Centre de Ressources Linguistiques Session 2GMAT Verbal Success GMAT Sentence Correction Section (2) Common Problems

Session 2 GMAT Verbal Success

Centre de Ressources Linguistiques

GMAT Sentence Correction Section (2)

Common Problems



Clauses and Subordinates• Make sure a seemingly independent

clause is (indeed) independent:– When, in the course of human events, it

becomes necessary for a people to advance from that subordination in which they have hitherto remained, and to assume among the powers of the earth.

Declaration of Independence (1776)



Clauses and Subordinates• A relative clause should be placed next

to the word it modifies:– I saw a woman dancing with my uncle who

was wearing a green dress.– We bought a souvenir at Macy’s that was

expensive.• It should also have a clear-cut subject:

– Whichever chosen, each member is bound to adhere to the board’s decision.



Parallelism

• If you start one verbal form, keep going with it:– I like singing, dancing and to party.– Places to go, people meeting.– For the new year, I wish you health,

riches and to be happy.



Sequencing

• Are all of the events in the right order.– My boss gave us a raise, but before that

he told us that our sales goals had been increased and then he took us out for a drink.



Arbitrary Tense Shifts

• All the verbs have to fit the same tense pattern. This is what you call “verbal concordance:”– My father snoozed while the preacher is

speaking.– When I saw Karen at the class reunion, I

realized that I forgot just how much she got on my nerves.



Sentence Problems

• Sentence Fragments– There are many diverse and varied

associations at ESSEC; such as the students’ union, sporting clubs and junior enterprise just to name a few.

– That’s scandalous! Letting us all down at the last minute.



Sentence Problems

• Run-On Sentences– Gordon laughed at Sandy's joke it was

lewd. – We often speak in run-on sentences, but we

make pauses and change our tone so people can understand us, but when we write, no one can hear us, so sometimes we must break our sentences into shorter units so that they do not sound run-on.



Sentence Problems

• Comma Splices– He enjoys walking through the country, he

often goes backpacking on his vacations.– He often watched TV when there were only

reruns, his wife preferred to read instead.

• Please be advised—these may sometimes be good style in French, but are never in English.



Agreement

• Noun-Pronoun – Neither my secretary nor yours would give us

their permission to cut her pay.– A libertarian maintains that everyone is an

individual in their own right.

• Subject-Verb– The government insists that they have a right

to tap people’s phones.– Everybody in the room have to stand up.



Comparisons

• Make sure you are comparing two things that can be compared:– That report is as interesting as a snowstorm.

• Compare only like things:– Your temper is as bad as Bob.

• Check your structures:– She likes shopping just as much than her mother.– His temper is so violent as a thunderstorm.



Rhetorical

• Avoid the following:– Ambiguous Antecedents (Pronoun

References)• I would like to refer you to a quotation from

a research center at a Midwestern university. It’s a very important one.

– Clichés• The English exam was easy as pie.



Rhetorical• Avoid the following:

– Redundancy• Jack is a man who appreciates music.• In terms of weather, the summer of

2003 was particularly hot.

– “Wordiness”• The reason why I’m stating this is, due

to the fact that the dockers are once more on strike… (etc. ad nauseum)



Rhetorical Words• The reason why is that

• The question as to whether…

• In a hasty manner• Be aware of the fact that…• Due to the fact that…• In light of the fact that…• Regardless of the fact

that…• For the purpose of…• Irregardless• Hopefully

• Because• Whether• Hastily• Know• Because• Since• Although• To• Regardless• We hope that…

Hate



Rhetorical

• Avoid the following:– Vague Words & Phrases

• The reality of the situation necessitated action.

– “Baby English”• good, bad, big, little, rich, poor…



Rhetorical

• Be Articulate!– Use the appropriate word or phrase

• Yes, we know Iraq is a big country. It’s as big as…let’s see…well, it’s as big as Texas for one thing. (D. Rumsfeld)

• I’ll take care of that…of that thing, you know, by the end of the day.



Misused Words & Phrases

• Accept – Except• Adapt – Adopt• Affect – Effect• Allusion – Illusion• Among – Between• Amount – Number – Quantity




• Apt – Likely• Beside – Besides• Bring – Take• Can – May• Teach – Learn • Famous – Infamous




• Fewer – Less• Imply – Infer• In – Into• For – Since – Ago• While – During• Irritate – Aggravate




• Interested – Interesting • Uninterested – Disinterested

Documents

Centre de Ressources Linguistiques Session 2GMAT Verbal Success GMAT Sentence Correction Section (2) Common Problems