Centre de Ressources Linguistiques Session 1GMAT Verbal Success GMAT Sentence Correction Section (1)...

Session 1 GMAT Verbal Success

Centre de Ressources Linguistiques

GMAT Sentence Correction Section (1)

Written Communication Fundamentals



Written Communication• Words

– Self-explanatory– Smaller parts possible (phonemes,

morphemes, etc.)



Written Communication• Phrases

– Group of words with similar meaning– Noun phrase– Verb (participial) phrase– Prepositional phrase– Adjective phrase– Adverb phrase



Written Communication• Clauses

– Groups of phrases of similar or different types– Independent clause => main– Dependent clause => subordinate

• Relative clause => in direct relation to another • Participial clause => involving a type of verb

(gerund, infinitive, etc.)• If clause => conditional using if or a similar form



Written Communication• Sentences

– Always one whole thought.– Avoid splicing two whole thoughts.– Word order is crucial: S – V – OEXTREMELY

IMPORTANT!!!



Written Communication• Paragraphs

– At least 2 sentences in English– Often—one topic / subject sentence +

several backing / support sentences



Modifiers• A word or group of words that limits

or describes another word or words. • Adjectives & adverbs / adverbials• Prepositional phrases• Participials phrases beginning or

centered around verbs



Modifiers• Problematic

– Dangling “You want to put it where?”– Misplaced “Not there!”– Squinting “What?”



Modifiers• Dangling Modifiers

– A modifier left without something to modify.

• Examples– Walking through the park, the grass tickled my

feet. – Driving to work this morning, my car broke

down.– Having listened to Jake, her problems were

solved.



Modifiers• How about this one from the New

York Times:– After wading through a long, quasi-

academic examination of the statistical links between intelligence, character, race and poverty, the reader’s reward is a hoary lecture on the evils of the welfare state.



Modifiers• Misplaced Modifiers

– Modifier in the wrong position in the sentence.

• Examples– A small book sat on the desk that Sarah had

read. – The professor posted the notes for the students

covered in class. – The young girl was walking the dog in a short

skirt.



Modifiers• Squinting Modifiers:

– Modifiers that are placed between two words so that they could be understood to modify either word.

• Examples– The thief who was gesturing wildly stalked his

victim.– He said tonight he'd call me.– I said eventually I would do it.

Centre de Ressources Linguistiques Session 1GMAT Verbal Success GMAT Sentence Correction Section (1)...

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