![]() Incorrect: Though the scientific method often presented as a fixed sequence of steps, it actually represents a set of general principles.Ĭorrect: Though the scientific method is often presented as a fixed sequence of steps, it actually represents a set of general principles.Ī clause is a phrase that contains both a subject and a verb. The GMAT is fond of omitting this verb to create errors in passive construction. A passive construction must contain a form of the verb to be. Incorrect: After her retirement from international competition, tennis champion Maud Molesworth becoming one of the first women in Australia to coach tennis professionally.Ĭorrect: After her retirement from international competition, tennis champion Maud Molesworth became one of the first women in Australia to coach tennis professionally.Ģ. A statement that contains only an –ING word cannot be a sentence. A verb that ends in –ING cannot act as a verb. Any sentence that lacks a main verb is a fragment.ġ. You can also think of this rule as an offshoot of #1: by nature, passive constructions are always wordier and frequently more awkward than active ones.Įvery sentence must contain a subject and a main verb that corresponds to the subject. In a passive construction, the normal order of subject and object is flipped. Incorrect: The bacterium Pseudomonas is useful because of its being able to aid in the decomposition of many organic compounds.Ĭorrect: The bacterium Pseudomonas is useful because of its ability to aid in the decomposition of many organic compounds. The GMAT frequently uses gerunds this way in incorrect answers. In addition, when the noun form of a word is more idiomatic than the gerund, the noun should be used. Answers that include the gerund being are almost never correct and can often be eliminated immediately. Likewise, if you are stuck between two answers, length can be a helpful “tip” factor to take into account.Ģ) Avoid gerunds (-ING words), especially BEINGĪs a general rule, conjugated verbs are preferable to gerunds because the latter tend to create wordy and awkward constructions as well as fragments. If you are unable to identify what concept a question is testing, however, working from the shortest answer to the longest can help you stay focused and work systematically. There are many exceptions to this rule, and you must judge each question individually. ![]() That does not, however, mean that the shortest answer – or even the second-shortest answer – will consistently be right. As a result, short, clear constructions are generally preferably to long and wordy ones. One of the major concepts that the GMAT tests is conciseness. Please note: the following list of GMAT® Sentence Correction rules is derived from questions in the GMAT ® Official Guideand the GMAT ® Official Verbal Review guides only.Īnd for additional in-depth explanations, examples, and 150 test-style practice questions, see The Complete GMAT® Sentence Guide.
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