Sentence correction Flashcards
hopefully
hopefully is almost always wrong
Charlotte Perkins Gilman, a late nineteenth-century feminist, called for urban apartment houses including child-care facilities and clustered suburban houses including communal eating and social facilities.
A) including child-care facilities and clustered suburban houses including communal eating and social facilities
B) that included child-care facilities, and for clustered suburban houses to include communal eating and social facilities
C) with child-care facilities included and for clustered suburban houses to include communal eating and social facilities
D) that included child-care facilities and for clustered suburban houses with communal eating and social facilities
E) to include child-care facilities and for clustered suburban houses with communal eating and social facilities included
First, we can eliminate all the answer choices that use with communal eating and social facilities included or any other structure that follows this pattern:
preposition + noun + participle
This pattern is almost always wrong on the GMAT, and is certainly wrong in this question. This eliminates C) and E).
A) is ambiguous–is clustered suburban houses parallel with child-carfacilities or with urban apartment houses? We need to repeat for to be sure that clustered suburban houses is parallel with urban apartment houses.
Now we’re left with B) and D).
Now, the only difference between B and D is the infinitive to include, which GMAT considers unidiomatic.
That leaves us with D).
BC rules coming next
rules:
Charlotte Perkins Gilman, a late nineteenth-century feminist, called for urban apartment houses including child-care facilities and clustered suburban houses including communal eating and social facilities.
A) including child-care facilities and clustered suburban houses including communal eating and social facilities
B) that included child-care facilities, and for clustered suburban houses to include communal eating and social facilities
C) with child-care facilities included and for clustered suburban houses to include communal eating and social facilities
D) that included child-care facilities and for clustered suburban houses with communal eating and social facilities
E) to include child-care facilities and for clustered suburban houses with communal eating and social facilities included
3) Passive voice as far as possible
e.g. His approach is different from the approach used by any other tenor is passive and hence incorrect on GMAT
The correct sentence is
His approach is different from the approach of any other tenor
4) Any Sentence construction with ‘preposition + noun + participle’
e.g. With child-care facilities included (with – preposition, child-care – noun, included – participle)
Infinitives like ‘to include’, ‘to implement’ etc. are wrong on GMAT. Instead use, ‘implementing’, ‘including’ (Which are known as Gerunds) etc.
A Gerund is a noun formed from a verb i.e. Overcoming the GMAT is a great achievement. infinitives are usually formed to retain the integrity of the idiom which is used or to keep a sentence in parallel
1) To exchange…….
2) Different from ……..
1) To exchange X for Y (exchange X with Y or any other form is incorrect)
2) Different from one another (Different one from the other is wrong)
3) X is unknown, nor it is known – is a correct idiom (Neither is not required) It is not that nor would always be preceded by a neither
4) ratify
5) Allergy ….. (Allergy of, allergy for are incorrect)
6) To try to fix is the right idiom (to try and fix is incorrect)
7) Just as… So too
3) X is unknown, nor it is known – is a correct idiom (Neither is not required) It is not that nor would always be preceded by a neither
4) To ratify (At ratifying is incorrect) An attempt to ratify is the correct use
5) Allergy to (Allergy of, allergy for are incorrect)
6) To try to fix is the right idiom (to try and fix is incorrect)
7) Just as… So too
8) X is different… Y
9) Same as X..
e.g Gravity will apply the same to an airplane flying in air as to a ship floating on water.
10) From X …..
8) X is different from Y (different than Y is incorrect)
9) Same as X..as to Y
e.g Gravity will apply the same to an airplane flying in air as to a ship floating on water.
10) From X to Y (Grow from 2 million to 3 billion) (From X up to Y is wrong)
Studies of the human “sleep-wake cycle” have practical relevance for matters ranging from duty assignments in nuclear submarines and air-traffic control towers to the staff of shifts in 24-hour factories.
(A) to the staff of
(B) to those who staff
(C) to the staffing of
(D) and staffing
(E) and the staff of
10) From X to Y (Grow from 2 million to 3 billion) (From X up to Y is wrong)
Studies of the human “sleep-wake cycle” have practical relevance for matters ranging from duty assignments in nuclear submarines and air-traffic control towers to the staff of shifts in 24-hour factories.
(A) to the staff of
(B) to those who staff
(C) to the staffing of
(D) and staffing
(E) and the staff of
From X where X is a noun here.
So, Y should be a noun.
To those who staff in B is incorrect.
C has a noun and is correct.
11) Estimated ….
12) Believe X
11) Estimated to be (Estimated at is incorrect)
12) Believe X to be Y
13) Acclaimed ……
14) Distinguish between
15) In an attempt……
13) Acclaimed as is the correct idiom (Acclaimed to be is wrong)
14) Distinguish between X and Y (Distinguish X from Y is incorrect)
15) In an attempt to (gain control)
16) Worried about (When talking about someone’s condition)
17) Attempt to ‘do something’ (Attempt at doing is incorrect).
18) Both ……
19) Adverb twice cannot be an object of proposition ‘by’.
‘Increase by twice’ is incorrect; ‘doubled’ is correct
16) Worried about (When talking about someone’s condition)
17) Attempt to ‘do something’ (Attempt at doing is incorrect).
18) Both X and Y (Both X as well as Y is incorrect)
Both at X and at Y is correct.
Both on X or on Y is correct.
Both should always have parallel forms associated to it. Similarly, ‘Neither… nor’ should have parallel forms associated to it.
19) Adverb twice cannot be an object of proposition ‘by’.
‘Increase by twice’ is incorrect; ‘doubled’ is correct
20) So X as …..
21) As much as (Republicans are involved as much as Democrats).
20) So X as to be Y (So unreal as to be true)
21) As much as (Republicans are involved as much as Democrats).
22) X prohibits Y from
23) x forbids y to do z
x prohibits y from doing z.
22) X prohibits Y from
23) x forbids y to do z
x prohibits y from doing z.
The new contract forbids a strike by the transportation union
A) forbids a strike by the transportation union
B) forbids the transportation union from striking
C) forbids that there be a strike by the transportation union
D) will forbid the transportation union from striking
E) will forbid that the transportation union strikes
22) X prohibits Y from
23) x forbids y to do z
x prohibits y from doing z.
A is the correct answer
24) Credit X with ………..
25) Credit X Rupees…..
26) Given credit for being ones…..
27) Believed ……
24) Credit X with discovering Y (Credit with doing something)
25) Credit X Rupees to Y’s account (When money is involved)
26) Given credit for being ones…who
27) Believed to have
28) Regarded…..
29) Regarded….
30) Concerned …..
28) Regarded as having
29) Regarded as ones who have
30) Concerned for – worried; concerned with – related/afflaited
31) No sooner
32) X expected to Y
33) Mistake
34) Not …..
31) No sooner…than
32) X expected to Y
33) Mistake X for Y
34) Not X; but rather Y
35) Persuaded
36) So X
35) Persuaded X to do Y
36) So X that Y (So poor that they steal)
37) Require that X
38) As a result
39) At least as
40) Modeled …..?
37) Require that X be Y (Not require that X is Y)
38) As a result of
39) At least as strong as…(At least as great as)
40) Modeled after
41) So X that Y (So illiterate are people that they cant even write)
42) Intent ?
43) Native …..?
44) Compensate ……
41) So X that Y (So illiterate are people that they cant even write)
42) Intent on
43) Native of (Native to is also used in some cases, as in the example given below)
44) Compensate for
45) Adapted
46) Plead guilty for
45) Adapted for
46) Plead guilty for … failing
47) Descendent ?
48) X is to… what
49) Potential ..?
47) Descendent of (Descendent for is incorrect)
48) X is to… what…Y is to
49) Potential for causing
In large doses, analgesics that work in the brain as antagonists to certain chemicals have caused psychological disturbances in patients, which may limit their potential to relieve severe pain.
(A) which may limit their potential to relieve
(B) which may limit their potential for relieving
(C) which may limit such analgesics’ potential to relieve
(D) an effect that may limit their potential to relieve
(E) an effect that may limit the potential of such analgesics for relieving
In large doses, analgesics that work in the brain as antagonists to certain chemicals have caused psychological disturbances in patients, which may limit their potential to relieve severe pain.
(A) which may limit their potential to relieve
(B) which may limit their potential for relieving
(C) which may limit such analgesics’ potential to relieve
(D) an effect that may limit their potential to relieve
(E) an effect that may limit the potential of such analgesics for relieving
50) Aid …..
50) Aid in (Aid for is incorrect)
People were asking Goddess Dia’s aid in healing ills or thanking her for such help.
51) Consider X
52) Regard …….
Most nations regard their airspace as extending upward as high as an aircraft can fly; no specific altitude, however, has been officially recognized as a boundary.
(A) as extending
(B) as the extent
(C) to be an extent
(D) to be an extension
(E) to extend
51) Consider X…to be Y (a little controversial)
52) Regard as is the correct idiom
REGARD AS
Most nations regard their airspace as extending upward as high as an aircraft can fly; no specific altitude, however, has been officially recognized as a boundary.
(A) as extending
(B) as the extent
(C) to be an extent
(D) to be an extension
(E) to extend
A is correct, because it uses ‘regard as’
53) When ‘rates’ means ‘prices charged’ it should be followed …..
54) Distinguish between X and Y (2 very different items, distinguished, say red and green colors)
55) Distinguish X from Y
53) When ‘rates’ means ‘prices charged’ it should be followed with ‘for’
Rates for liability insurance
54) Distinguish between X and Y (2 very different items, distinguished, say red and green colors)
Some color blind people cannot distinguish between red and green
55) Distinguish X from Y (Two pretty similar items, say original paintings from fake ones)
56) Attribute X (An effect) to Y(A cause)
57) Not in a flash…
56) Attribute X (An effect) to Y(A cause)
57) Not in a flash…but in a…
58) May be vs maybe
59) That X is called for
60) Not so much to X…
61) Associate X …….
58) May be (This is a word) is idiomatic, maybe (This means perhaps) is not idiomatic
59) That X is called for is indicated both by Y and by Z.
60) Not so much to X…as to Y
61) Associate X with Y
62) Business ethics
63) To worry about……..
64) Combined
62) Business ethics – Is a singular word
63) To worry about someone’s condition (To keep worrying over an action)
64) Combined X with Y OR Combined X and Y (Both are correct)
e.g. Combined skill with determination
Combined reactant X and reactant Y
65) way
66) No less an authority
67) Acclaimed ………..
65) way to provide (Way for providing is incorrect)
66)** No less an authority than…**
67) Acclaimed as … is the correct idiom…
An artistic presence of the first order, one frequently ranked with Picasso, Stravinsky, and James Joyce, Martha Graham was acclaimed as a great dancer long before her innovative masterworks made her the most honored of American choreographers.
(A) Martha Graham was acclaimed as
(B) Martha Graham was acclaimed to be
(C) Martha Graham’s acclaim is as
(D) Martha Graham’s acclaim to be
(E) Martha Graham’s acclaim was in being
acclaimed as – choice A is correct in this case.
68) Allocated ………
68) Allocated to is the correct idiom
The public library allocated revenues it recieved from the recently passed tax initiative to the purchasing of more than 2000 books and 50 computers.
A) to the purchasing of more than 2000 books and 50 computers.
B) in order to purchase more than 2000 books and 50 computers.
C) so as to purchase more than 2000 books and 50 computers.
D) so that more than 2000 books and 50 computers could be purchased
E) for the purchase of more than 2000 books and 50 computers.
68) Allocated to is the correct idiom
E,g, The public library allocated revenues it recieved from the recently passed tax initiative to the purchasing of more than 2000 books and 50 computers.
A) to the purchasing of more than 2000 books and 50 computers.
B) in order to purchase more than 2000 books and 50 computers.
C) so as to purchase more than 2000 books and 50 computers.
D) so that more than 2000 books and 50 computers could be purchased
E) for the purchase of more than 2000 books and 50 computers.
must be A
Bufo marinus toads, fierce predators that will eat frogs, lizards, and even small birds, are native to South America but were introduced into Florida during the 1930’s in an attempt to control pests in the state’s vast sugarcane fields.
(A) are native to South America but were introduced into Florida during the 1930’s in an attempt to control
(B) are native in South America but were introduced into Florida during the 1930’s as attempts to control
(C) are natives of South America but were introduced into Florida during the 1930’s in an attempt at controlling
(D) had been native to South America but were introduced to Florida during the 1930’s as an attempt at controlling
(E) had been natives of South America but were introduced to Florida during the 1930’s as attempts at controlling
(A) are native to South America but were introduced into Florida during the 1930’s in an attempt to control
(B) are native in South America but were introduced into Florida during the 1930’s as attempts to control
(C) are natives of South America but were introduced into Florida during the 1930’s in an attempt at controlling
(D) had been native to South America but were introduced to Florida during the 1930’s as an attempt at controlling
(E) had been natives of South America but were introduced to Florida during the 1930’s as attempts at controlling
Choice A is best. The phrasing are native to correctly suggests that the toad species is indigenous to, and still exists in, South America. In B, native in is unidiomatic; in C and E, natives of illogically suggests that each toad now in Florida hails from South America. In D and E, had been inaccurately implies that the toads are no longer native, or indigenous, to South America, and introduced to Florida is unidiomatic. Both as attempts in B and E and as an attempt in D are wrong
because the attempt consists not of the toads themselves, but of their introduction into the environment. The correct phrase, in an attempt, should be completed by an infinitive (here, to control), as in A.
1) Use of Consider
When ‘consider’ means ‘regard as’, ‘as’ should not be present with ‘consider’ in the sentence. Consider must directly be followed by the sentence without an infinitive like ‘to be’ etc.
Example: Some students of literary criticism consider the
theories of Blaine to be a huge advance in modern
critical thinking and question the need to study the
discounted theories of Rauthe and Wilson.
to be a huge advance in modern critical
thinking and question
as a huge advance in modern critical thinking
and question
as being a huge advance in modern critical
thinking and questioned
consider 2
When ‘consider’ means ‘regard as’, ‘as’ should not be present with ‘consider’ in the sentence. Consider must directly be followed by the sentence without an infinitive like ‘to be’ etc.
a huge advance in critical thinking and
question (When consider means regard as, no need of as)
are a huge advance in modern critical thinking
and questioned
Example 2:
Critics consider correction facilities to be an integral part of communal system. - Incorrect
Critics consider correction facilities an integral part of communal system. – Correct
Many scholars regard the pre-Hispanic civilizations of Peru as the most impressive in South America.
(A) regard the pre-Hispanic civilizations of Peru as
(B) regard the pre-Hispanic civilizations of Peru to be
(C) regard the pre-Hispanic civilizations of Peru to have been
(D) consider that the pre-Hispanic civilizations of Peru are
(E) consider the pre-Hispanic civilizations of Peru as
A is correct
When ‘consider’ means ‘regard as’, ‘as’ should not be present with ‘consider’ in the sentence. Consider must directly be followed by the sentence without an infinitive like ‘to be’ etc.
a huge advance in critical thinking and
question (When consider means regard as, no need of as)
are a huge advance in modern critical thinking
and questioned
semicolon
2) Semicolon: Any sentence after a semicolon (;), should be an independent clause.
3) Object v/s. Subject:
If a noun is the object of a verb, the verb should end with ‘ed’. If a noun is the subject of a verb, the verb should end with ‘ing’. (e.g. ‘local times determined’ when the noun is object of the verb ‘determined’) (e.g. determining the local times – where the noun local times is the subject of the verb determining).
Somebody determined times – times is object of determined
Times differed – Times is the subject of differed
plural vs singular:
When the subject is plural use a plural verb.
e.g. In laws of motion, there is a condition and its converse regarding bodies at rest and bodies in motion. – This is incorrect.
In laws of motion, there are a condition and its converse regarding bodies at rest and bodies in motion.- correct
With its plan to develop seven and a half acres of shore land, Cleveland is but one of a large number of communities on the Great Lakes that is looking to its waterfront as a way to improve the quality of urban life and attract new businesses.
(A) is looking to its waterfront as a way to improve the quality of urban life and attract
(B) is looking at its waterfront to improve the quality of urban life and attract
(C) are looking to their waterfronts to improve the quality of urban life and attract
(D) are looking to its waterfront as a way of improving the quality of urban life and attracting
(E) are looking at their waterfronts as a way they can improve the quality of urban life and attract
With its plan to develop seven and a half acres of shore land, Cleveland is but one of a large number of communities on the Great Lakes that is looking to its waterfront as a way to improve the quality of urban life and attract new businesses.
(A) is looking to its waterfront as a way to improve the quality of urban life and attract
(B) is looking at its waterfront to improve the quality of urban life and attract
(C) are looking to their waterfronts to improve the quality of urban life and attract
(D) are looking to its waterfront as a way of improving the quality of urban life and attracting
(E) are looking at their waterfronts as a way they can improve the quality of urban life and attract
C is correct.
4) One of the: The pattern to remember is ‘one of the NOUN (this noun will always be plural) + that/who + PLURAL VERB
The pattern to remember is ‘one of the NOUN (this noun will always be plural) + that/who + PLURAL VERB
Example : He is one of the persons who make money.
This is one of the cars that run on hydrogen.
A number of people are waiting for the bus.
The number of cars in the city is decreasing.
Any of the stockholders who disapprove – is the right use
Three cats, each eat
Three cats, each of which eats
A sentence like ‘X is one of the Y that are. Are is the correct use. Such a sentence always should have a subject verb agreement with Y and not with X.
5) Tenses: When the entire sentence is in the same tense, a simple present tense may be fine. However, if the sentence implies that an action occurred before another action, ‘had’ may need to be used apart from the simple present tense.
To be + Complement: Points to present tense (The depletion of ozone layer is believed to be the cause of all problems)
To have been: Points to past tense (The impact of meteorite is believed to have caused the extinction of dinosaurs)
If they would have found the receipt by April, they would have paid less tax.
If they had found the receipt by April, they would have paid less tax. - Correct
That parallelism:
Many agree that there is waste…and that government is rubbish
countable nouns
More (More than 200 million people in world earn less than 10 dollars a day)
not countable
Much
There is too much traffic, because many people travel.
Much is also used with nouns like ‘Work’ and ‘Happiness’
fewer
countable nouns
Fewer (Could I have fewer soup, please? Is wrong,
The correct sentence is ‘Could I have less soup, please?)
As a rule of thumb,
Use fewer to modify a plural noun.
Example: I have fewer papers to write than last year.
Use less to modify a singular noun.
Example: You’ll need less paper if you type your report.
When drive-ins were at the height of their popularity in the late 50’s, some 4000 existed in the United States, but today there are less than one-quarter that many
B. there are fewer than one quarter as many
c. there are fewer than one quarter of that amount
D.the number is less than one quarter of that amount
E. it is less than one quarter of that amount
Fewer is correct, as highways are countable (4000/4) = 1000. So, C is the answer.
non countable
Less
Less (Also used for sums of money as in above sentence, periods of time and distance, or while citing numerical or statistical data)
- There is less traffic on the road, because fewer people drive these days.
- It’s less than twenty miles to Dallas.
- He’s less than six feet tall.
- Your essay should be a thousand words or less.
- We spent less than forty dollars on our trip.
- The town spent less than four percent of its budget on snow removal