Sentence Correction Flashcards
What kind of sentence should be between two commas?
A sentence that is not needed to convey the intended meaning
What should you look for when you see a comparison? (i.e. Unlike X, Y is…)
In comparisons you should look if what is being compared is similar and if the structure is parallel
Describe the characteristics of SUBJUNCTIVE MOOD
Structure used in theoretical sentences or after bossy verbs
The verb should come in BASE FORM
I.e. Demanding THAT X B done
What is the problem with an amount that is about 2% of the GDP
This sentence is wordy. Alternatively, an amount about 2% of the GDP
What is the number of collective nouns?
Collective nouns are singular
Ex: the team has to work together to win
Is each singular or plural?
Each is singular
Ie: Each of the students
What is the catch with intended actions?
Preference for base form ferms: “to + [verb in base form]”
“A research TO EXPLORE topic X”
Ask yourself - what does it want to do?
What is the issue with “A research that would explore topic X”?
For intended actions use the base form: TO EXPLORE
What is the first thing to look for in a SC exercise?
What is the SUBJECT, VERB, COMPLEMENT of the sentence
What is the difference between comparisson words BETWEEN and AMONG
Between: 2 elements
Among: multiple elements
What is the most important action in fully underlined?
To anotate the SVC, to use it to compare the meaning between alternatives
What is the catch with the modifier structure “[phrase] + [comma] + [noun]”
To evaluate if the phrase is modifying the correct noun (right after the comma)
Is “that of” correct?
“Softness of soil similar to that of rivers”
Yes, but THAT is referring to the SOFTNESS
Softness is what is being compared; “of soil” is a modifier of softness
When is it the case for two actions in the past not requiring past perfect?
If both actions ocurred simultaneously/continuously.
“Even though his army never faced defeat, king carefully planned every battle”
PAST PERFECT: when the first action is on the GREATER PAST, before a second action
What words can be used to identify cause and effect, and what word cant?
CAN BE USED: thereby, resulting in
CAN’T BE USED: and
Identify the SVC of the passage:
“Farmers should know that by adding more than necessary fertilizers to soil, farmers lower soil’s ability to absorb nutriets, thereby reducing the crop yield.
“[s]Farmers [v] should know [c]that [m]by adding more than necessary fertilizers to soil, [s]FARMERS [v]LOWER [c] SOIL’S ability to absorb nutriets, thereby [m] reducing the crop yield.
Identify the SVC and correct the passage:
“Farmers should know that by adding more than necessary fertiliers to soik, soik’s ability to absorb nutriets is lowered resulting in reduced crop yield”
“[s]Farmers [v]should know [c]that [m]by adding more than necessary fertiliers to soil, (1)soil’s ability to absorb nutriets (2)is lowered resulting in reduced crop yield”
(1) Who is the actor that is modified by BY ADDING? Soil? No, should be farmers
(2) passive voice - ability is lowered; who is the actor?
“FARMERS, by adding more than necessary fertilizers to soil, LOWER soils ability to ….
How to use PRESENT TENSEto describe a current status vs a quality of a noun? (i.e. GAME)
Status: [VERB + ing]
* A game simulating
Quality: [VERB + ‘s’]
* A game that simulates
What is the meaning of:
1) X proves itself
2) X has proved itself
1) continuous action, still proves to date
2) concluded action with effects to date
What should you do on a sentence with parallel construction? (i.e. lists or comparissons)
Check:
1) if verbs are parallel,
2) if the comparisson is betweens similar elements
What is the catch in “the car was designed for X-purpose and ressembling Y-car”
This is a list of qualities of the car
1) it was designed for X purpose (concluded quality)
2) it ressembles Y car (continuous quality)
What is the issue and how to fix the sentence:
“X, whose montlhy circulation totals 1.000”
The sentence is passive voice. To fix it add a verb to the subject “total montlhy circulation”
“X, whose total montlhy circulation is 1.000”
What is the issue and how to fix the sentence:
“Rome, from where Italy was ruled”
The sentence is not concise
“Rome, Italy’s capital”
What is the marker of the end of a list?
the structure “[comma] + and”
What to look for when deciding between two potential answers in SC?
Evaluate if the meaning is the same by looking to the SVC and modifiers
What is the issue with:
“Its easier to X, rather than to Y”
There is a redundancy in comparisons by using EASIER and RATHER THAN.
Instead, use:
“It’s easy to X, rather than to Y”; or
“It’s easier to X than to Y”
What is the SVC of the sentence:
“With X-trait (…), Erope has been (…), its Y-trait (…)”
“[m1] With X-trait (…), [s]Europe [v]has been c, [m1]its Y-trait (…)”
m1: EUROPE, with X-trait
m2: EUROPE, with its Y-trait
What is a dangling modifier?
A structure that is modifying something not present in the sentence
“Using good hip movement, V4 routes can be done in less than 3min”
WHO is using good hip movement?
CLIMBERS
Using good hip movement, climbers can do V4 routes in less than 3 min”