Sentence Corrections
T/F each/every requires a plural verb.
False Each/every requires a singular verb.
T/F the GMAT rewards concision in their answer choices
False- this is not a rule. The GMAT makers often make the right answer LESS concise than an attractive wrong answer.
T/F whose cannot modify non-human entities
False- whose can correctly modify non-human entities.
When consider means THINK OF or BELIEVE AFTER CAREFUL DELIBERATION, it does not require as or any other expression before the object.
George Sand was one of the first European writers to consider the rural poor legitimate subjects for literature. Not- .. to consider the rural poor TO BE legitimate subjects for literature.
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 answer what questions?
How, when, where, or why an action occurred. Exp: She ALWAYS arrives early. Or. She eats SLOWLY.
The correct idiom is "different from" or "different than" ?
It is different from
Fix the sentence: My three best friends, Danny, Enrico, and Joey, and I went skiing.
My three best friends- Danny, Enrico, and Joey- and I went skiing. The commas from the previous sentence makes it seem like 7 people are going.
Is this sentence correct: When a student calls, take down their information.
No. Pronoun problem- When a student calls, take down his or her information.
Can simple gerunds be parallel to complex ones?
No. Exp: Wrong: I enjoyed DRINKING THE WATER and THE WINE TASTING (drinking the water=simple) (the wine tasting=complex) Correct: I enjoyed drinking the water and tasting the wine.
Use "which" only to refer to ____ - never to refer to the entire ____
Nouns Never to refer to the entire clause Which refers to the closest preceding main noun and not the whole clause.
Like is used to compare ___, ___, or ___ ___
Nouns, pronouns, or noun phrases. Exp: Like her brother, Ava aced the test. Like can be followed by gerunds- Like swimming, skiing is great exercise.
"Not one" Singular or plural
Singular
What is a gerund?
The noun form of a verb. Exp: a giving.
Once again- Like can only be followed by a ___ or a ___
noun or noun phrase.
Ranked as one of the most important of Europe's young playwrights, Franz Xaver Kroetz has written 40 plays; his works- translated into more than 30 languages- are produced more often THAN ANY contemporary German dramatist. Fix the capital words
... are produced more often than those of an other contemporary... SC OG #98
How long should you average per question on SC?
1 minute 20 seconds
The 3 types of "meaning errors"
1. Choose your words- did the author pick the rights words from the dictionary? i.e. words have more than one meaning. Exp: my decision to drive a small car was motivated by economic considerations. OR. Economical considerations motivated my decision to drive a hybrid car. -- Economical means thrifty. Economic means monetary. 2. Place your words- beware of how the placement of words can alter the meaning of the sentence 3. Match your words- Exp: Unlike Alaska, where the winter is quite cold, the temperature in Florida rarely goes below freezing. --Technically the sentence says that Alaska and the temperature in Florida are dissimilar. It's illogical to compare a state to the temperature in another state.
The 5 grammar terms you need to know
1. Clause- a set of words that contains a subject and working verb 2. Modifier- provides addition information in a sentence, beyond the core subject and verb 3. Sentence core- consists of any independent clauses along with some essential modifiers 4. Conjunction- words that help to stick parts of sentences together 5. Marker- flag or clue that a certain kind of issue is being tested
The word as can be either a conjunction or a preposition, depending on the context.
1. Conjunction as: appears with a clause and has three uses: -duration as: As I strolled up to the store, I smelled the air (=while, during) -causation as: I will not tell you, AS you already know (=since, because) - comparison as: You should walk AS she wants you to walk (=in the same way) Comparison as: (the most important conjunction use of AS on the GMAT). Appears together with JUST, SO, or even SO TOO. Exp: Just as the trains were late yesterday, the buses are late today. OR. Just as the trains were late yesterday, so too are they late today. 2. Preposition as: used with a noun or a noun phrase and has three uses: -function as: As your leader, I am in charge -equation as: I think of you AS my friend -stage as: As a child, I thought I could fly *in any of these phrases, as does not mean similar to and is not used to make a comparison.
Steps to answering a SC question
1. Take a first glance- see if you can spot any clues that may help you answer the question -is the underline very short/long? -what is the first underlined word? What is the word right before? -what are the differences among the first word or two of each answer 2. Read the sentence for meaning- think about what the sentence is trying to say 3. Find a starting point- typically through: spotting an error in the original sentence or noticing splits/differences in the answer choices 4. Eliminate the incorrect answer choices
Examples of the AND parallelism rules for the following elements: 1. Noun with noun 2. Action noun with action noun 3. Gerund with gerund 4. Gerund with action noun
1. cat AND dog 2. eruption AND destruction 3. the rising AND the running 4. the uprising AND the escape
Examples of the AND parallelism rules for the following elements: 1. Working verb with working verb 2. Infinitive with infinitive 3. Participle with participle 4. Preposition with preposition 5. Clauses with clause
1. ran AND played; eats and drank; 2. to run and to play 3. jumping AND yelling; consulted and advised; fatigued AND dreamed 4. in the house AND on the roof 5. I work AND she plays; I think that children learn responsibility by taking care of pets AND the cats make the best pets.
What are the two ways to connect two independent clauses?
A comma +FANBOYS or a semi-colon. The semi-colon is often followed by a transition expression such as however, therefore, or in addition.
Active voice vs. passive voice
Active voice: The subject of the sentence performs the action. Exp: The hungry students ATE the pizza Passive voice: The subject of the sentence has an action performed on it by someone or something else. Exp: The pizza WAS EATEN by the hungry students
I mediated a dispute between/among Maya, Logan, and Kalen?
Among
Examples of open markers:
And Or Rather than
Place a noun and its modifier _______
As close together as possible.
I mediated a dispute between/among Maya and Kalen?
Between
Between 1998 and 2003, there was heavy fighting in Parthia between numerous armed factions yet this conflict, so much more complicated than a conventional war between two states, involved no less than eight countries and 25 militias. Fix the sentence.
Between 1998 and 2003, there was heavy fighting in Parthia AMONG numerous armed factions; this conflict, so much more complicated than a conventional war between two states, involved no FEWER than eight countries and 25 militias. Less should be fewer because countries and militias are countable.
The idioms with built in parallel structure:
Between X and Y Consider X Y In contrast to X, Y Distinguish X from Y Estimate X to be Y Mistake X for Y Think of X as Y View X as Y Whether X or Y
Examples of closed markers:
Both/And Either/Or Not/But Not only/ But also From/To
As is used to compare two ____
Clauses. As her brother did, Ava aced the test. The words "her brother did" form a clause (did is a working verb)
Compound subjects: If two nouns disagree in number, use the noun ___ to the verb to determine agreement.
Closest Exp: Right: Lin or Guy has a black car Wrong: Lin or Guy have a black car
When comparing two things, use the ___ form of an adjective or adverb; when comparing more than two things, use the _____ form of an adjective or adverb.
Comparative Superlative. Exp: Comparative: she is shorter than her sister. Superlative: she is the shortest of her five siblings
Decide whether the following words are countable/uncountable: Hats Patience Money Shoes of Chairs Courage
Countable Uncount Uncount Count Count Uncount
Fix this sentence: Dr. Crock's claims have been not corroborated by other scientists nor published in a prestigious journal but have nonetheless garnered a great deal of attention from the public.
Dr. Crock's claims have been NEITHER corroborated by other scientists nor published in a prestigious journal but have nonetheless garnered a great deal of attention from the public.
What's wrong with this statement? The fields I most enjoy studying are those of physics and chemistry.
Eliminate "Those Of" Should just say- The fields I most enjoy studying are physics and chemistry. Keep THAT OF or THOSE only if you need to.
It is often smoother- and much more GMAT-like- to use a generic synonym for the antecedent than to repeat the noun exactly.
Exp: New nano-papers incorporate fibers that give THESE MATERIALS strength.
Do not use the present progressive to indicate future actions.
Exp: WRONG- Quentin IS MEETING Harvey for lunch tomorrow. RIGHT- Quentin WILL MEET Harvey for lunch tomorrow.
A good technique to decide if something is singular or plural is to flip it.
Exp: 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. Wrong- There IS a young man and an older woman at the bus stop Flip it- A young man and an older woman ARE there at the bus stop Right- There ARE a young man and an older woman at the bus stop
If you wish to make a comparison using the word "numbers", use greater than, not more than.
Exp: The rare beaked bird is not extinct; its NUMBERS are now suspected to be much greater than before.
What are the most common coordinating conjunctions?
FANBOYS for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so.
The colon: What comes before the colon must be able to stand alone as a sentence.
For example: Wrong- I love listening to: classical, rock, rap, and pop music Right- I love listening to many kinds of music: classical, rock, rap, and pop.
The colon: Whatever needs explanation should be placed as close to the colon as possible.
For example: Wrong- Three factors affect the rate of reaction: concentration, surface area, and temperature. Better- The rate of a reaction is affected by three factors: concentration, surface area, and temperature.
What is the difference between greater/less and increase/decrease?
Inc/dec express the change of one thing over time. Greater/less signal a comparison between two things.
Do not compare an adverb that ends in -ly by changing the ending to -er. Exp:
Incorrect: Adrian runs quickly. He runs quicker than Jacob. Correct: Adrian runs quickly. He runs more quickly than Jacob.
The 5 most common pronoun markers:
It Its They Them Their
What can happen when the word "that" appears.
It can act as a re-set button in the sentence; a new subject-verb object structure will follow- it signals that more information is coming.
What is a modifier?
It describes or provides extra information about something else in the sentence.
I want to coach divers LIKE Greg Louganis. What's wrong with the sentence?
It is ambiguous. Should say- I want to coach divers who are like Greg Louganis
Is "neither" singular or plural?
It is singular Exp: Neither of my aunts, both of whom visited Venice last spring, wants to return. Neither... wants. Singular... singular
What is an adjective?
It modifies a noun.
What is an adverb?
It modifies anything but a noun or a pronoun.
What are the common comparison markers on the GMAT?
Like Unlike As Than As (adjective) as Different from In contrast to/with
Frankie never went to law school, but he believes that years of watching Law & Order have taught him to think ___ a lawyer. Like/as?
Like. Like compares nouns
___ lawyers, doctors are bound by a code of professional ethics. Like/as?
Like. Like compares nouns
List the countable modifiers
Many Few Fewer Fewest Number of Numerous
Some of the money was stolen from my wallet. Money=singular or plural? Some of the documents were stolen from the bank. Documents=singular or plural?
Money= singular Documents=plural
List the uncountable modifiers
Much Little Less Least Amount Great
The following words modify what: Who/Whom Whose Which or whom Where When
Must modify people Can modify people or things Sometimes follows a preposition (a preposition shows the relationship between a noun/pronoun and some other word/element in the rest of the sentence) Modifies a noun place (area, site, country, Nevada)- cannot modify a metaphorical place Modifies a noun event or time (period, age, 1987, etc.)
Open versus closed parallel markers?
Open- a word or words between two parallel elements Closed- a word or words between the two elements as well as before the first elements.
People, who talk loudly on their cell phones in crowded trains, show little respect for other passengers. Correct the sentence.
People who talk loudly on their cell phones in crowded trains show little respect for other passengers. The original sentence makes the "who... trains" a nonessential modifier when it should be essential.
Singular subjects: A singular subject linked to other nouns by something other than AND Most indefinite pronouns Subjects preceded by EACH or EVERY Subjects preceded by THE NUMBER OF Subject phrases or clauses
Plural subjects: Subjects joined by AND Subjects preceded by A NUMBER OF It depends: Subjects joined by OR or NOR Collective nouns SANAM pronouns Other numerical words and phrases
What is wrong with this sentence- Law students learn to think like a lawyer does.
Should not use like. Should say- Law students learn to think as a lawyer does.
Jim may not be elected CEO by the board because he does not meet their standards. What is wrong with this sentence?
Should say "its" standards.
Is this sentence correct? Fix it if no. Just around the corner is a fantastic bakery and a small supermarket.
Should say- just around the corner are a fantastic bakery and a small supermarket. If you rearrange the sentence, it would read: a fantastic bakery AND a small supermarket ARE just around the corner.
Collective nouns are considered ____ (singular/plural)
Singular.
Fix the sentence: Jim is trying to reduce the number of soda that he drinks, at last night's party, however, his resolve to drink fewer soda was sorely tested, he found him self quaffing many sodas.
Soda is uncountable- do not say "number" and do not say fewer. Say- he found himself quaffing a number of sodas because soda is not plural and is thought to be countable. Jim is trying to reduce the AMOUNT of soda that he drinks; at last night's party, however, his resolve to drink less soda was sorely tested, and he found himself quaffing A NUMBER of sodas.
The 5 indefinite pronouns that can be either singular or plural depending on the context-
Some Any None All More/Most
To relate three or more things or people, use the ___ form of adjectives and adverbs.
Superlative forms (best worst, more, and least)
To relate two things, use the ___ form of adjectives and adverbs.
The comparative (better, worse, more, and less)
Which one is wrong/right? The man is FIVE TIMES AS OLD AS his grandson The man is FIVE TIMES OLDER THAN his grandson
The first one is right. In the second example, the author is technically saying the man is six times as old as his grandson. If you want to relate quantities by multiplication, use TIMES and AS... AS together.
Although she didn't have much work experience, she was offered the job. The first part of the sentence is the ___ clause and the second part of the sentence is the ___ clause.
The first part is the dependent clause. The second part is the independent clause. *without an independent clause, you have a fragment*
Which sentence is correct? Name if that sentence is passive or active. It has been decided by Jason that he will not attend college. Jason has decided next fall not to attend college.
The first sentence (passive) Second sentence: You cannot decide "next fall" - illogical (active)
The number of = a ___ (singular/plural) verb A number of = a ____ (singular/plural) verb
The number of= a singular verb A number of= a plural verb
What's wrong with this sentence? Happy about his raise, Bill's celebration included taking his friends out to dinner.
The sentence technically says Bill's celebration is happy about his raise. Should read- Happy about his raise, Bill celebrated by taking his friends to dinner.
Although the towers appear identical, the west tower is the tallest, standing 16 feet taller than the east tower.
The sentence uses the superlative form when it should use the comparative form. Correction- Although the towers appear identical, the west tower stands 16 feet taller than the east tower.
The tidal forces to which an object falling in a black hole is/are subjected is/are sufficient to tear the object apart.
The tidal forces to which an object falling into a black hole is subjected are sufficient to tear the object apart.
Elizabeth Barber, the author of both Prehistoric Textiles, a comprehensive work on cloth in the early cultures of the Mediterranean, and also of Women's work, a more general account of early cloth manufacture, is an expert authority on textiles in ancient societies. What's wrong with this sentence?
The use of also is redundant and unparallel. The meaning of expert and authority largely overlaps.
Whenever you have a time period, quantity, or other measurement as the first word, keep the prepositional phrase OF. Exp, fix the following: Memorial day week The merger year
The week OF Memorial Day The year OF the merger
Beethoven's music, which broke a number of established rules with its structure and melodic form, is considered more revolutionary than Bach. What's wrong with this sentence?
This comparison is not parallel. Should say- "Beethoven's music, which broke a number of established rules with its structure and melodic form, is considered MORE revolutionary THAN Bach's.
Fix this sentence: Tobacco companies, shaken by a string of legal setbacks in the United States, but which retain strong growth perspectives in the developing world, face an uncertain future.
Tobacco companies, WHICH have been shaken by a string of legal setbacks in the United States, but which retain strong growth prospects in the developing world, face an uncertain time.
T/F only complex gerund phrases can be parallel to action nouns.
True. Wrong: The rebels demanded the withdrawal of government forces from disputed regions, significant reductions in overall troop levels, raising the rebel flag on holidays, and a general pardon. Withdrawal, reductions, and pardon are all action nouns so "raising" cannot be another parallel element in the list- should say the raising of.
T/F only nouns or pronouns can follow like.
True. Dont forget.
Unaccustomed to the rigors of college life, James's grades dropped. Correct the sentence.
Unaccustomed should modify James himself, not James's grades. Unaccustomed to the rigors of college life, James allowed his grades to drop.
Fix sentence: Voters want to elect a president who genuinely cares about health care, the environment, the travails of men and women, has the experience, wisdom and strength of character required for the job.
Voters want to elect a president who genuinely cares about health care, the environment, AND the travails of ordinary men and women, AND WHO has the experience, wisdom, and strength of character.
Upon setting foot in the Gothic cathedral, the spectacularly stained-glass windows amazed camera-wielding tourists. Correct this sentence
Who or what set foot in the church? The adverb spectacularly cannot modify a noun. (adverbs dont modify nouns) Upon entering the Gothic cathedral, the camera-wielding tourists were amazed by the spectactular stained-glass windows.
Noun modifiers answer what questions?
Who, what, which, or where about a noun
When a closed marker (parallelism) is used, make sure that both the X and Y elements contain the necessary starting words to form a structurally correct sentence.
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
Is "jury" singular?
Yes.
Fix the sentence: The wildfire division, comprising more than thirty firefighters, is stationed on the outskirts of the town and include wildfire management and first responder teams.
change include to includes. Look to the non-underlined portion of the sentence for help on if the verb is singular/plural.
Which one is wrong/right? I enjoy fast food LIKE hamburgers I enjoy fast food SUCH AS hamburgers
the such as statement.
