Verbal Essentials Flashcards
A clause has?
a Subject and a finite verb
e.g. TOM ATE his lunch
Finite verbs are…
verbs that makes clear when the action occurred
A phrase is…
A clause missing either a subject or a finite verb.
A clause has both.
Independent clauses are
- Have subject + finite verb
- Every sentence must have at least 1 independent clause
- Correct version of SC must have at least 1 independent clause
Dependent clauses are
- Cannot constitute sentences on their own
- Fulfill specific functions within sentences
- Enhance/modify meaning expressed in an independent clause
Types of dependent clauses
- Subordinate: Subordinate conjunction + independent clause, e.g. “BECAUSE the crowd laughed”
- Relative: Adjective clause, gives more information about the noun
- Noun: One that plays the role of a noun
Subordinate clauses
Subordinating conjunction + independent clause
Subordinating conjunction + subject + finite verb
Name 3 subordinate conjunctions
e.g. since, although, whereas, because, unless, if, once, after, until, even though, whenever, just as
Coordinating conjunctions connect two ICs.
Sentence fragments…
When a sentence lacks either a subject or a main verb.
Choices containing sentence fragments are always incorrect
Compound sentences are…
Composed on at least two independent clauses, connected in specific ways, e.g. coordinating conjunctions
Independent clause + , + coordinating conjunction + independent clause + .
Name the 7 coordinating conjunctions
FANBOYS
For And Nor But Or Yet So
Using coordinating conjunctions
When independent clauses are connected by a coordinating conjunction, a comma MUST precede the conjunction.
e.g. I ran, AND I fell.
Run on sentences
Linking two independent clauses with no intermediary punctuation
e.g. I ran I fell
ALWAYS INCORRECT
Comma splice
Linking two independent clauses with only a comma.
e.g. I ran, I fell.
ALWAYS INCORRECT
Semicolons ;
Can be used to substitute a coordinating clause + comma.
Each side must contain an independent clause.
Colons :
Whatever precedes the colon must be a complete sentence
Complex sentence
1 independent clause (IC) + at least 1 subordinate clause (SC)
e.g. Because Lucy loves wine, I brought her a pinot noir. -> SC + IC
Subordinate clauses in complex sentences can take on 3 forms. What are they?
- After verb: I jostled you WHILE YOU WERE SLEEPING
- Before subject: WHILE YOU WERE SLEEPING, I jostled you.
- Somewhere in the middle: I, WHILE YOU WERE SLEEPING, jostled you.
in #3, must use comma(s)
When a subordinate clause FOLLOWS an independent clause, the comma is…
Optional.
When the subordinate clause PRECEDES an independent clause, the comma is mandatory.
“Although I was quite hungry, but I chose something nutritious.” Correct or not?
Not correct.
Subordinate clause “although I was quite hungry” already contains a conjunction. The “but” is unnecessary.
Watch out for double conjunctions.
Compound-complex sentences…
Contain more than 1 independent clause + at least 1 subordinate clause.
Because we went to the beach, I ran in the sand, so I could build my endurance.
SC + IC + IC
Both ICs are joined by a coordinating conjunction + comma. Or, it must be joined by a semi-colon.
Relative clauses start with
Pronouns. There are 7 to know for the GMAT 1. That 2. Which 3. Who 4. Whom 5. Whose 6. Where 7. When
Relative clauses are:
a type of dependent clause, they are always embedded within other clauses
Relative clauses must have
a subject and a finite verb
When the relative pronoun is the subject of a relative clause
When the relative pronoun is the subject of the relative clause, the relative pronoun cannot be omitted.
e.g. The baboon THAT grasped its baby had an angry look about it. (cannot remove “that”)
When the relative pronoun is NOT the subject of a relative clause
Then the relative pronoun can be dropped.
e.g. The baboon that Irving was feeding had an angry look about it.
“Irving”, not “that”, is the subject of the relative clause.
If the GMAT provides both options (with and without relative pronoun, when the pronoun is not needed), it’s to distract from the real issue.
Sentence fragments are
In SC questions, there are often relative clauses attached to nouns.
Watch out for long/complex fragments
One strategy is to cross out any relative clauses
Ways to fix sentence fragments
Add finite verbs, or remove relative pronouns
Noun clauses are
clauses that play the role of a noun.
Start with: that, which, how, who, whom, where, whether, what, why
e.g. Marty feels that spiritual development has no limits.
Noun clauses as subject
Be the subject of a sentence.
e.g. What Jeff said is confusing.
Noun clauses as direct objects
Be direct objects
e.g. I knew *why the deer was eating my flowers.”
^verb inherited (knew), therefore a DIRECT object
In this case, “that” is dropped and is acceptable. In GMAT, some other issue will matter more.
Noun clauses as objects of a preposition
e.g.
I was unhappy about what the auditors found.
^no verb inherited, therefore OBJECT OF A PREPOSITION
Distinguish between relative clauses and noun clauses
Both begin with pronouns (that, which, who…)
Relative clause: follows and noun and modifies that noun
Noun clause: acts as a noun
Oxford commas
are necessary in the GMAT
e.g. I had cereal, toast, and juice.
Semicolons in lists
Used when commas may be confusing
In Europe, I will visit London, England; Paris, France; and Vienna, Austria.
Subject-verb agreement
- Do the numbers match (plural/singular)
- What is the subject, what is the verb
- Cross out relative clauses for clarity
Appositives
Modifies or further describes another element in a sentence
e.g. My brother John loves hiking.
My brother = John
Cross out appositives to check for subject-verb agreement.
Compound subjects are…
Two nouns joined by a coordinating conjunctions “and”, “or”, “nor”
Compound subjects joined by “and” are NORMALLY plural or singular?
Plural. When joined by an “and”, they form a plural subject and requires a plural verb.
e.g. “professors and research scientists ARE” or “style and color ARE”
Exception of “and” compound subjects
When two nouns joined by “and” forms a singular entity
e.g. “bed and breakfast IS”
Compound subjects with or, nor, either, neither
Compound subject joined by or, nor, either, neither agree with the subject noun to which it is closest
e. g. Neither the bread nor the potatoes LOOK very appealing.
e. g. The prime minister or her assistants ARE in the meeting
Inverted sentences
Verb precedes subject, but subject and verb must still agree.
Need to find the subject that the verb belongs to in the GMAT
Collective nouns are plural or singular?
Name groups of people or things (e.g. team, crowd, litter, crew, regiment)
and they are ~almost~ always considered SINGULAR.
e.g. The team IS at the lake. -> refers to the collective, not any individual within the team.
Collective nouns are considered singular except…
when members of the group act individually.
e.g. The crew sometimes ARGUE among themselves over who should take out the trash.
^the crew does not argue with itself; using plural clarifies that it is members within the group arguing.
Collective nouns before proposition phrases are considered plural or singular?
Singular.
e.g “The FLOCK of geese IS flying overhead.”
Unless a plural verb is needed for clarity about individuals within the group.
e.g. “A group of dogs WERE chasing each other.” -> The group is not chasing itself, individuals within the group are chasing each other.
“majority” and “minority” are considered plural or singular?
Depends on context.
Plural
“A majority of the students ARE applying.”
-> individual students are applying, not the collective.
Singular
“A 2/3 majority of ministers IS required.”
-> Focused on the whole, not individual ministers.
Subjects that begins with “every”, “each”, “many a” are plural or singular?
Singular, since it refers to individuals within that group.
e.g. “Every guy a the prom LOOKS amazing.”
Name 5 singular indefinite pronouns
Anybody, anyone, anything, each, everybody, everything, nobody, no one, nothing, one, somebody, something, whatever
These take singular verbs
Indefinite nouns: either/or, neither/nor are plural or singular?
Depends, it must follow the subject noun to which it is closest.
Whoever is plural or singular?
Depends on the subject.
e. g. “Whoever the key players ARE”
e. g. “Who he IS”
Name 3 plural indefinite pronouns
Few, both, many, several
Sometimes singular, sometimes plural indefinite pronouns
SANAMM
Some, Any, None, All, More, Most
Depends if the pronoun refers to a singular or plural.
All of the class WAS present. -> singular All of the students WANT a break. -> plural
Singular or plural?
- “THE number of”
- “A number of”
- “THE number of” is singular, refers to a group.
e. g. “The number of students applying for internships HAS increased.” - “A number of” is plural, refers to individuals.
e. g. “A number of students HAVE applied for internships.”
Singular or plural?
- “THE percentage of”
- “A percentage of”
- “THE percentage of” is singular.
e. g. The percentage of people in America who are overweight IS astounding. - “A percentage of” depends on what it is a percentage of.
e. g. A percentage of the water IS not contaminated.
e. g. A percentage of the lakes ARE not polluted.
Subjects in the form of infinitives, gerunds, and noun phrases/clauses are always singular or plural?
Singular
e. g. Swimming IS good exercise.
e. g. To catch trains IS difficult.
e. g. What I want IS for you to be healthy.
Sentences with only a pronoun are incorrect when…
there is no antecedent for that pronoun.
e.g. The orchard’s production is high, but selling THEM is easy. –> INCORRECT
Correct: The orchard’s production of apples is high, but selling them is easy.
When “name”, “term”, “label” etc comes up…
be on the lookout for a pronoun-antecedent error
e. g The moniker “Never Trampers” was popularized in 2016, though they have dwindled in number since that time.
- > “they” refers to “Never Trumpers”, NOT the moniker. So, this sentence is illogical.
On the GMAT, pronouns can/cannot refer to a clause
CANNOT.
Incorrect: “My dog remained lost for days, which caused be to lose sleep until it was found.”
-> WHICH refers to the entire clause before the comma = Incorrect
WHICH should be used to refer to noun/noun phrase preceding it, in this case “days”
Correct:
“My dog remained lost for days, CAUSING me to lose sleep until it was found.”
“I lost sleep until my dog, WHICH remained lost for days, was found.”
Same with “that”
Subject, Object, Possessive Pronouns
Subject: I, you, he, we, they, who, whoever
Object: me, you, him, us, them, whom, whomever
Possessive: mine, yours, his, ours, theirs, whose
Using Subject, Object, Possessive Pronouns
If pronoun doing action = Subject
If pronoun is acted upon = Object
If pronoun indicates ownership = Possessive
“between you and me” vs “between you and I”
“between you and me” is correct, because “you and me” is the OBJECT of the preposition “between”
who vs whom
who takes the action
whom is the object
Tip: replace with he/him.
If he = who
If him = whom (“m” as in “him” = “whom”)
Nobody saw who/whom pulled the alarm
If pronoun serves as the subject, use “who”
Gerunds are
verbs ending in “-ing” that acts as a noun.
“Skateboarding is popular worldwide.”
“The president was worried by their questioning the validity of the data.”
Correct?
Yes, “their questioning” = possessive pronoun + gerund.
-> The President was worried by the questioning. Who’s questioning? The citizens’ (their).
These are correct on the GMAT, don’t eliminate just because it sounds strange
Demonstrative pronouns take the place of a noun and…
1) always stands alone
2) e.g. this, that, these, those
e. g. The TIRES on most sports cars are wide than THOSE on most sedans.
Those stands on its own, does not modify a noun, replicates the noun “tires”.
Demonstrative pronouns don’t have to refer directly to their antecedents.
The speed of today’s cars well exceeds THAT of cars of the 1950’s.
- > THAT replaces the antecedent “speed”, but it is not the same speed. There are now two different speeds.
- > Signals that a comparison is being made.
Demonstrative adjectives
1) is always immediately followed by a noun, because adjectives modify nouns
e. g. THAT book is long. (Which book is long?)
the expletive “it”
e.g. It is apparent that Milan is a skilled writer.
This is correct. It does not express meaning, it stands in for something that appears later.
e. g “That Milan is a skilled writer is apparent.”
- > This is an example of a “delayed subject”.
“In the past, people commonly burned leaves, but IT is rare now.” Correct?
No.
IT has no logical referent AND it is not used as an expletive (i.e. there is no delayed subject IT refers to).
Checking whether “IT” without a referent is being used correctly
- Check for presence of delayed subject
- If yes delayed subject, “it” is expletive
- If no delayed subject, “it” is incorrectly used.
