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Dangling Modifiers

GMAT Verbal Section -- Dangling Modifiers A dangling modifier is a modifier without a headword - a word or phrase that it can modify. Since a modifier always needs a headword, it will attach itself to a false one if the true one is not present in the sentence. The result will be a sentence like this: Listening to the sad news, my eyes filled with tears. Here the sentence opens with a modifier - the participle phrase Listening to the sad news.After the modifier , there must be a headword naming the person(s) who did the listening.But instead we come across my eyes.As a result, the sentence seems to say that eyes heard some sad news .(The presence of my hints at the identity of the true headword , but my itself is not a headword.It is a modifier of eyes.). To clarify the sentence,the writer can do one of two things - rewrite the word group following the modifier, or rewrite the modifier: Edited A - Listening to the sad news, I felt my eyes filled with tears. Edited B- As I listened to the sad news, my eyes filled with tears. For Gmat example of Dangling modifier click on the link below view sentence 24 http://gmatsentencecorrection.blogspot.com Links: Dangling Modifier Link 1 Dangling modifier Link 2
Posted by Prachi Pareekh at Tuesday, May 09, 2006 Links to this post Labels: Modifiers

MONDAY, MAY 08, 2006

Misplaced Modifiers

GMAT Verbal Section -- Misplaced Modifier Placing modifiers - In general a modifier must be placed close to its headword - that is the phrase or word it modifies.But different kinds pf modifiers are placed at different positions. 1). Predicate adjectives follow linking verbs. e.g i). The days were cloudy.---- Here linking verb is "were" and cloudy is predicate adjective . ii). The ball was large and red.---- Here linking verb is "was" and large and red is the predicate adjective. 2). Adjective phrases usually follow their headword. e.g i). A duffel bag with white lettering was left behind.---- Here "duffel bag" is the headword and with white lettering is the adjective phrase.

3). Adjectives and determiners usually precede their headword. e.g i). The child was bouncing a large, red ball.---- Here "the" and "a large, red" are the determiner and adjective preceding their headword "child" and "ball". 4). Adverbs can appear in various places near or next to their headwords. e.g i). He always handles the eggs carefully.---- Here the adverbs are "always" and "carefully". 5). Adverb phrases belong near their headword. e.g i). They will work on the roof until sundown.---- Here the adverb phrase is "on the roof until sundown" and its headword is "work". 6). Appositives usually belong next to their headword. e.g i). One of his jokes, a story about two fisherman lost in Chennai, leaves an audience gasping for breath.---- Here headword is "jokes" and "a story about two fisherman lost in Chennai" is the appositive. 7). Absolute phrases can precede or follow the noun they modify. e.g i). Its old timbers shifting, the house creaked. OR ii). The house, its old timbers shifting, creaked. OR iii). The house creaked, its old timbers shifting.---- In all 3 sentences the noun is "house" and absolute phrase is "Its old timbers shifting". 8). Like adjectives, single participles normally precede their headword. e.g i). A piece of broken glass glittered on the path.---- Here "broken" is the single participle before its headword "glass". 9). Participle phrases can appear in various positions. e.g i). Waving to reporters, the President looked jubliant.---- Here participle phrase is

"waving to reporters" and its headword is "president". 10). Infinitives and infinitive phrases follow the noun or adjective they modify. e.g i). Sacket is definitely one film to see.---- Here "to see" to see" is the infinitive phrase following the noun "one film". Editing misplaced modifiers Misplaced modifiers do not point clearly to their headwords - the words or phrases they modify.The result is a misleading, confusing sentence.To edit the mistake, move the modifier next to its headword. e.g i). Incorrect - There was a pumpkin on the porch witha a smiling face. Correct - There was a pumpkin with a smiling face on the porch. ii). Incorrect - The final scene two characters who, in the beginning,had hated each other in a convincing way. Correct - The final scene unites in a convincing way two characters who, in the beginning, had hated each other. Tomorrow I will introduce Dangling modifiers, editing of squinting modifiers editing of misplaced restricters, and avoiding of split infinitive with examples.Any queries you are most welcome to ask.

Posted by Prachi Pareekh at Monday, May 08, 2006 Links to this post Labels: Modifiers

MONDAY, MAY 01, 2006

Parallelism

GMAT Verbal Section -- Sentence correction Parallelism or Parallel structure Parallelism is the coordination of words, clauses and phrases in a sentence. Parallelism heightens the relation between connected elements by lining up noun with noun, phrase with phrase, and verb with verb.In Parallelism all linked words should match in form. e.g 1). Write injuries in dust, benefits in marble. 2). A living dog is better than a dead lion. 3). Any law that uplifts human personality is just. Any law that degrades human personality is

unjust. In the 3rd example, the construction of the second sentence is fully parallel with the construction of the second.The similarity in form helps to dramatize the difference between uplifts and degrades,and between just and unjust. a). Situations in which we should make use of parallel constructions: 1). LIST She was a personality before she became a person she wassimple, complex, generous, selfish, unattractive, beautiful, lazy, anddriven. There are 8 adjectives used in the above sentence since all are adjectives parallelism is maintained. 2). SERIES A fools brain digests philosphy into folly, science into superstition,and art into pedantry. There are 3 matching phrases consisting of a noun plus a prepositional phrase. 3). CONTRAST They marched slowly but steadily. Slowly and steadily show parallelism as both are adverbs. 4). SERIES PLUS CONTRAST Rather than love, than money, than fame, give me truth. Use of 4 nouns show parallelism. 5). CHOICE We can repair the roof now, or we can replace the entire house in a year. There are 2 independent clauses with the same subject and similar predicates. 6). STATEMENT OF EQUIVALENCE A life without festivities is a long road without inns. Here there are 2 nouns plus a matching prepositional phrases. 7). CLASSIFICATION/DEFINITION Economy is the art of making the most of life. There is a noun and a noun phrase. 8). STATEMENT OF EVALUATION For most men the love of justice is only the fear of suffering injustice. There are 2 noun phrases ,thus it shows parallelism.

9). COMPARISON Walking in dust can be more rewarding than sitting on silk. Here there are matching verbal nouns and prepositional phrases. b). Using Correlatives with Parallelism Correlatives are words or phrases used in pairs to join words, phrases, or clauses. Correlatives include: Both..and Not only..but also Either..or Neither ..nor Whether ..or Examples: 1). Most tourists are willing to travel either by bus or by train. 2). They found mice not only in the cupboard but also under the sink. 3). Michelangelo was both a great sculptor and a great painter. NOTE: Besides placing correlatives properly, be careful to use a parallel structure after each one: Editing faulty parallelism 1). Incorrect Janices way of reading menus is better than most people. Correct Janices way of reading menus is better than most peoples. Or Correct Janices way of reading menus is better than that of most people. Or Correct Janices way of reading menus is better than the way of most people. 2). Incorrect The farmers will either find ways to cut their costs, or the banks will lower the interest rate on loans. Correct Either the farmers will find ways to cut their costs, or the banks will lower the interest rate on loans. c). Other rules for forming parallel structure 1). When two adjectives modify the same noun, they should have similar forms. e.g Incorrect - Brenda treated the patient swiftly and calm. Correct - Brenda treated the patient swiftly and calmly. 2). When a series of clauses is listed, the verbs in each clause must have the same form.e.g Incorrect - On sunny days many like to skate on the village pond or sledding on Mount Knox. Correct - On sunny days many like skating on the village pond or sledding on Mount

Knox. OR Correct - On sunny days many like to skate on the village pond or to sled on Mount Knox. 3). Both halves of a sentence should have the same structure.e.g Incorrect - To acknowledge Divine wisdom is taking the first step to nirvana. Correct - Acknowledging Divine wisdom is taking the first step to nirvana. Correct - To acknowledge Divine wisdom is to take the first step to nirvana.

Posted by Prachi Pareekh at Monday, May 01, 2006 Links to this post Labels: Parallelism

SATURDAY, APRIL 29, 2006

Subject Verb Agreement


Subject - Verb Agreement

GMAT Verbal Section -- Sentence Correction

The Verbal section of the GMAT includes about 14 Sentence Correction questions. These questions test your grammar skills and the use of proper words. It also tests your knowledge of punctuation. Each question is a sentence which has been underlined partly or wholly. The answer choices represent different ways of expressing the underlined part.Choice A is always the repetition of the original words stated in the question.The right answer corrects all of the errors without introducing any new mistakes. Subject verb agreement is one of the most important categories of grammer employed in sentence correction questions. The subject of the sentence must agree with the verb of the sentence.They must agree in number ( singular or plural ) and person ( first, second or third). e.g 1). He and his friends are at college. He and his friends--(plural subject). are---(Plural verb). 2). The pen or the pencil is in the drawer. The pen--( singular subject) The pencil--(singular subject) is---(singular verb)

The following are the situations where subject verb disagreement is there but it is difficult to spot:1). Compound subjects i). When the subject of a sentence is formed of two or more nouns or pronouns connected by "and",we use a plural verb.e.g Gold and silver are precious metals. gold and silver--(plural subject) are---(plural verb). Note: Exception to the above rule is --- when the compound subjects are preceded by every, no, or nothing ii). When two or more singular nouns or pronouns are connected by "or" or "nor", we use a singular verb.e.g The book or the dictionary is in the last drawer of the table. The book or the dictionary --( two singular nouns connected by "or") is---(singular verb) iii). If the subjects are joined by nor or or, the verb agrees with the subject closer to the verb i.e (the last one).e.g Neither Peter's relatives nor his wife agrees with his decision. "his wife" is the subject closer to verb "agree " his wife --(singular). agrees---(Verb with s-ending). Neither Peter's wife nor his relatives agree with his decision. "his relatives" is the subject closer to verb "agree". his relatives--(plural subject) agree---(verb without s- ending:in diction form) 2). "Doesn't" is a contracted form of "does not" , so it should be used only with a singular subject. "Don't" is a contracted form of "do not" . It should be used only with a plural subject. The exception to this rule-- in the case of the first person and second person, pronouns "I " and "you" as with these pronouns, the contraction "don't" should be used.e.g I don't want it. I--(singular pronoun) don't is used. He doesn't want it He--(singular pronoun apart from I and you) doesn't is used. 3). Intervening phrases and clauses do not affect the subject-verb agreement.The verb agrees with the subject, not with a noun or pronoun in the phrase or the sentence.e.g One of the books is costly. One--(singular subject) is---(singular verb)

The people who appreciate art are many. The people--(plural subject) are---(plural verb) 4). The indefinite pronouns somebody, someone, each, each one, either, neither, everyone, everybody, anybody, anyone, nobody, and no-one are singular and require a singular verb.e.g Each of these recipies is delicious. Each---( indefinite singular pronoun) is---(singular verb) 5). Plural indefinite pronouns both, few, many, several require a plural verb.e.g Many of the riders were skinny, bold boys. Many--(indefinite plural pronoun) were---(plural verb) 6). A noun meaning one thing is always third -person singular, even if it ends in -s: The news was shattering. news---(singular noun) was---(singular verb) Mumps is a painful disease. Mumps--(singular noun) is---(singular verb) Note: When talking about an amount of money, the word "dollars" requires a singular verb, but when referring to the dollars themselves, a plural verb is required. 7). In sentences starting with there or here, the subject follows the verb.e.g There were three cars outside the office. Cars---(plural subject) were---(plural verb) 8). Collective nouns are singular when they refer to a unit and plural when they refer to the individuals or elements of a unit. The committee meets every friday evening. Committee---(it is singular) meets---(verb with s- ending) 9). The number of modified noun and pronoun depends on the noun or pronoun itself--not on the modifiers attached to it. The clouds that hovered over Delhi were thick. Clouds---(plural subject) were---(plural verb) The President, accompanied by his wife, is travelling to New York. The President--(singular subject) is---(singular verb) 10). Pronouns variable in number include all, any, many, more, most, some ,that,which and who.The number of these pronouns depend on the number of the word or phrase to which they refer.e.g

Some of the ice was melting. ice--(Singular) was---(singular verb) 11). Phrases such as together with, as well as, and along with are not the same as and. The phrase introduced by as well as or along with will modify the earlier word (chief in this case), but it does not compound the subjects (as the word and would do). The chief as well as his supporters is going to prison. The chief and his supporters are going to jail.

Posted by Prachi Pareekh at Saturday, April 29, 2006 Links to this post Labels: Subject Verb Agreement

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