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GMAT verbal > Verbal Sentence correction > Flashcards

Verbal Sentence correction Flashcards

1
Q

Difference between if and when

A

You have correctly said that “in the above sentence, when refers to a situation”. However there is a change in meaning if ‘when’ is replaced by ‘if’.
Let’s take two simple examples to understand:
• When Joey comes to India, Rahul will meet him.
• If Joey comes to India, Rahul will meet him.

Is there a difference in the meaning of the above sentences?
Yes, there is. The first sentence tells us about a certain event in the future, while the second one poses a condition. From the first sentence we know that the event of Joey coming to India is certain. So, Rahul will get to meet Joey. However, there is no such certainty in the second sentence.

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2
Q

What to know about “having”?

A

“Having” by itself is not a verb. We would require a helping verb.
e.g. I am having a great time

Mistake: no helping verb: The company having …. wrong.
The company is having… could still be right.

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3
Q

What is the error?: ..that it has set aside enough to pay for environmental claims and no longer is having

A

The subject for the verb is missing - there is no “company” or “it” to go with the verb “(is) having”.

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4
Q

What are state verbs?

A

State verbs generally fall into 4 groups:

Emotion: love, hate, want, need

Possession: have, own, want, belong

Sense: see, hear, smell, seem

Thought: know, believe, remember

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5
Q

What is important to know about state verbs?

A

State verbs cannot be used in present continuous. In this case “is having” is a state verb and hence cannot be used in present continuous form.

exception:

some verbs can be both state and action verbs
Some words can be state verbs and action verbs. The meaning of these verbs is then different. Take a look at these:

‘I have a car.’ – state verb showing possession

‘I am having a bath.’ – action verb which, in this case, means ‘taking’.

‘I think you are cool.’ – state verb meaning ‘in my opinion’.

‘I am thinking about buying a motorbike.’ – action verb meaning ‘considering’.

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6
Q

What does a verb-ing modifier do when it appear after a clause and is preceded by a comma?

A

then it modifies the entire preceding clause. It

a) either presents additional information about the preceding clause or
b) result of the preceding clause.

Error: The intricate structure of the compound insect eye, having hundreds of miniature eyes called ommatidia

meanig coming out: intricate structure are having hundreds of miniature eyes==> this is illogical as structure cant have eyes…

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7
Q

What is like/unlike always followed by?

A

A noun. It is never followed by a clause.

Correct: Unlike the premiums..

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8
Q

What to know about „like“ vs. „such as“

A

„Like“ cannot be used to introduce examples. „Such as“ can be used.

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9
Q

What does the subconjunction starting with „although“ require?

A

It requires a subject and a verb or at minimum a verb.

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10
Q

What to know about the sentence after a semicolon?

A

It has to be a full independent clause

rated about 20/500; qualifying it to be legally blind if an adult.

Error: the semicolon doesn’t work, because “qualifying it to be legally blind if an adult” is just a modifier, not a full independent clause

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11
Q

What happens if the main subject is connected by any additive other than “and”?

A

Then it is still singular

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12
Q

If “either…or”/“neither…or” are used then what does the verb have to agree with?

A

Then the verb has to agree with the word closest to it.

E.g. Either John or his friends are coming for dinner.

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13
Q

If “either” or “neither” are used then is the verb plural or singular?

A

Then the verb is singular

E.g. neither John’s friends nor John is coming for dinner.

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14
Q

Are collective nouns singular or plural? (E.g. assembly, family, crew)

A

Singular

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15
Q

What can “like” be used for?

A

To indicate similarity

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16
Q

What can “such as” be used for?

A

To indicate examples

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17
Q

What is “less” used for?

A

For unquantifiable things

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18
Q

What is “fewer” used for?

A

For quantifiable things

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19
Q

What is “between” used for in a sentence?

A

To compare two things.

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20
Q

What is “among” used for in a sentence?

A

To compare many things

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21
Q

Can use have two participles, one endings with -ing and the other with -ed in a parallel structure?

A

Yes.

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22
Q

Should you avoid the passive voice?

A

Yes.

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23
Q

Does parallelism always contain a marker?

A

Yes

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24
Q

Some single-word parallel markers.

A

And; or; but;

And does not have to follow a comma. It can be a parallel market when two things are listed for example.

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25
Q

Some dual-word markers for parallelism

A 
Either ... or
Neither ... nor
Both ... and
Not ... but
Not only ... but also ...
Whether .. or ...
Rather than ...
From ... to
Between ... and ...
Instead of ...
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26
Q

Is this sentence correct?

Mary has gotten both an iPad and an IPhone for her birthday present.

A

Yes. “An iPad” is parallel to “an iPhone”

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27
Q

Is this sentence correct?

.. one human death so far jumped from humans to pigs in the 1990s and circulated in them..

A

Yes.
.. one human death so far jumped from humans to pigs in the 1990s and circulated in them..
Jumped is parallel to circulated; humans is parallel to pigs

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28
Q

Are structural entities always parallel?

A

No. Not always, there can be two verb-ing modifiers that are not parallel because their meanings differ.

29
Q

Does logic or grammar govern in the GMAT?

A

Logic

30
Q

Can Verb-ed and Verb-ing modifiers be parallel?

E.g. spawned and extending

A

Yes.

31
Q

Can active and passive voice be parallel?

A

Yes if the verbs have the same subject.

32
Q

Is this sentence correct?

The new lamp decorated with pink flowers and resembling a star brought a large smile on the child’s face.

A

Yes.

The new lamp decorated with pink flowers and resembling a star brought a large smile on the child’s face.

This sentence is about a new lamp that made a child smile. Two characteristics of this lamp are mentioned here. The new lamp:

a. is decorated with pink flower and
b. resembles a star.

Notice that “decorated” is the verb-ed modifier presenting one quality of the lamp. “resembling” is a verb-ing modifier presenting another quality of the lamp. So, both these words are modifiers that perform the same function. Hence, “decorated” and “resembling” are parallel. Yes, one is a Verb-ed Modifier and the other is Verb-ing Modifier. But they both are “Modifiers” and modify the same entity. This is the reason why these two are parallel.

33
Q

Is this sentence correct?

The new lamp decorated with pink flowers and resembled a star brought a large smile on the child’s face.

A

In this sentence, “decorated” and “resembled” are structurally identical but not parallel. “Decorated” is a verb-ed modifier but “resembled” is a simple past tense verb. They do not perform the same function. Hence, they are not parallel.
Also notice that now “The new lamp” has two verbs “resembled” and “brought” that are not connected properly. So this sentence is INCORRECT.

34
Q

Correct?

The new lamp decorating with pink flowers and resembling a star brought a large smile on the child’s face.

A

Here too, “decorating” and “resembling” are structurally identical but not parallel. The phrase “decorating with flowers” seems to suggest that the lamp was doing the action of decorating. Moreover, “decorating” by itself cannot be a continuous verb because it is not preceded by any helping verb (is/am/are/was/were). So, even if they look identical, these two entities are not parallel.

35
Q

The new lamp decorating with pink flowers and resembling a star brought a large smile on the child’s face.

A

Here, “decorated” is a verb-ed modifier and “that resembles” is also a modifier. They perform the same function. But there grammatical structure is not parallel. “Decorated” is a verb-ed modifier and “that resembles” is a clause. A word/phrase CANNOT be parallel to a clause.

In this case, even if the list makes logical sense, grammar does not approve it as parallel because the clause can be written in the form to make it parallel to “decorated”. “that resembles” can be written as “resembling” and this will make the list parallel.

36
Q

The new lamp that is decorated with pink flowers and that resembles a star brought a large smile on the child’s face.

A

There are two “that clause”. Now the entities in the list are absolutely parallel.

Did you just say, “But these two entities are written in two different voices.” I’m glad you noticed. :)

An active voice entity CAN very well be parallel to a passive voice as long as the subject of the verbs is same. Notice in both “that clause”, “that” stands for “The new lamp”. So the sentence says that:

a. The new lamp is decorated with pink flowers. –>Passive Voice; Note the active voice will be Rosy decorated the lamp with pink flowers.
b. The new lamp resembles a star. –> Active Voice.

37
Q

When viewed from the window of a speeding train, “the speed with which nearby objects move seems faster than that of” more distant objects.

A. the speed with which nearby objects move seems faster than that of

B. the speed that nearby objects move seems faster than for

C. the speed of nearby objects seems faster than

D. nearby objects’ speeds seem to be faster than those of

E. nearby objects seem to move at a faster speed than do

Correct or not?

A

Whenever you see a sentence that starts with a modifier phrase, whatever that phrase is referring to must come directly after the comma:

Rather than the speed, the nearby objects should be modified. E is correct.

38
Q

A present participle (-ing word) immediately preceded by a noun (no comma separating them) attributes action to what?

A

To the immediately preceding noun.

E.g. … in an individual, creating …

39
Q

… a critique of all chemistry since Robert Boyle as well as a vision of a new chemistry that Davy hoped to found.

Is this an independent clause?

A

a critique of all chemistry since Robert as well as a vision of a new chemistry.’ – This part is not an independent clause. It is just an appositive modifier, describing Davy’s book. Please note the absence of a verb there, which is essential to mark it as a clause.

40
Q

What is a gerund?

A

a verb form which functions as a noun, in Latin ending in -ndum (declinable), in English ending in -ing (e.g. asking in do you mind my asking you? ).

41
Q

What is a present participle?

A

the form of a verb, ending in -ing in English, which is used in forming continuous tenses, e.g. in I’m thinking, alone in non-finite clauses, e.g. in sitting here, I haven’t a care in the world, as a noun, e.g. in good thinking, and as an adjective, e.g. in running water.

42
Q

Is this construction parallel?

critiquing all chemistry done since Robert as well as his envisioning of

A

critiquing’ is a present participle while ‘his envisioning of’ is a gerund.

They are not parallel.

43
Q

“And” vs. “as well as”

A

First of all, “X and Y” is parallel structure, and both elements are regarded equally. In the construction “X as well as Y,” X is the main focus and Y is an afterthought, of secondary importance: they are definitely not presented rhetorically as equals. This second structure is NOT parallelism.

Similarly, we would have “X and Y do P,” plural verb, because “and” makes a plural subject even if X and Y are singular. That’s called a compound subject. By contrast, we would have “X as well as Y does P,,” singular verb, because “as well as” creates what is called an additive phrase, a noun modifier that is not considered part of the subject. See:
Compound Subjects & Additive Phrases

44
Q

Is this a correct idiom? “as much because … as because’

A

Yes.

E.g. as much because their sales a year earlier had been so bad as because shoppers were getting a head start on buying their holiday gifts.

45
Q

Difference between “rather than” and “instead of”

A

Rather than = shows preference of one item/action over another
Instead of / In place of = one item/action replaces another

46
Q

What is “due to” used for?

2 Rules

A

RULE 1: The expression ‘due to’ can only be used to modify nouns. Thus, you cannot use this expression to present reason for an action in the clause

RULE 2: ‘Due to’ is correct if the sentence makes sense when you replace ‘due to’ with ’caused by’. If, it does not, then use of ‘due to’ is not correct

47
Q

What is “because of” used for?

A

Rule 3: The expression ‘because of’ is used to modify entire clauses. Thus, you can use this expression to present reason for an action in the clause.

48
Q

Is this sentence correct?

It is cold in Arizona due to the westward storm coming from Pacific.

A

No.

It is cold in Arizona due to the westward storm coming from Pacific.

We could not say: It is cold in Arizona “caused by” the westward storm coming from Pacific.

49
Q

Arizona’s cold wave is due to the westward storm coming from Pacific.

A

Yes.

Due to’ is correct if the sentence makes sense when you replace ‘due to’ with ’caused by’. If, it does not, then use of ‘due to’ is not correct

50
Q

It is cold in Arizona because of the westward storm coming from Pacific.

A

Correct. Because of provides reason why it is cold in Arizona.

51
Q

Is “the number of people” plural or singluar?

A

singluar. “The number of people is”

52
Q

“A number of people” plural or singular?

A

plural. “A number of people see this movie every year”

53
Q

What can “as” be used for?

A

For stating comparison + for stating function (=example)

54
Q

How must “as” be combined when stating a function?

A

As + noun

John has joined the organization as a researcher.

55
Q

How must “as” be combined for stating a comparison?

A

As + clause

John has joined Biotech industry as his brother did.

56
Q

What is the difference between “as” and “like”

A

As can be used for stating comparison and function (example), but like only for comparison

57
Q

What does the verb “should” imply?

A

Implies an obligation.

58
Q

In the specific idiomatic case of “to do X” vs “for/from doing X”

A

Always choose “to do X”

e.g. to distinguish/ to take/ to broaden

59
Q

In the specific idiomatic case of “for doing X” vs “does X”

A

Always choose “does X”

60
Q

What if you are asked to choose between “for doing X” vs “that does X” ?

A

Choose “that does X”

61
Q

When is “for achieving” used?

A

“For achieving” is only used when there is a NOUN (rather than a VERB) before the “for verb+ing” phrase.

62
Q

PENCHANT + ?

A

penchant + for

You have a penchant for learning.

63
Q

How can we join two independent clauses?

A

We can join two independent clauses with a coordinating conjunction (e.g. and, or, but, nor, for, yet, so, etc.)

64
Q

How do we make an independent clause dependent/ subordinate?

A

by putting a subordinating conjunction in front of it; in this case, a different independent clause would have to remain independent as the core statement of the full sentence.

65
Q

What are the subordinating subjunctions in English?

A

“on a white bus”

O = only if

N = now that

A = although, after, as

WH = while, when, whereas, whenever, wherever, whether or not

I = if, in case

T = though

E = even though, even if

B = because, before

U = until, unless

S = since, so (that)

66
Q

Is “yet being” correct?

A

No. There What makes this answer wrong is the lack of a subject/verb after the “, yet”

67
Q

What to know about “before” or “after” and the past perfect?

A

If the past perfect action did occur at a specific time, the simple past can be used instead of the past perfect when “before” or “after” is used in the sentence. The words “before” and “after” actually tell you what happens first, so the past perfect is optional. For this reason, both sentences below are correct.

Examples:

She had visited her Japanese relatives once in 1993 before she moved in with them in 1996.
She visited her Japanese relatives once in 1993 before she moved in with them in 1996.

If the past perfect is not referring to an action at a specific time, past perfect is not optional. Compare the examples below. Here past perfect is referring to a lack of experience rather than an action at a specific time. For this reason, simple past cannot be used.

Examples:

She never saw a bear before she moved to Alaska. Not Correct
She had never seen a bear before she moved to Alaska. Correct

68
Q

Should you use a comma when combining two independent clauses?

A

An independent clause includes a subject and verb, and can typically stand alone as a unique sentence. When combining two of these in a single sentence, it’s important to remember to separate each independent clause with a comma (often by placing a comma before “and”). Consider the following example below.

[Casey has 15 years of experience in professional kitchens], and [today she is opening her first restaurant].

We’ve bracketed each independent clause to highlight the fact that each one would be a grammatically correct sentence on its own. Each one has a clear subject and a verb, making the comma before “and” a coordinating device that neatly combines the two into one sentence. On the other hand, a comma is not necessary when combining an independent clause with a dependent clause. We’ve rewritten the previous sentence to give you an example below.

Casey attended culinary school for 2 years and is a celebrated chef today.

While the content in both sentences is similar, there is a major difference between our first and second examples. In the first example, we were able to separate each independent clause in brackets, and both could operate as separate sentences on their own. However, even though we have two verbs in the rewritten example (attended, is), we only have one subject (Casey), making a comma unnecessary in this case.

GMAT verbal (2 decks)

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