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Teacher Tools
Verbal series, we covered the business and logic vocabulary you should know for the test.
Next up: grammar rules.
Like the SAT and other standardized tests, the GMAT includes a sentence correction section.
Unlike the SAT, the sentences are more complex and the errors not as easily recognizable.
However, there are certain concepts that the GMAT loves to target. Here are a list of ve rules
to memorize that will help you master even the trickiest grammar situations.
Rule 1. Verbals are not verbs.
On the GMAT, it is important to recognize that the ing form of a word, without a helper verb
like is, was, or am, does not act as a verb. Without one of these helper verbs, the ing
form of a word, called a verbal, acts as a noun or as a modier. If a subject corresponds to a
verbal and not a verb, the sentence is a fragment.
For example: Johnny making a sandwich is not correct, because making is a verbal, not a
verb.
By adding a helper verb or changing the verbal into a verb, you can correct the sentence:
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sure that there is a subject and verb pair outside of one of these clauses.
Although Monique, the girl next door, prefers French cheeses, she tolerates cheddar is a
complete sentence because she tolerates is a subject-verb pair outside of the dependent
clause.
GMAT Sentence: Depending on what we consider to be the purpose of the amendment,
which was instituted in last years cycle (incorrect).
Should be: Depending on what we consider to be the purpose of the amendment, which
was instituted in last years cycle, ______. (Example: Depending on what we consider to be
the purpose of the amendment, which was instituted in last years cycle, the committee may
decide it is ineective and decide to veto it.)
Rule 4. Run-on sentences occur when clauses are not connected correctly.
Any clause that can stand on its own as a complete sentence is called an independent clause.
In order for a sentence to contain two independent clauses, the clauses must be separated by
a semi-colon (;) or by a comma paired with a conjunction. Otherwise, the sentence is called a
run-on and is considered incorrect on the SAT.
For example: The girls completed many chores they each received an allowance for their
hard work is a run-on sentence, because The girls completed many chores and they each
received an allowance for their hard work are both independent clauses.
There are three ways to x a run-on:
(1) by separating the clauses with a semi-colon, as in: The girls completed many chores; they
each received an allowance for their hard work.
(2) by separating the clauses with the correct FANBOYS (For, And, Nor, But, Or, Yet, So)
conjunction, as in: The girls completed many chores, and they each received an allowance
for their hard work.
(3) by making one of the clauses dependent with a conjunction like although, because,
when, or since, as in: Because the girls completed many chores, they each received an
allowance for their hard work.
GMAT Sentence: Ossication is the synthesis of bone from cartilage, this synthesis may
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