Verbal - Sentence Correction Flashcards
phrase
a collection of words without a subject-verb relationship
it can never stand alone as a sentence
it lacks a subject, a finite verb, or both
finite verb
a verb that answers the question “When did the action occur?”
clause
a clause has both a subject and a finite verb
determining whether a group of words is a phrase or a clause
check for a subject and a finite verb. If both are present, we have a clause. If either is missing, we have a phrase
independent clause
an independent clause contains a subject and a finite verb and can stand alone as a sentence
every English sentence must have _____________
at least one independent clause, and the correct version of a sentence in a SC question always contains at least one independent clause
main verb
the finite verb in any independent clause
dependent clauses
clauses that cannot constitute sentences on their own are dependent clauses. these clauses fulfill specific functions with sentences and serve to enhance or modify the meaning expressed by an independent clause
subordinate clause formula
subordinate clause = [subordinating conjunction] + [subject] + [finite verb]
subordinate clause
a clause where a subordinating conjunction is placed at the head of that clause - it is a dependent clause
if a clause begins with a subordinating conjunction, it is a subordinate clause
subject
the subject of a sentence is the person or thing performing the action in the sentence. W/o at least one subject, there can be no sentence.
english sentence requirements
every English sentence must contain at least one main verb
when we lack either a subject or a main verb in a sentence, we have a sentence fragment. a sentence fragment will never be a correct GMAT answer
simple sentence
consists of a single independent clause followed by a period
is also the simplest collection of words that can constitute an English sentence
compound sentence
a compound sentence is composed of at least two independent clauses.
coordinating conjunctions
FANBOYS:
For
And
Nor
But
Or
Yet
So
Compound Sentence Formula
Compound Sentence = [independent clause] + [,] + [coordinating conjunction] + [independent clause] + [.]
things always incorrect re: linking two independent clauses
- linking two independent clauses with NO intermediary word or punctuation is always incorrect
- linking two independent clauses with ONLY a comma is always incorrect - comma splice
- linking two independent clauses with ONLY a coordinating conjunction
the absence of a comma before a coordinating conjunction forbids ______
having an independent clause follow because the result would be a run-on sentence
when a semicolon is used as a substitute for a comma and a coordinating conjunction __________
an independent clause must be found on each side of the semi colon
whenever we have a colon, what precedents the colon must _______
be able to stand on its own as a complete sentence
a colon MUST be preceded by _____ (and also what it may be followed by)
an independent clause
it may be followed by an independent clause, but it need not be
the colon can also be followed by an example or series of examples
a colon cannot be used if _____
the sentence preceding the colon is not complete
complex sentence
a complex sentence is composed of one independent clause and at least one subordinate clause
when the subordinate clause is out of place in a sentence _______
a comma or commas are required to indicate the departure from the expected sentence arrangement
comma rules re: subordinate & independent clauses
when a subordinate clause precedes an independent clause, the subordinate clause MUST be followed by a comma
when a subordinate clause comes after an independent clause, the comma between the two clauses is OPTIONAL
compound-complex sentence
a compound-complex sentence is a sentence with more than one independent clause and at least one subordinate clause
when joining two independent clauses within a compound-complex sentence _________
we must link the independent clauses either with a comma and a coordinating conjunction or with a semicolon
whenever a subordinating conjunction immediately follows a coordinating conjunction __________
there must be at least three clauses in the sentence
when a subordinating conjunction follows a coordinating conjunction in a compound-complex sentence __________
make sure all necessary clauses appear in the sentence
the relative pronouns (list)
that
which
who
whom
whose
where
when
relative clause
relative clauses always appear embedded w/in other clauses & they are unable to stand alone as sentences
each relative clause must have a subject and a finite verb
it is a dependent clause - must be combined with an independent clause if we are to have a sentence
when the relative pronoun IS the subject of the relative clause
it may NOT be omitted from the clause
when the relative pronoun is NOT the subject of the relative clause
it CAN be omitted from the sentence
relative clause formulas
relative clause = [relative pronoun acting as the subject] + [finite verb]
or
relative clause = [relative pronoun not acting as the subject] + [subject] + [finite verb]
relative clause formulas
relative clause = [relative pronoun acting as the subject] + [finite verb]
or
relative clause = [relative pronoun not acting as the subject] + [subject] + [finite verb]
in noun cases that serve as direct objects ____________
the word “that” is often dropped
noun clause
a noun clause can fulfill the role of the subject of a sentence
strategy to determine whether we have a sentence (or just a fragment)
cross off any relative clauses
list of what noun clauses begin with
many noun clauses begin with the words:
that
which
how
who
whom
where
whether
what
why
in a noun clause, a word such as “that,” “which,” or “where that introduces the clause does not _________
relate the clause back to a noun as the relative pronouns in relative clauses do
relative clause
a clause that follows a noun and modifies that noun
a noun clause
a clause that acts as a noun
when three or more items appear in a series ______
a comma and a coordinating conjunction must appear before the last item in the series
semicolons can be used to _________
separate items in a list when using commas would make the list confusing
in any clause in a sentence, the subject of that clause must agree in number with _______
the subject’s finite verb in that clause
in a correct version of a sentence in a SC q (singular v plural)
if the subject of a clause is singular, the subject’s finite verb is singular, and, if the subject is plural, the subject’s finite verb is plural
the subject of a clause
is the noun that is doing or being what the main verb expresses
how to determine the subject
identify the action word in the clause (which is the main verb)
the rule for regular verbs
we PLACE an S at the end of a SINGULAR verb and we DROP the S at the end of a PLURAL verb
strategy for checking subject-verb agreement
ignore a prepositional phrase that comes between a subject and its finite verb
also ignore any appositives that separate a subject and its finite verb
also ignore any relative clauses that separate a subject and its finite verb
the subject of a clause ______ be found in a prepositional phrase
WILL NOT
w very few exceptions
a relative clause trick (like the GMAT is tricking you not a trick you can use on the GMAT)
a relative clause can be placed b/w a subject and its finite verb to make catching subject-verb agreement issues more challenging
a compound subject
is a subject composed of multiple nouns joined by the coordinating conjunction “and” or “or.”
when two singular nouns are joined by “and” ________
they form a plural subject & therefore demand a plural verb - normally, compound subjects consisting of plural nouns follow the same rule
subjects composed of 2 nouns joined by the coordinating conjunction “and” take a singular verb when ________
the two nouns name a singular entity, such as “bed and breakfast,” or “rice and beans”
additive phrases
phrases that begin w/ structures such as “along with,” “as well as,” “in addition to,” “accompanied by,” or “together with,” do not create plural subjects
a singular subject followed by an additive phrase remains singular
the subject of a sentence will NEVER be found within an additive phrase
Or, Either… Or, and Neither … Nor Rule
the verb in a clause or sentence containing a compound subject joined by the conjunctions “or,” “either … or,” or “neither … nor” must agree with the subject noun to which it is the closest
inverted sentence
the main verb precedes the subject
BUT the subject & verb must still agree
collective nouns
nouns that refer to groups of people or things - when they appear as subjects on GMAT SC qs they are ALMOST ALWAYS considered singular
collective noun context
when the context of a sentence makes it clear that the members of a group are not acting as a single unit but rather as individuals then a PLURAL verb is required
when the context of a sentence creating a subject made up of a collective noun followed by a prepositional phrase makes it clear that the group is acting as a single unit, a SINGULAR verb is required
when the context of a sentence containing a collective noun followed by a prepositional phrase makes clear that the members of the group are not acting as a single unit but rather as individuals, a plural verb is required
majority & minority (collective nouns)
can be considered singular or plural depending on context
also like other collective nouns they can be used alone or combined w prepositional phrases
words a subject can begin w that make it ALWAYS take a singular verb
every
each
many a
many an
pronoun-verb agreement
pronouns follow the same rules of subject-verb agreement that nouns follow
if the subject of a clause is a pronoun rather than a noun, it must still agree in number with its verb
relative pronoun
when a relative pronoun refers to a singular noun, it too is singular and takes a singular verb
on the other hand, when a relative pronoun refers to a plural noun, it is likewise plural and requires a plural verb
indefinite pronoun
an indefinite pronoun is a pronoun that doesn’t refer to any one thing in particular
singular indefinite pronouns
ALWAYS take singular verbs & are:
anybody
anyone
anything
each
either (has a diff rule)
everybody
everyone
everything
neither (has a diff rule)
nobody
no one
nothing
one
somebody
someone
something
whatever
whoever (also a diff rule)
either in either … or construction & neither in neither … nor construction
when either is used in an either or construction follow the either … or rules
same applies to when neither is used in a neither … nor construction
in these cases, we follow the rule that the verb in a clause or sentence containing a compound subject joined bye the conjunctions “or,” “nor,” “either … or,” or “neither … nor” must agree w the subject noun to which it is the closest
plural indefinite pronoun
always takes a plural verb - they include the following: “both,” “few,” “many,” and “several”
SANAMM indefinite pronouns
some
any
none
all
more
most
can be singular or plural depending on their referents
when a subject begins with one of the SANAMM indefinite pronouns, we can’t ignore the prepositional phrase that comes b/w the subject and the verb
THE number of vs. A number of
subjects that begin w:
THE number of - take singular verbs
A number of - take plural verbs
THE percentage of vs. A percentage of
a subject that begins w:
THE percentage of - takes a singular verb
A percentage of - takes a verb that agrees in number with what the percentage is a percentage of
subject-verb agreement involving fractions
a subject that begins w a fraction such as “half” or “one-fourth” can take a singular or plural verb depending on what the fraction is a fraction of
when a subject begins with a fraction, we cannot ignore a prepositional phrase that comes between the fraction and the main verb
subject-verb agreement and the word percent
in a situation involving a subject that is a portion described via the use of the word “percent,” whether the subject is singular or plural depends on whether what the portion is a portion of is singular or plural
nontraditional subjects
subjects in the form of infinitives, gerunds, and noun phrases / clauses ALWAYS take singular verbs
