split apart E.) complex molecules that were split apart

Since the sentence appears to contain a list: changes, the onset, alterations, you want to see if all the noun forms maintain parallel construction with the underlined word splitting. The underlined verb splitting is not parallel to the noun forms. Eliminate Choice A and inspect the remaining answers. Splitting can be transformed into a noun by adding the article the. The splitting is a gerund, or noun form, and is parallel to the other nouns in the list. Any answer choices without the noun form of splitting are wrong. In Choice B, the verb split is not parallel to the noun forms: changes, the onset, alterations. So you can eliminate Choice B. You can quickly eliminate Choices D and E because the phrases starting with complex molecules are not parallel to the other noun phrases. The correct answer is Choice C. If you were unsure about how to proceed, you could have also looked for changes in the answer choices. You have a 2/3 split at the end. Choices A, B and C end with complex molecules while the remaining answers all end with split apart. That difference indicates that you should check for parallel constructions of the noun forms. You can now distinguish between the verb split and the noun the splitting. Choice C has parallel noun forms and is correct. Choice A: The verb splitting is not parallel to the noun forms: changes, the onset, alterations. Parallel Construction. Choice B: The verb split is not parallel to the noun forms: changes, the onset, alterations. Parallel Construction. Choice C: Correct Choice D: The verb split is not parallel to the noun forms: changes, the onset, alterations. Also, the phrase starting with complex molecules is not parallel to the other noun phrases. Parallel Construction. Choice E: The verb split is not parallel to the noun forms: changes, the onset, alterations. Also, the p

Equipped with hundreds of rifles and pikes and leading a band of twenty-one men, John Brown, the most famous revolutionary of the U.S. abolitionist movement, instigated a raid on Harpers Ferry, Virginia, in "1859, was captured on the third day of the attack and ultimately had been defeated, being unable" to gain the support of the local slave population. A.) 1859, was captured on the third day of the attack and ultimately had been defeated, being unable B.) 1859, was captured on the third day of the attack, while ultimately being defeated because he had failed C.) 1859, was captured on the third day of the attack, and was ultimately defeated because he had failed D.) 1859, captured on the third day of the attack, and was ultimately defeated because he failed E. ) 1859, having been captured on the third day of the attack and ultimately defeated, being unable

Since there are three verbs that share the same subject, check for parallel construction. Instigated and was captured are in past tense, but had been defeated is in past perfect tense. Eliminate A and look for other parallel construction errors. In Choice B being is not parallel with the other verbs, so eliminate Choice B. Now compare the remaining answers. Choice D takes away the helping verb that accompanies captured in the original sentence, changing the verb from passive to active. This change alters the meaning of the sentence. John Brown was captured; he did not do the capturing. Eliminate Choice D. Choice E changes two of the main verbs to a modifying phrase and thereby also changes the meaning of the sentence. Choice E makes it sound as though John Brown instigated the raid after he was captured and defeated. Eliminate Choice E. In Choice C all three verbs are parallel, and the sentence makes sense. If you were unsure of the grammar rule being tested, you could also look for changes in the answer choices. The fact that the verb forms are changing is a clue that there may be a parallel construction error. Choice A: The verbs in the list instigated...was captured...and ultimately defeated are not parallel. Parallel Construction. Choice B: Being is not parallel with instigated and was captured. Parallel Construction. Choice C: Correct. Choice D: Changing captured from passive to active voice alters the meaning of the sentence. Changes the meaning. Choice E: The phrase having been captured on the third day of the attack and ultimately defeated is not parallel with the non-underlined verb and changes the meaning of the sentence. Parallel Construction.

What is has helped

Singular

Noun modifiers

Such as adjectives, modify only a noun or a pronoun For example: The smart student works quickly Here the adjective smart modifies the noun student, while the adverb quickly modifies the verb works. Many adverbs are formed by adding -ly to the adjective.

Adverbial Modifiers

Such as adverbs, can modify verbs, adjectives, prepositional phrases, even entire clauses, but they do not modify plain nouns. Here the adjective smart modifies the noun student, while the adverb quickly modifies the verb works. Many adverbs are formed by adding -ly to the adjective.

There are many ways for an author to find representation for his first novel, but the most common method has been "the writing of a query letter that concisely explains the novel, and, after adequately researching agents, the letter is sent" to agents who might be a good match. A.) the writing of a query letter that concisely explains the novel, and, after adequately researching agents, the letter is sent B.) writing a query letter that concisely explains the novel, and, after adequately researching agents, to send the letter C.) to write a query letter that concisely explains the novel, and, after adequately researching agents, to send the letter D.) having a query letter written that concisely explains the novel, and, after adequately researching agents, the letter was sent E.) that a query letter was written concisely explaining the novel, which, after adequately researching agents, was sent

The purpose of this sentence is to explain a common way for authors to find representation for a novel. The steps of the method should be parallel, but in the original sentence the writing of is not parallel to it is sent. The writing of functions as a noun, while it is sent is a subject/verb clause. You can eliminate Choice A. Choice B also has a similar problem, because writing and to send are not parallel. Choice C correctly uses the parallel forms of to write and to send, so don't eliminate it. Choice D has a parallel construction problem as well, with the phrases having a query letter written and the letter was sent. This answer choice also has a verb tense error. Was sent is past tense, but the letter was not sent before the agents were researched. Choice E doesn't have the letter mentioned again with the sent verb, so that answer choice makes it sound like the novel is the item being sent to the agents. This answer also sounds like the novel is adequately researching agents. You can eliminate Choice E. This leaves Choice C as the best answer. Choice A: The writing and it is sent are not parallel. Parallel Construction. Choice B: The writing and to send are not parallel. Parallel Construction. Choice C: Correct Choice D: Having a query letter written and the letter was sent are not parallel. Parallel Construction. Choice E: After adequately researching agents should modify the method of the writer, not the novel itself. Misplaced Modifier. Subject Area: Sentence Correction Categories: Parallel Construction TPR Strategies: No 2/3 Split

Spending enormous amounts out of the French treasury, Catherine de Medici sponsored the construction of numerous edifices and statues during her reign, influenced by "the historic buildings of her native Italy and by her admiration for the architectural patronage of her father-in-law, and propelled by a need to commemorate her deceased husband, Henry II." A.) the historic buildings of her native Italy and by her admiration for the architectural patronage of her father-in-law, and propelled by a need to commemorate her deceased husband, Henry II B.) the historic buildings of her native Italy and admiring the architectural patronage of her father-in-law, and propelling the need to commemorate her deceased husband, Henry II C.) the historic buildings of her native Italy, her admiration for the architectural patronage of her father-in-law, and propelled by a need to commemorate her deceased husband, Henry II

This sentence is correct as written. The sentence includes a list stating that the construction projects were influenced by and propelled by certain factors in Catherine de Medici's life. This list is parallel, because the verb forms are congruent. There is also a sub-list, following influenced by, consisting of the historic buildings and her admiration. This sub-list is also parallel, because the two items are both expressed as noun forms. Since there is no error in the original sentence, and the sentence contains lists, check the remaining answer choices to determine whether any contain errors of parallel construction. Choice B provides the phrase the historic buildings... and admiring. Here, one item in the sub-list has a noun form while the other has a verb form. Furthermore, the original propelled by has become propelling, which no longer matches influenced by. This choice is not parallel, so eliminate Choice B. Choice C violates parallelism by the omission of the word and in the sub-list. This omission erroneously merges the list expressed between the two verbs influenced by and propelled by with the sub-list expressed by the two noun forms the historic buildings and her admiration. The resulting sentence is not parallel and is confusing, so eliminate Choice C. Choice D and Choice E both replace the original phrase the historic buildings of her native Italy with the building of her historic native Italy, which confuses the sense of the sentence: shifting the meaning from talking about the buildings (individual structures) of Italy to the building (construction) of Italy. In addition, in Choice D the items in the list are no longer parallel. Choice E also repeats the error found in Choice B, changing propelled by to propelling. Eliminate Choice D and Choice E. Choice A: Correct. Choice B: The list the histor

She plays classical instruments like the cello and the oboe

We are not supposed to list examples using the word like. A fix could be: She plays classical instruments such as cello and oboe

GMAT makes sentences complicated by adding sentences between the subject and the verb or put multiple subject verb pairs in the sentence. use compound subject and verbs forget the verb entirely.

a