GMAT Sentence Correction Rules
There are a number of sentence correction rules on the GMAT. These rules cover common mistakes such as using misplaced or dangling modifiers, subject-verb agreement errors, and the use of simpler wording. Read on to learn more. Then use these rules to improve your sentence structure! Here are some examples of common mistakes and how to fix them. You can also use these tips when writing your own GMAT essays.
Misplaced modifiers
The GMAT often asks questions involving the placement of modifiers in a sentence. This is especially common with passive construction. Passive constructions require a form of “to be,” such as “be the case” or a definite article. However, in GMAT sentences, the modifier is often placed after the comma. If the modifier is placed before the comma, it is often incorrect.
When modifying a sentence, it’s important to remember that the placement of modifiers is critical. When modifiers are misplaced, they fail to convey the intended meaning of the sentence. Here are some examples of incorrectly placed modifiers:
While “of” and “because of” are common GMAT sentence errors, they are not necessarily wrong. The correct use of the word “because” is often a better option. Nevertheless, if a modifier is misplaced in a sentence, it’s important to identify what kind of modification it is. If a modifier is misplaced, it means that the statement has more than one meaning.
Another common mistake is the use of a preposition. This modifying term is the wrong choice if it is used in the context of a clause. This kind of modifier is usually paired with a noun, but in the GMAT, a clause can also modify a verb. The modifier’s position in the sentence must be clear and unambiguous. In addition to modifying a noun, a preposition can also modify a noun.
The correct use of a modifier in a sentence is critical to ensuring a high score on the exam. This is especially true with the GMAT. The test maker will ask you to provide examples of sentences with misplaced modifiers to make them more readable. The GMAT uses a comma between the subject and the modifier. This is the easiest way to spot a misplaced modifier in a sentence.
Dangling modifiers
Generally, a modifier must be placed immediately after the introductory phrase. If the modifier is not placed immediately after the introductory phrase, it creates a dangling modifier. For example, the sentence “to grill” should be rewritten as “to pre-heat the chicken.”
The first dangling modifier is an appositive, which modifies a noun phrase. A dangling modifier makes the sentence illogical because it modifies the rest of the sentence. For example, the correct sentence is “the president considered Ariel a very intelligent man.”
Another dangling modifier is “he/she” if the sentence refers to a person or an animal. In the example above, the modifying phrase relates to a person, which can’t be a pumpkin. Moreover, a human cannot have measurements like a pumpkin. Therefore, a dangling modifier is used in the incorrect sentence. A dangling modifier is an example of a GMAT sentence correction rule.
Another common mistake is “only,” which can modify more than one thing. Words like “only,” “except,” and adverbs are common culprits of this mistake. Here’s an example statement that demonstrates these mistakes. The first dangling modifier is “only,” which is a weaker form of adverb. The second dangling modifier is “to a certain extent.”
The correct answer choice should be C. Incorrect answers will contain idioms. Correct answers are grammatically and idiomatically correct. For example, “being” is redundant when it comes after “undergoing.” This word indicates a conversion. While answer choices B and C are redundant, answer choice E is correct due to its idiom usage, lack of redundancy, and concision.
Subject-verb agreement errors
One of the most important concepts to master for the GMAT is subject-verb agreement. Although this concept may seem basic, it is one of the most commonly tested on the GMAT. As it turns out, this concept is the most common error that students make when they write sentences. As such, practicing with questions that feature subject-verb agreement will help you eliminate many of your wrong answers. In addition, using verb tense worksheets will help you master sentence corrections.
To learn GMAT sentence correction rules, you need to understand the concept of subject-verb agreement and its exceptions. For example, in the following sentence, you should use the singular form of the verb ‘is’ when the subject is singular. If you want to make a sentence plural, use the phrase ‘has to’ to change the singular form of the verb to the plural. The same principle applies to the plural form of the verb ‘has’.
In general, the SANAM pronoun is either singular or plural. The SANAM pronoun can be used in singular or plural sentences, and you can omit the part between commas if it is necessary. Also, remember that collective nouns are usually singular, so you can often omit it by using the word ‘has’. A word like ‘each’ or ‘every’ can indicate a subject-verb agreement error.
Another tip for subject-verb agreement mistakes is to identify the keywords in the sentence. The keywords include the verb and subject, and the rest of the sentence will fall into place. Remember to include the preposition (-ing) to avoid confusion. When you’re unsure, you can substitute the word ‘which’ with the subject-verb agreement. In other words, if the verb is unclear, you shouldn’t put the preposition between them.
Simpler sentences
The GMAT has sentence correction rules for simpler sentences. If a sentence contains 2 things that happened in the past or a current event, you need to know how to tell whether both things were done or set in the past. By learning these rules, you can eliminate answers that don’t make sense or have no reason to be correct. Also, you can use this information to understand the importance of modifiers and parallelism.
To use GMAT sentence correction rules, you must write sentences that do not contain unnecessary fluff or errors in grammar. For example, if there is no clear answer for “who isolated radium” in the first sentence, the most appropriate choice is option B. The second sentence makes use of parallelism but uses ‘who isolated radium’ instead of ‘radium was isolated in 1910.
Another GMAT sentence correction rule involves identifying the type of modifiers used in a sentence. Some of these modifiers are appositive or prepositional. These words add complexity to a sentence and must be placed in a specific place in the sentence. Examples of appositive clauses are ‘like’ and “as”. The latter two are also commonly used, but they are often mistaken for each other.
One of the most effective ways to learn how to correct GMAT sentences is to recognize patterns in grammar. Certain word types form certain patterns, and some of them don’t fit together. When you study for the GMAT, you will learn more about these patterns through incorrect answers than from correct ones. By identifying and labeling errors, you can improve your performance and accuracy. Just follow the steps above to make the most of your GMAT sentence correction practice.
Correct answer choices
The GMAT sentence correction rules test your knowledge of Modifiers, Parallelism, and Relative Clauses. Knowing and practicing the correct answers for these questions will help you answer GMAT questions more effectively. To do so, first read a passage, focusing on the underlined element. Next, circle any grammatical errors you spot. In this way, you can narrow down the correct answer choices.
In many cases, the GMAT will use an idiom to trick you into focusing on the wrong part of a sentence. Idioms are groups of words or expressions that convey a specific meaning but may not be obvious. In order to eliminate these answers, simplify the sentence. Instead of giving your answer choices a vague meaning, simplify the sentence with a single verb or key subject. This will help you identify the correct answer choice, regardless of context.
A GMAT sentence can refer to two things that happened in the past, as well as an ongoing event. You need to decide if both things were set or done in the past. If both were, then you need to eliminate those answer choices. Remember that this is a test of how well you understand parallelism and modifiers. To make sure you know these rules, try to study practice sentences to improve your sentence correction abilities.
Often, GMAT sentences are mistakenly written by using the incorrect form of gerunds. Incorrect use of gerunds makes it difficult to understand the meaning of a sentence. The correct answer for this question is B. A gerund is a word that joins two items. You must know how to recognize this type of gerund in sentences and use it correctly. You should also make sure that your sentences are well written so that they convey a clear meaning.
