Sentence Correction

Compound subject

Bill and Joe walk to the store every day.

The sauce was so hot as to burn my mouth.

Sounds awkward but apparently appears in correct answers occasionaly

Prepositional phrase

Prepositional phrase: phase that begins with a preposition: of mice, in Zambia, to the store, for milk, with her, on their orders, by 1800, at that level, from the office

1. China�s economy continues to flourish this year: industrial production grew, inflation has eased, and the trade surplus swelled. A. grew, inflation has eased, and the trade surplus swelled B. has grown, inflation has eased, and the trade surplus swelled C. has grown, inflation eased, and the trade surplus has swelled D. has grown, inflation eased, and the trade surplus is swelling E. is growing, inflation easing and the trade surplus swelling

1. China�s economy continues to flourish this year: industrial production grew, inflation has eased, and the trade surplus swelled. A. grew, inflation has eased, and the trade surplus swelled B. has grown, inflation has eased, and the trade surplus swelled C. has grown, inflation eased, and the trade surplus has swelled D. has grown, inflation eased, and the trade surplus is swelling E. is growing, inflation easing and the trade surplus swelling Correct Answer: E Explanation: This is a simple matter of making the items in the list parallel. If we use the present perfect tenses (has grown etc.) we can put �has� in all the items, or put it once (in front of the first item), but we can't put it in any other arrangement. This rule gets rid of A, B and C. D switches between present perfect and present continuous, whereas E, the correct answer, sticks with the present continuous.

2. Wordsworth was one of the first European poet to consider the lowliest members of society to be valid subjects for poetry. A. European poet to consider the lowliest members of society to be B. of European poets to consider the lowliest members of society to be C. European poets to consider the lowliest members of society as D. among European poets to consider the lowliest members of society as E. European poets to consider the lowliest members of society

2. Wordsworth was one of the first European poet to consider the lowliest members of society to be valid subjects for poetry. A. European poet to consider the lowliest members of society to be B. of European poets to consider the lowliest members of society to be C. European poets to consider the lowliest members of society as D. among European poets to consider the lowliest members of society as E. European poets to consider the lowliest members of society Correct Answer: E Explanation: The word �consider� is not usually followed by �as� or �to be� (at least on GMAT!) . This rule points directly to answer E.

The impostor eluded detection for so long because she conducted herself as though she were a licensed practitioner. A. as though she were a licensed practitioner. B. as though she was a licensed practitioner. C. like she was a licensed practitioner. D. like as if she was a licensed practitioner. E. as if she was a practitioner with a license.

3. The impostor eluded detection for so long because she conducted herself as though she were a licensed practitioner. A. as though she were a licensed practitioner. B. as though she was a licensed practitioner. C. like she was a licensed practitioner. D. like as if she was a licensed practitioner. E. as if she was a practitioner with a license. Correct Answer: A Explanation: The sentence is correct because we change was to were in situations that are counter to fact or highly unlikely.

4. Being abandoned by our friends is the cause of great sorrow for us. A. Being abandoned by our friends is the cause of great sorrow for us. B. Our being abandoned by our friends is the cause of great sorrow. C. Being abandoned by our friends, we feel great sorrow. D. Abandoned by our friends, sorrow is the result. E. We feel great sorrow when our friends abandon us.

4. Being abandoned by our friends is the cause of great sorrow for us. A. Being abandoned by our friends is the cause of great sorrow for us. B. Our being abandoned by our friends is the cause of great sorrow. C. Being abandoned by our friends, we feel great sorrow. D. Abandoned by our friends, sorrow is the result. E. We feel great sorrow when our friends abandon us. Correct Answer: E Explanation: The constructions using being are awkward and wordy. Answer D is an example of a dangling modifier. Only Answer E is clear, and in the active voice throughout. Pay attention to tense. Notice E is saying the same thing but more clear

4. The United Nations� Human Development Index takes into account life expectancy, education, as well as income per person. A. into account life expectancy, education, as well as income per person B. life expectancy, education, as well as income per person into account C. into account life expectancy and education, as well as income per person D. into account life expectancy, and education, and income per person E. life expectancy, education, and income per person in its account

4. The United Nations� Human Development Index takes into account life expectancy, education, as well as income per person. A. into account life expectancy, education, as well as income per person B. life expectancy, education, as well as income per person into account C. into account life expectancy and education, as well as income per person D. into account life expectancy, and education, and income per person E. life expectancy, education, and income per person in its account Correct Answer: C Explanation: The problem with the original sentence is the list: we need to have an �and� at the right point. We can have a list such as �a, b, and c� when we intend the items to have equal weight. Or we can have a list such as �a and b, as well as c� if the first two items are to be taken together. But we cannot have a list like this: a, b, as well as c. Nor can we have �a and b and c�. Using this information we can eliminate A, B and D. Of the remaining choices, C is best as E is awkward and brings in an unnecessary �its�.

5. Your taking a loan to buy a car annoyed Father. A. Your taking a loan to buy a car annoyed Father. B. Your taking a loan to buy a car aggravated Father. C. You taking a loan to buy a car irritated Father. D. You taking a loan to buy a car annoyed Father. E. Father was annoyed by you taking a loan to buy a car.

5. Your taking a loan to buy a car annoyed Father. A. Your taking a loan to buy a car annoyed Father. B. Your taking a loan to buy a car aggravated Father. C. You taking a loan to buy a car irritated Father. D. You taking a loan to buy a car annoyed Father. E. Father was annoyed by you taking a loan to buy a car. Correct Answer: A Explanation: We need a possessive form of a pronoun in front of a gerund, so you taking is wrong.

6. The psychologist reported that the most common problems undergraduates experience stem from a lack of self-esteem, difficulty in adjusting to university life and loneliness. A. the most common problems undergraduates experience stem from a lack of self-esteem, difficulty in adjusting to university life and loneliness B. the most common problems undergraduates experienced stemmed from a lack of self-esteem, difficulty in adjusting to university life and loneliness C. the most common problems undergraduates experience stem from loneliness, a lack of self-esteem, and difficulty in adjusting to university life D. the most common problem undergraduates have experienced stems from a lack of self-esteem, loneliness, and difficulty in adjusting to university life E. the most common problems undergraduates had experienced stem from difficulty in adjusting to university life, lack of self-esteem, and loneliness

6. The psychologist reported that the most common problems undergraduates experience stem from a lack of self-esteem, difficulty in adjusting to university life and loneliness. A. the most common problems undergraduates experience stem from a lack of self-esteem, difficulty in adjusting to university life and loneliness B. the most common problems undergraduates experienced stemmed from a lack of self-esteem, difficulty in adjusting to university life and loneliness C. the most common problems undergraduates experience stem from loneliness, a lack of self-esteem, and difficulty in adjusting to university life D. the most common problem undergraduates have experienced stems from a lack of self-esteem, loneliness, and difficulty in adjusting to university life E. the most common problems undergraduates had experienced stem from difficulty in adjusting to university life, lack of self-esteem, and loneliness Correct Answer: C Explanation: This is another problem about lists. In a list in which the items are of unequal word length, it is better to put the shortest first and longest last. Putting the items in this order avoids the confusion we get in A where it might appear that �difficulty in adjusting� refers to both university life and loneliness. In E �difficulty in adjusting to� seems to refer to all three items. The correct answer, C, puts the items in the best order. Also note that the psychologist is making a general statement and so we need the present tense not the past that appears in B, D and E.

7. After working for two hours, the essay started to take shape, and he began to hope that he might finish before the deadline. A. After working for two hours, the essay started to take shape, and he began to hope B. When the essay started to take shape after he had worked on it for two hours, he began to hope C. When the essay started to take shape after he had worked on it for two hours, he begun to hope D. When the essay started to take shape after working on it for two hours, he began to hope E. After working for two hours, the student's essay started to take shape, and he began to hope

7. After working for two hours, the essay started to take shape, and he began to hope that he might finish before the deadline. A. After working for two hours, the essay started to take shape, and he began to hope B. When the essay started to take shape after he had worked on it for two hours, he began to hope C. When the essay started to take shape after he had worked on it for two hours, he begun to hope D. When the essay started to take shape after working on it for two hours, he began to hope E. After working for two hours, the student's essay started to take shape, and he began to hope Correct Answer: B Explanation: Answers A and E start with a dangling modifier. Answer C uses begun instead of began and D is unclear because we do not know who is working.

7. Between you and I, I doubt that he will come. A. and I, I doubt that he will come. B. and I, I doubt that he would come. C. and me, I doubt that he will come. D. and me, I doubt that he would come. E. and me, I doubt whether he will be coming.

7. Between you and I, I doubt that he will come. A. and I, I doubt that he will come. B. and I, I doubt that he would come. C. and me, I doubt that he will come. D. and me, I doubt that he would come. E. and me, I doubt whether he will be coming. Correct Answer: C Explanation: After the preposition between the pronouns should be in the object form and so we need me and not I. After doubt the simple future tense is correct. I for subject. Me for object. Same as who whom they them. Makes sense, I hit them. They hit me.

8. After arduous months of fighting, the sight of the white flag being raised generated as much relief on the victor's side than it did on the vanquished. A. as much relief on the victor's side than it did on the vanquished. B. as much relief among the victors as among the vanquished. C. as much relief on the victor's side as it did on the vanquished's. D. relief both on the victor's side as well as on the vanquished's. E. relief both for the victor and the vanquished side.

8. After arduous months of fighting, the sight of the white flag being raised generated as much relief on the victor's side than it did on the vanquished. A. as much relief on the victor's side than it did on the vanquished. B. as much relief among the victors as among the vanquished. C. as much relief on the victor's side as it did on the vanquished's. D. relief both on the victor's side as well as on the vanquished's. E. relief both for the victor and the vanquished side. Correct Answer: B Explanation: B has parallel construction and yet is concise. If option for more concise while saying same thing choose that one. Remember "Most" correct

Dash (-) Rules

A dash is a flexible punctuation mark that can be used as an emphatic comma, semicolon or colon Unlike to colon, the dash doesn't need to be immediately preceded by the part being explained after the dash

Sentence Correction Question Format

A sentence with an underlined portion 5 choices for the underlined portions Choice A is always exactly the same as in the question. Answer choice A is right as often as the other choices.

Scientists have found high levels of iridium around the world, which suggests the impact of a meteor.

Absolute Phrases ex: His head held high, Owen walked out of the store. Might seem like a noun modifier, but is different in that it does not need to be placed next to what it modifies as with noun modifiers. Right: Scientists have found high levels of iridium around the world, results that suggest the impact of a meteor. The absolute phrase is not modifying world, but instead high levels of iridium. This makes sense is that the absolute phrase itself has a noun. It is like an absolute phrase restates the noun it wants to modify, and then modifies it. This is opposed to Wrong: Scientists have found high levels of iridium around the world, which suggests the impact of a meteor. Which modifies world which isn't right An alternative might be Right: Scientists have found high levels of iridium around the world, suggesting the impact of a meteor.

Absolute Phrases

Absolute Phrases: Sophisticated modifier made up of a noun and a noun modifier ex: His head held high, Owen walked out of the store. Absolute phrase have a noun and a noun modifier but don't have a working verb/ can't stand alone as a sentence. If it can stand alone as a sentence you would need a semicolon.

Adjectives/ noun modifiers

Adjectives/ noun modifiers: modify only a noun or a pronoun

Adverbs/ adverbial modifiers

Adverbs/ adverbial modifiers: modify verbs, adverbs, adjectives, and almost everything but nouns and pronouns

Antecedent

Antecedent: Original noun a pronoun is substituting for ex: Billy went to the park and he had fun. Billy is the antecedent of he.

Coordinating/Subordinating conjunctions

Coordinating conjunctions: for, and, nor, but, or, yet,so Subordinating conjunctions: although, because, while, though, unless, before, after, if Coordinating conjunctions coordinate to clauses of equal weight Subordinating conjunctions "subordinate" one clause to just be a modifier to the other clause

Ralph likes both those who are popular and who are not as well liked.

Closed markers repeat everything after marker Wrong: Ralph likes both those who are popular and who are not as well liked. Right: Ralph likes both those who are popular and those who are not as well liked.

The wildfire division, comprising of more than thirty firefighters, is stationed on the outskirts of town and include wildfire management and first responder teams.

Collective nouns are singular Collective nouns (singular nouns that can refer to a group of people or things) can be tricky Wrong: The wildfire division, comprising of more than thirty firefighters, is stationed on the outskirts of town and include wildfire management and first responder teams. Right: The wildfire division, comprising of more than thirty firefighters, is stationed on the outskirts of town and includes wildfire management and first responder teams.

Collective nouns

Collective nouns: singular nouns that can refer to a group of people or things ex: the team, or the department

Three factors affect the rate of a reaction: concentration, surface area, and temperature.

Colon (:) Rules What comes before colon must be able to stand alone as a sentence What comes after the colon can be a main clause or not What comes after the colon must serve as explanation of what comes before the colon Whatever is being explained by the part after the colon should be placed as close to the colon as possible Worse: Three factors affect the rate of a reaction: concentration, surface area, and temperature. Better: The rate of a reaction is affected by three factors: concentration, surface area, and temperature.

We propose the school board disband.

Command Subjunctive Wrong: We propose the school board disband. Wrong: We propose that the school board should disband. Right: We propose that the school board disband. Need that and no should.

How to Find Potential Mistakes

Could be either: Something that looked wrong in the sentence Identify splits in the answer choices

Adrian runs quickly. He runs quicker than Jacob.

Don't use -er when comparing -ly words Wrong: Adrian runs quickly. He runs quicker than Jacob. Right: Adrian runs quickly. He runs more quickly than Jacob.

I like all dogs like labs and poodles.

Don't use like to introduce examples Instead use including or such as. Wrong: I like all dogs like labs and poodles. Right: I like all dogs such as labs and poodles.

The orca is relative of the blue whale's.

Don't use redundant expressions of possession Right: The orca is one of the blue whale's relatives. Right: The orca is a relative of the blue whale. Wrong: The orca is relative of the blue whale's.

Near those buildings sit a lonely house, inhabited by squatters.

Flip it! Sometimes in an attempt to disguise subject verb agreement the GMAt will switch the order to place the subject after the verb. To help on these problems simply flip them back to subject first to clearly see the agreement. Wrong:Near those buildings sit a lonely house, inhabited by squatters. Flip it: A lonely house, inhabited by squatters, sits near those buildings. Right: Near those buildings sits a lonely house, inhabited by squatters.

I have never seen an aardvark, but last year my father did.

Helping Verb Rules Right: I have never seen an aardvark, but my father has seen an aardvark. Right: I have never seen an aardvark, but my father has. Right: I have never seen an aardvark, but last year my father saw one. Wrong: I have never seen an aardvark, but last year my father did. You can only shorten to helping verb if the tense stays the same in the first and second part of the sentence.

The chair as in the room until it was taken out of it.

If pronoun used multiple times, every instance must refer to same antecedent Wrong: The chair as in the room until it was taken out of it. Too ambiguous

Either the manager or the employees take a break.

If the two nouns disagree in number, go with the noun closest to the verb to determine agreement Right: Either the manager or the employees take a break. Right: Either the employees or the manager takes a break.

Indefinite Pronoun

Indefinite Pronoun: Pronoun that is not specific about what it refers to ex: Anyone anybody anything no one nobody nothing Each, every someone somebody something Either neither whatever whoever

Each of his shirts are pretty.

Indefinite Pronouns usually singular Indefinite pronouns such as any, every, and either are usually singular. Wrong: Each of his shirts are pretty. Right: Each of his shirts is pretty. Wrong: Neither Bill or Joe are going to the party. Right: Neither Bill or Joe is going to the party.

Like her brother did, Ava aced the test.

Like vs As Like is used to compare nouns, pronouns, or noun phrases. As is used to compare clauses, prepositional phrases, etc. Wrong: Like her brother did, Ava aced the test. Right: As her brother did, Ava aced the test. Right: Like her brother, Ava aced the test.

Whenever a student calls, take down their information.

Match singular pronouns with singular nouns and plural with plural Wrong: Whenever a student calls, take down their information. While this may sound right because it is commonly used in speech, student is singular while their is plural. Right: Whenever a student calls, take down his or her information.

eliminate answers or look for "most correct"?

Most Correct

Like Mary, Adam's car is green.

Must compare comparable things Wrong: Like Mary, Adam's car is green. This incorrectly compares Mary to a green car. Unless Mary is actually green, this doesn't make sense. Right: Like Mary's car, Adma's car is green. Also can omit second main word of comparison Right: Adam's car is green, like Mary's.

The judge considers this law to be illegal.

Not technically wrong but suspect. better is: The judge considers this lay illegal. without the to be. If both are there in most cases the one without to be will be right.

A hard worker and loyal team player, the new project was managed by Sue.

Noun modifier placement Noun modifiers need to be placed as close as possible to the noun they modify. Generally another noun can't be in between and noun and its modifier because then the modifier would by rule modify the closer noun. Wrong: A hard worker and loyal team player, the new project was managed by Sue. Wrong because modifier modifies the closest noun "the new project" which doesn't make sense. Right: A hard worker and loyal team player, Sue managed the new project.

I want to retire to a place where I can relax and I pay low taxes.

Open markers check no ambiguity Wrong: I want to retire to a place where I can relax and I pay low taxes. There is ambiguity here because this could mean i want to retire a place where I can both relax and pay low taxes, or it could mean I want to retire someplace I can relax, and on an unrelated note I pay low taxes. This ambiguity can be resolved by repeating a signal word just before the parallel items as seen in Right: I want to retire to a place where I can relax and where I pay low taxes.

Open/Closed parallel markers

Open/Closed parallel markers: Open parallel markers: and, or, rather than ex. Sally went to the store and to the park. Closed parallel markers: both/and, either/or, not/but, not only/but also, from/to ex. Sally went not only to the store, but also to the park.

Past Perfect

Past Perfect = Had + Past Participle Past perfect tense can be used to say one action in the past occured before another action in the past. more than can be used. if trying to express one thing happened in past before another use past perfect simple pst isn't clear enough ex. The teacher thought Jimmy had cheated on the exam,

Past participle

Past participle- usually -ed verbs, indicate completed action although not necessarily in the past. ex. The tires will be punctured.

Happy about his raise, Bill's celebration included taking his friends out to dinner. Bill's celebration included him taking friends out to dinner. Bill's celebration included taking his friends out to dinner.

Possessive nouns are not nouns Wrong:Happy about his raise, Bill's celebration included taking his friends out to dinner. Wrong because modifier should modify Bill and not Bill's celebration. Wrong: Bill's celebration included him taking friends out to dinner. Wrong because possesive Bill's can't be precedent to pronoun him Right: Bill's celebration included taking his friends out to dinner. This one is ok because a possessive noun can be the antecedent of a pronoun if that pronoun is also possessive

Prepositional phrase/subject rule

Prepositional phrase can't be subject A prepositional phrase is just a modifier so a noun in a prepositional phrase can't be the subject of a verb

Present Perfect

Present Perfect= Has/Have + Past Participle Present perfect tense can be used for actions that started in the past, but are still continuing or had an effect in the past that still remains. ex. The millers have lived in a hut for three days. This says that the Millers started living in a hut three days ago and are still living there. ex. The child has drawn a square in the sand. Use of the present perfect here indicates that the square the child drew is still there in the sand. It would be wrong for instance to say Wrong: The child has drawn a square in the sand, but the ocean erased it.

Past/Present/Future Progressive

Present Progressive: Sandy is playing soccer. Past Progressive: Sandy was playing soccer. Future Progressive: Sandy will be playing soccer.

Present participle

Present participle- usually -ing verbs, indicate ongoing action ex. She will be hiking next week.

I wish I had less pairs of shoes.

Quantity: Countable vs Uncountable Wrong: I wish I had less pairs of shoes. Right: I wish I had fewer pairs of shoes. Right: We have less than 20 dollars. This is right because amount of money isn't really countable as you could have 20 dollars by having one 20 dollar bill or four 5 dollar bills etc. Between for two, Among for more than two Wrong: I mediated a dispute between Maya, Logan, and Kalen. Right: I mediated a dispute among Maya, Logan, and Kalen.

General Bad Things

Redundancy is bad Redundant sentences are wrong. Ambiguity is bad Ambiguous sentences (could have multiple meanings) are wrong.

The star of the soccer team, which is the best on the team, has gotten three scholarships.

Relative pronoun rules: Who and whom must be used to modify people. Which can't be used to modify people.

Relative pronouns

Relative pronouns: pronouns that express relationships ex: which, that, who, whose, whom, where, when

Andrew and Lisa are inseparable, therefore, we never see them apart.

Semicolon (;) Rules Connects two related statements. Each statement must be able to stand on its own as an independent sentence. Semicolons are often followed by transition expressions: however, therefore, or in addition,. These transition statements are not conjunctions though so Wrong: Andrew and Lisa are inseparable, therefore, we never see them apart. Right: Andrew and Lisa are inseparable; therefore, we never see them apart. Semicolons can also be used to separate list items when one or more of the items contain commas.

Semicolon (;) vs Colon (:)

Semicolon (;) and Colon (:) are different in that a semicolon connects two related statements, but a Colon (:) always connects the first clause with a second clause that offers examples of further explanation of the first.

Earning himself a promotion, the engineer fixed the problem.

Sequence of Participle modifiers With participle modifiers, the information presented earlier in the sentence leads to or results in the information that comes later. Right: The engineer fixed to problem, earning himself a promotion. This makes sense while it wouldn't make sense to say Wrong: Earning himself a promotion, the engineer fixed the problem. The promotion did not fix the problem, rather fixing the problem earned the promotion.

Bill, in addition to Joe, walk to the store every day.

Singular/plural subject verb agreement: Only and can be used to make a compound subject Right: Bill and Joe walk to the store every day. Wrong: Bill, in addition to Joe, walk to the store every day. Right: Bill, in addition to Joe, walks to the store every day. Wrong: Bill or Joe walk to the store every day. Right: bill or Joe walks to the store every day.

Ambiguity with pronouns

Some ambiguity is ok, but if meaning unclear choose answer where pronoun ambiguity removed

The data collected by the researchers confirm that heart disease is congenital; it also indicates that certain genes are sex-linked.

Some words such as DATA can be either singular or plural depending on context So need to pay attention to context for subject verb agreement. Wrong: The data collected by the researchers confirm that heart disease is congenital; it also indicates that certain genes are sex-linked. Right: The data collected by the researchers confirm that heart disease is congenital; they also indicate that certain genes are sex-linked.

I don't know whether or not I will go.

Technically not wrong but more concise (thus more correct) is I don't know whether I will go.

The teacher is confident her students have mastered the lesson.

That just after a working verb "resets" the sentence Wrong: The teacher is confident her students have mastered the lesson. Right: The teacher is confident THAT her students have mastered the lesson.

The holiday allowed for Maria to watch the game?

The holiday allowed Maria to watch the game.

Radiation is light that particles ARE EMITTING when they ARE TRAVELLING faster than the speed of light.

Use Simple Present not Present Progressive for general definitions Wrong: Radiation is light that particles ARE EMITTING when they ARE TRAVELLING faster than the speed of light. Right: Radiation is light that particles EMIT when they TRAVEL faster than the speed of light.

Her products are unusual, many consider these unique.

This, That, These, and Those can be used as adjectives in front of nouns, not nouns themselves Right: Her products are unusual, many consider these items unique. Wrong: Her products are unusual, many consider these unique. These can't stand alone as a noun Right: Her products are unusual, many consider them unique.

Her company is outperforming those of her competitors.

This, That, These, and Those must agree with the previous version in number to be used Right: Her company is outperforming that of her competitor. Wrong: Her company is outperforming those of her competitors. Her company (singular) doesn't agree in number with her competitors (plural) so instead need to repeat previous version Right: Her company is outperforming the companies of her competitors. **This one is subtle, doesn't seem very intuitive

Types of Adverbial Modifiers

Types of Adverbial Modifiers Type Example (prefect of modifier in bold) adverb The engineer rapidly identified the problem. preposition The team attends staff meetings on mondays. Past participle (with commas) The engineer fixed the problem, earning himself a promotion. Present Participle (with commas) Exhilarated by the successful product launch, the team celebrated after work.

Types of Noun Modifiers

Types of Noun Modifiers Type Example (prefect of modifier in bold) adjective The furry cat ran across the road. preposition Sue gave the cat on the couch a treat. Past participle (without commas) The cat owned by Sue is playful. Present Participle (without commas) The cat sleeping on the rug belongs to Sue

Quentin IS MEETING Harvey for lunch tomorrow.

Use Simple Future not Present Progressive for future actions Wrong: Quentin IS MEETING Harvey for lunch tomorrow. Right: Quentin WILL MEET Harvey for lunch tomorrow.

With winter coming, I will have higher energy bills.

When using comparative adjectives must explicitly compare two things Wrong: With winter coming, I will have higher energy bills. Higher than what? Right: With winter coming, I will have higher energy bills than last month.

We had an arrangement WHERE he cooked and I cleaned.

Where can be used to modify a place, but not a condition, situation, case etc. Wrong: We had an arrangement WHERE he cooked and I cleaned. Right: We had an arrangement in WHICH he cooked and I cleaned.

Crime has recently decreased in our neighborhood, which has led to a rise in property values.

Which vs Present Participle Wrong: Crime has recently decreased in our neighborhood, which has led to a rise in property values. This is wrong because which is a relative pronoun and so can only be used as a noun modifier. This phrase is modifying the whole clause so instead it should be Right: Crime has recently decreased in our neighborhood, leading to a rise in property values. **DO NOT use ear for this one. It sounds right because we often use it in speech, but it is wrong.

We have as many or more apples than you.

Wrong We have at least as many apples as you.

I don't know if I will go.

Wrong. If is used only to say If this then this ex. If i go I will have fun. In this case should be: I don't know whether I will go.

It is expected that the price should fall.

Wrong. It is expected that the price will fall.

She gave money so the school could offer scholarships.

Wrong. Need that. She gave money so that the school could offer scholarships.

Plants grow as a result of the sun shining.

Wrong. Plants grow because the sun shines.

She drank coffee so as to stay awake.

Wrong. She drank coffee in order to stay awake.

She was interested both in plants as well as in animals.

Wrong. She was interested both in plants and in animals.

The manager has the capability of running the plant.

Wrong. The manager can run the plant.

The price fell from 10 dollars down to 3 dollars.

Wrong. The price fell from 10 dollars to 3 dollars. fell and down is redundant. same with rose from 10 dollars up to 15 dollars.

A report indicates unique bacteria live in our skin.

Wrong. Need that to reset sentence A report indicates that unique bacteria live on our skin.

He wrote with pencils instead of with pens.

Wrong. Wrong to have "of with" He wrote with pencils rather than with pens.

I like cheese more than Yvette.

Wrong: I like cheese more than Yvette. Does this mean you like cheese more than you like Yvette, or that you like cheese more than Yvette likes cheese. Right: I like cheese more than Yvette does.

Essential/Nonessential Modifiers

essential modifiers a re needed to identify the subject/object. nonessentail you can identify what is being talked about it without it but it gives additional information Use commas for nonessential modifiers, don't for essential modifiers Use that for essential modifiers, comma which for nonessential modifiers

We wore not only boots but also sandals.

this is right. sounds weird to me but apparently it is correct.

Working verb

verb that can be main verb of sentence

Who did you talk to?

wrong Who vs whom use who for the subject of a verb and whom for the object f a verb. Helpful to think of it as they vs them. Who is going to the store? They are going to the store. Whom did you talk to? I talked to them.