GMAT SENTENCE CORRECTION TIPS

Dos- Donts

1.Vertical Split 1.Horizontal Reading

2.Eliminate 2.Selection

3.Grammar 3.Intution

4 Locations of error-

1. First word/words of the underlined part.

2. Last word/words of the underlined part.

3. One word after the comma of the underlined part.

4. One word before the underlined part.

Grammar-

1.Modifier- A word or a group of words which tell us something about a noun

or a verb. On Gmat, it is extra information given usually to confuse students.
Try to over look these and read the whole sentence.

Errors:-

a)Comma-Subject Rule—Whenever a sentence begins with a modifier, the

subject should be placed after the comma.

Eg-While coming out of the store, John’s wallet dropped.(incorrect)

While coming out of the store, John dropped his wallet.(correct)

Cases-Watch out for this error when-

i.When the underlined part starts after the comma, (frequent)or

ii. When there are long sentences fully underlined.(rare)

b) Misplaced Modifier- 2 or more nouns are present in a sentence and there is
only one modifier, which is usually placed after the wrong noun.

Eg- Many dogs are killed by truck roaming unleashed.(incorrect)

Many dogs roaming unleashed are killed by trucks.(correct)

c) Limiting Modifier- Words such as almost, now, only ,first etc modify one
word coming after them, limiting the meaning.

Eg- I almost walked 5 kms.(modifying the action.)

I walked almost 5 kms.(modifying the distance)

In such cases both the sentences are correct. These types of questions become
tricky as a test taker should be able to decide on the basic meaning of the
sentence and where the emphasis should lie.

2. Parallelism- This error requires consistency in a sentence.

Cases- Look for parallelism when there is a-

a) Conjunctions- Whenever we have conjunctions, we may a list of things,

make sure that all the items of the lists are parallel.

Eg- John went to England and to Africa and bought souvenirs.

(i)And/As well as

(ii) But/Yet/Although/Though/Even Though

b) Co-Relatives- Make sure they are in pair and parallel

Eg-He will either PLAY or SLEEP. Or

He either WILL PLAY or WILL SLEEP.

Go through the list of such expressions given in class.

3. Pronouns- A pronoun is a word which is used in place of a noun. Errors
under this heading could be-

a) Pronoun Ambiguity- In this error there will be 2 or more nouns and only one
pronoun and it would be unclear as to which noun is the pronoun referring.

Eg- Mary went to visit Sheena, as she was lonely.(who was lonely?)

(Only was to rectify this error is to repeat the noun)

Eg- Mary went to visit Sheena, as Mary/Sheena was lonely.(no ambiguity now

b)Pronoun Inconsistency- There should be consistency in the usage of

the pronouns.

Eg- If you work hard, one will pass. (incorrect)

If you work hard, you will pass. (correct)

If one works hard, one will pass. (correct)

c)Pronoun Agreement- The pronoun should agree with the noun it is referring
to.

Eg-Sheena believed that success had eluded him.(to whom is this him referring
to?)

Sheena met John and after meeting him she believed that success had
eluded him. (now him is referring to John.) OR

Sheena believed that success had eluded her.

d)Pronoun Referrent

Pronouns such as IT/WHICH/THAT/THEY/WHO/WHOSE refer to the pre-

ceeding noun.
Eg- The dog is on the table, which is black.(in this case, which is referring to
table.)

But if there is a conjunction in the sentence, then these pronouns will refer to
the subject of the sentence.

Eg-The dog is on the table and that is black.(Now that is referring to the dog
because of “and”)

e) Cause-Effect Rule- Whenever there is a cause-effect relationship in a

sentence, the verb of the effect should be in the “ing” form.

Eg- The snow on the tracks melted that prompted the officials to take some
action.(in this sentence “that” is referring to tracks which is incorrect.)

The snow on the tracks melted, prompting the officials to take some action.
(this is the best way of presenting on Gmat.)

f) Who/Whom= People
Which= Animals/Things
When= Time
Where= Places
In which= places/phenomenon/situations/time period
That= Which (Prefer that)+people

4. Subject-Verb Agreement- In a sentence a subject needs to agree with the

verb and vice-versa.

Eg-They are going to host a party. (here the sub they agrees with the verb are.)

[Error of proximity-Generally people match verb with the closest Noun. It is

not a Noun-Verb Agreement but a Subject-Verb Agreement]

Eg- The ship and the crew are lost.

The ship, alongwith its crew, is lost.
The ship, in addition to the crews, is lost.
The ship, coupled with the crew, is lost. T
a) Singular subject=singular verb

Plural sub=plural verb.

Eg- John goes to office.

They go to office.

b) 2 or more nouns joined by “and”,the verb will be plural.

Eg- John and Mary are coming.

c) Either X or Y/Neither X nor Y/X or Y, verb agrees with the “Y”element.

Eg- Either I or he is coming. (he is)

Either he or I am coming. (I am)

d) The number=Singular

A number=Plural (alot of)

Eg- The number of students going abroad has increased.

A number of students have started going abroad .

e) With some words, verb is always singular.(Each and Every (when the
come before the noun), Anyone, Anybody, Anything, Everyone,
Everybody, Everything, No one, Nobody, Nothing, Somebody, Someone,
Something, Either and Neither).

Eg- Each of the trees is planted.

One of my friends is a doctor.

Anyone who wants to attend the seminar, must enrol.

Every room in the hotel is full.

Neither of the laborers has come.

If Each comes after the noun, then it has no bearing on the verb.
 Eg- They each are smart boys. (no effect)

f) But watch out for SANAM Rule-Some, Any, None, All, More/Most

With them the verb depends on what comes after them.

Eg- Some of the money was stolen

Some of the books were stolen.

g) Some nouns seem to be plural but are singular, such as News,

Mathematics,Physics,Diabetes.

h) In case of collective nouns

Eg- The Jury is united in its decision.

The members of the Jury are divided in their opinion.

Following are the ways GMAT could give these errors-

1. Subject, modifier, Verb

Eg- A new generation of sophisticated copy machines, capable of

unprecedented detail and accuracy, IS prompting the development of
more complex currency design to prevent counterfeiting.

2. Inverted Structure

Eg- Sitting at the far end of the table is a television reporter and one
of the leading candidates for mayor. (Wrong. Should be are)

3. Clauses

Eg-M.S Dhoni is one of the cricketers who do modelling.(we’ll use do

because who refers to cricketers,which is plural.)
 5. Tenses. Used to talk about time and action.

(i)Simple Present-Used to talk about facts or universal truths.

Eg-New Delhi is the capital of India.

(ii)Present Perfect-Used to talk about an action that happened in the

past and has some present result.

Eg- I have done my graduation.(I am still a graduate.)

It is also used to talk about an action that started in the past and
continues into the present.

Eg-I have broken my leg.

(iii)Present Perfect Continuous- Used to talk about an action that started in

the past and continues into the present.

Eg- I have been living in Delhi since 2000

Watch out for words such as SINCE/EVER/NEVER/STILL/FOR YEARS/IN LAST

FEW MONTHS/FOR CENTURIES. They always act as time indicators for the
present perfect.

(iv) Simple Past- Used for an action that happened in the past and is over.

Eg- John went to the market. (over now)

(v)Past Perfect- Used to talk about 2 actions that happened in the past,at
different point of time. It is always with the first action that we put HAD+V3
and with the second action we have simple past tense.

Eg- Before I reached the examination hall, the exam had started.

(vi) Simple Future- Used when we talk about actions that we are sure of in
the future.

Eg-I will go to the market.

 (vii)Would- Used when we talk about conditional or probability in past or
future.

Eg- If Johns works hard, he would score better.

If John had worked harder, he would have scored better.

It is expected that John would come for the event.
It was expected that John would come for the event.

(viii)Were- Used in Hypothetical Situations or Wishful Thinking

Eg- If I were a bird, I would..........

Other Rules-
1. Avoid
a. Nouns ending with ance, ence, ment, ion, ity. Prefer verb instead.
b. Passive Voice. Prefer Active Voice.
c. Because of
d. Wordier Construction.
e. Being.

2. Prefer
a. Sentence starting with Because.
b. Start with the word Although.
c. Start with Time Period.
d. Start with subject.
e. Choices with That.
f. Active Voice over Passive voice
g. To do over ‘ing’
h. Adverb (ending in ‘ly’) coming after the verb.

3. Like/Unlike- is used to compare similar things

4. Like- Used to compare nouns

Eg- His clients,like slaves are treated badly.

5. As- Used to compare actions

Eg-He treats his clients as slaves.
6. Such as- Used to give examples (when used together.)
Eg- Vegetables such as spinach are good for health.
But when Such as is split, it is done to prove a point or to show a degree.
Eg- Such people as lawyers.....

7. Countable Uncountable
1. Number 1.Amount
2. Few/Fewer 2. Less/Little
3. Many 3. Much

8. Two things More than two things

1. Between 1. Among
2. Each Other 2. One another
3. As well as/And 3. And
4. Better 4. Best
5. More 5. Most

9. Redundancy is usually incorrect

Eg- 1. Since-From then on
2. Result-Consequence
3. Annual- Each Year
4. Rising-Soaring
5. So-Enough
6. Declension- Down
7. Claimed- Alleged
8. Previous-Past
9. Although-Yet/But
10. Same-Like
11. Rise-High
12. With- Included
13. Reason- Because
14. Enable- to be able
15. Try- Attempt
16. Can-Potential
17. Decline-Fall
18. Caused-Result
19. Decade-Ten Years
20. Atleast or more.
10. Words Followed by that
1. Agree
2. Express
3. Found
4. Suggested
5. Clear
6. Urged
7. Contend
8. Fact
9. Hypothesis
10. Reason
11. Revealed
12. Predicted
13. Proposed
14. Recommend
15. Doubt
16. Demand
17. Convinced
18. Expectation
19. Evidence
20. Hold/Held
21. Reflect
22. Claim
23. Declare
24. Find
25. Indicate
26. Reveal
27. Rule
28. Show

11. Words followed by to be/to/that

1. Seem
2. Known
3. Likely
4. Unlikely
5. Thought
6. Appear
7. Believe
8. Qualify
 9. Project
10. Equip
11. Require
12. Attribute
13. Estimate
14. Order

12. Words that do not exist on Exam

1. Such like
2. Just like
3. Not any
4. Hopefully
5. On account of
6. Seeming
7. Owing to
8. Reason being

13. Due to is only right when it is used in the sense of caused by.
Eg- The cancellation of the party was due to rain(right)
The party was cancelled due to rain.(wrong)

14. The word occurring can only be used in the context of Natural Calamity.
Eg- The earthquake that occurred in the 15th century, destroyed the entire
civilization.(right)

15. Subjunctive Rule- When these words are followed by that, then the VERB
will be in its First Form (Plural) or BE + V3 form.
1. Demand
2. Order
3. Mandate
4. Rule
5. Require
6. Request
7. Necessary
8. Authorise
9. Propose
10. Conditional
11. Recommend
12. Suggest
Eg- The Principal demanded that the student pay the fee
OR
The Principal demanded that the fee be paid by the student.(in this case,
passive voice is absolutely valid)

16. Any verb followed by that and if there is a conjunction in the sentence,
then put a that after the conjunction.
Eg- The analyst suggested that the traders pay more attention to a broader
measure of the money supply, known as X, but that they still not ignore
standard indicators.

17. After an apostrophe we cannot have an ing form

Eg- Organism’s trying (incorrect)
Organism’s attempt (correct)

18. If there is a choice between Not until and until not or all not and not all,
Always prefer the not construction first.

Eg- All movies were not shown .

Not all movies were shown. (Prefer)

19. Semi-Colon (;) connects two independent sentences.

20. More, most, enough, and all work with both countable (plural) and
uncountable (singular) nouns: More hats; More patience; Most people; Most
furniture; Enough hats; Enough patience; All people; All furniture.

21. There are certain expression which cannot be shortened. Examples-

Wrong RIGHT
1. Aegean Sea salt salt FROM the Aegean Sea
2. Ural Mountain ore ore FROM the Ural Mountains
3. Danube River access access TO the Danube River
4. Population changes of honeybees changes IN the population of
honeybees
5. Phosphate amount amount of phosphate
6. Memorial Day week the week of memorial day
OR Memorial Day's week
7. The merger year the year OF the merger
8. The honeybee population density the density OF the honeybee
OR The honeybee population's density population

22. Cases in which ‘ing’ can hold true-

1. Idioms
2. Tenses
3. Parallel Construction
4. Gerund form
5. Cause- Effect
6. Modifier

23. While comparing numbers, use Greater Than rather than using More Than

Eg- The numbers are expected to be more than before. (wrong)

The numbers are expected to be greater than before. (right)

24. Increase and Decrease vs. Greater and Less

The words increase and decrease are not the same as the words greater and
less. Increase and decrease express the change of one thing over time. Greater
and less signal a comparison between two things.
Right: The price of silver INCREASED by ten dollars.
Right: The price of silver is five dollars GREATER than the price of copper.

25. In long, fully underlined sentences, 3 points must be kept into

consideration:
(i) The subject should be either at the beginning of the sentence or
immediately after the comma
(ii) If multiple commas, remove the part in between 2 commas (modifier)and
read.
(iii) If X is defining Y, put X as close as possible to Y.

26. With limiting modifiers such as Never/First/Again, place them between the
subject and the verb.
Eg- The soap operas were first aired.
Sunspots have never been sighted.

27. GMAT will typically give a split between these words. Go with the preferred
list as the latter would generally be used in the wrong context.

Prefer Avoid
1. So Enough
 2. Rather Than Instead of
3. Can Capability
4. Whether If
5. Once One Time
6. Twice Two Times
7. Quadruple Four Times
8. Likely Liable
9. Try to Try and
10. Able Ability
11. Result From As a result of
12. Compared With Compared to
13. Economic Economical
14. It is hoped Hopefully

28. If.......Then construction

Eg-i. If you exercise regularly, then you will stay healthy.

(if....then construction can be written in any form)

If clause 1, then clause 2
If clause 1, clause 2
Clause 2, If clause 1.

If... then construction follow some tense rule

If Clause Tense Then Clause tense

1. Simple Present Tense Simple present/simple future
2. Simple Past Simple past/would verb
3. Past perfect would have verb.

Eg- 1.If John plays any game, it is football.

Or- If John plays any game, it will be football.
Or- If John plays any game, it may be football.

2. If John played any game, it was football.

Or If John played any game, it would be football.

3.If John had played any game, it would have been football.
29. CONCEPT OF LIKE

Usage-
1. Shows similarities between 2 entities.
2. Should present logical comparison.
3. Should convey clear meaning.
4. Must be followed by a Noun/Pronoun

Examples
1.(i) Amy takes care of children in daycare like a Mother.
(shows similarity between Amy and Mother-in the same way)

(ii) Like that of a honeybee, the sting of the yellow jacket could be fatal)

(iii) Mr. Roy teaches like Ms. Fey

(Their teaching styles are similar)

GMAT can introduce the errors using LIKE in the following ways-

1. When Like is followed by a clause. Only a Noun/ Pronoun could be

put after it
Eg- (i)Amy takes care of children in day care like a mother does. (Clause-
Wrong)
Amy takes care of children in day care like a mother. (Noun-correct)

(ii) Unlike a honeybee does, yellow jacket has a venomous sting. (Clause-
Wrong)
Like a honeybee, yellow jacket has a venomous sting. (Noun Correct)

2. To Present examples.
Eg(i) – The Africans developed their society based on the cultivation
of crops like corn, beans and potatoes. (wrong)
The Africans developed their society based on the cultivation of crops
such as corn, beans and potatoes. (Right)
3. When like presents illogical comparison
Eg(i) Unlike the honeybee, the sting of yellow jacket is venomous.
(wrong)
Unlike honeybee, yellow jacket has a venomous sting. (Right)
OR Unlike that of honeybee, sting on yellow jacket is venomous.

4. Ambiguous Meaning.
Eg(i) Kim needs a tennis trainer like her brother. (Not clear)

-Kim needs a trainer who is like her brother. Or

-Kim needs a trainer as her brother does.

Like her brother, Kim needs a tennis trainer. (Clear)

(ii) Marc wants to play drums with musicians like Zoe. (Not Clear)

-Marc wants to play drums with musicians who are like Zoe. Or
- Marc wants to play drums with musicians as Zoe does.

Like Zoe, Marc wants to play drums with musicians. (Clear)

30. Concept of AS-

Following are the various functions of As-

1.Comparison (As+Clause)
Eg- Amy takes care of the children in the day care AS a mother does.
(Whenever As presents a comparison, should be followed by a clause)

2. 2 Simultaneous Actions (As+ Clause)

Eg- As I was travelling in the metro, I noticed unattended bags
underneath.

(While and During could be used to replace As in this case).

3.To present Reason (because) (As+Clause)

Eg- Amy has started drinking Green tea as she wanted to cut down on
her consumption of caffine.
(Reason/Because/Since could be used to replace As in this case)

4. Presenting Role/Function (As+Noun)

Eg-As an elder sister, Emma takes care of her siblings.
(Only when AS is used to show function, could it be followed by a
Noun)