Advanced Sentence Correction - Learn the RULES and Rule the test. For detailed information, visit: www.manyagroup.com

1. ADVANCED
SENTENCE CORRECTION
Manya-The Princeton Review

2. Learn the RULES and
Rule the test
Cos….plays major role in pacing
Is that all..Just Grammar rules?
Let’s see….

3. What do SC questions
test?
Grammar - Rules
Meaning - interpretation
Diction – Brevity & precision

4. GMAT tests a Myriad grammar errors
that fit into 6 Major error types
Pronouns
Modifiers
Verb-tense
Subject-verb agreement
Parallelism
Idioms

5. • The basic approach
Can you identify any grammatical error in
the underlined part of the sentence?
YES
• Eliminate answer choice A
• Eliminate any answer choice that obviously repeats the error
• POE
• New errors
• Changes to the meaning of the sentence
• Down to 2? – Choose the Concise answer

6. • The basic approach
Can you identify any grammatical error in
the underlined part of the sentence?
NO
• Can you identify an error from the answer choices?
• Look for Differences in answer choices.
• POE
• New errors
• Changes to the meaning of the sentence
• Down to 2? – Choose the Concise answer

7. Grammar brief : Personal pronouns
Most pronoun errors
on the GMAT involve
personal pronouns.
It is easiest for the
test writers to create
errors using third
person pronouns.
So, be especially
wary of ‘it’, ‘they’ and
‘them’.
Generally, the GMAT
will not make you
choose between
‘they’ and ‘them’
THE RULES
• Use singular
pronouns to
refer to singular
nouns.
• Use plural
pronouns to
refer to plural
nouns.
• Pronouns can
only refer to one
noun in the
sentence.
• Reference must
be clear

8. The two pronoun errors
Pronoun ambiguity
Pronoun-noun disagreement

9. Pronoun ambiguity
Offering a flower to Jane, Jack
expressed his love, but she did not
return it.
What are the pronouns and what do
they replace?

10. Pronoun ambiguity
Offering a flower to Jane, Jack
expressed his love, but she did not
return it.
His refers to – Jack
She refers to – Jane
It refers to – flower/ love

11. Pronoun-noun disagreement
When she was forty, Pearl buck’s novel
‘the good earth’ won the Pulitzer prize.
What does ‘she’ refer to?
Pearl Buck/Pearl Buck’s novel?

12. LOOKING FOR PRONOUN PROBLEMS:
• Always check out underlined pronouns.
• See which noun (or nouns) the pronoun refers to.
• If the pronoun refers to only one noun, make sure that the
pronoun and the noun match in number: singular with singular,
plural with plural.
• If the pronoun can refer to more than one noun, that’s an am
ambiguity error.

13. In 1979 lack of rain reduced India's rice production to about 41 million tons, nearly 25 percent
less than those of the 1978 harvest.
(A) less than those of the 1978 harvest
(B) less than the 1978 harvest
(C) less than 1978
(D) fewer than 1978
(E) fewer than that of India's 1978 harvest
(A)
(C)
(D)
(E)

14. Nobody knows exactly how many languages there are in the world, partly because of the
difficulty of distinguishing between a language and the sublanguages or dialects within it,
but those who have tried to count typically have found about five thousand.
(A) the sublanguages or dialects within it, but those who have tried to count typically have
Found
(B) and the sublanguages or dialects within them, with those who have tried counting typically
finding
(C) and the sublanguages or dialects within it, but those who have tried counting it typically
find
(D) or the sublanguage or dialects within them, but those who tried to count them typically
found
(E) or the sublanguage or dialects within them, with those who have tried to count typically
finding
(B)
(C)
(D)
(E)

15. Sentence correction : Comparison
THE RULES
• Only like items
can be
compared in a
sentence.
• Think apples to
apples not
apples to
oranges.
• Look for
comparison
words to spot
the error.
Popular
Comparison words
on the GMAT
include:
Like
Unlike
As
Similar to
Compared to
More than
Less than

16. LOOKING FOR COMPARISONS:
• Look for comparison words in the sentence: like, as, unlike, similar
to, compared to, more than, less than, etc.
• Look on the left and the right of the comparison term to see what is
being compared.
• Remember: apples to apples and oranges to oranges. You can
only compare the same thing to each other.

17. Similar to other Mississippi Delta blues singers, the music of Robert Johnson arose from an
oral tradition beginning with a mixture of chants, fiddle tunes, and religions music and
only gradually evolved into the blues.
A. Similar to other Mississippi Delta blues singers, the music of Robert Johnson
arose from an oral tradition beginning with
B. Similar to that of other early Mississippi Delta blues singers, Robert Johnson made music
that arose from oral tradition that began with
C. As with other early Mississippi Delta blues singers, Robert Johnson made music that
arose from an oral tradition beginning as
D. Like other early Mississippi Delta blues singers, Robert Johnson’s music arose from an
oral tradition beginning with
E. Like the music of other early Mississippi Delta blues singers , the music of Robert Johnson
arose from an oral tradition that began as
A.
B.
C.
D.

18. The stars, some of them at tremendous speeds, are in motion just as the planets are, yet
being so far away from the Earth that their apparent positions in the sky do not change
enough for their movement to be observed during a single human lifetime.
(A) The stars, some of them at tremendous speeds, are in motion just as the planets are,
yet being
(B) Like the planets, the stars are in motion, some of them at tremendous speeds, but they are
(C) Although like the planets the stars are in motion, some of them at tremendous speeds, yet
(D) As the planets, the stars are in motion, some of them at tremendous speeds, but they are
(E) The stars are in motion like the planets, some of which at tremendous speeds are in motion
but
(A)
(C)
(D)
(E)

19. • Sentence correction : Misplaced Modifiers
• Modifiers describe, or
modify , other words in
a sentence. Adjectives
modify nouns. Adverbs
usually modify verbs
adjectives and other
adverbs
• Modifying words and
phrases must go next
to what they modify;
otherwise the modifier
has been misplaced
COMMON MODIFIERS
PHRASE MODIFIERS
• Prepositional
Phrase
• Participial Phrase
• Adjectival Phrase
• Adverbial Phrase
WORD
MODIFIERS
• Adjectives
• Adverbs

20. LOOKING FOR MISPLACED MODIFIERS
• Look for: - ‘Phrase, Noun’ / ‘Noun, Phrase Structure’
• Prepositional / Participle Phrases (ing/ed verbs)
 Reposition the modifying phrase so that it
unambiguously modifies the noun it intends to
 Convert the modifying phrase into a clause by adding
a Noun + Verb + Conjunction

21. El Nino, the periodic abnormal warming of the sea surface off Peru, a phenomenon in which
changes in the ocean and atmosphere combine allowing the warm water that has
accumulated in the western Pacific to flow back to the east.
(A) a phenomenon in which changes in the ocean and atmosphere combine allowing the
warm water that has accumulated
(B) a phenomenon where changes in the ocean and atmosphere are combining to allow the
warm water that is accumulating
(C) a phenomenon in which ocean and atmosphere changes combine and which allows the
warm water that is accumulated
(D) is a phenomenon in which changes in the ocean and atmosphere combine to allow the
warm water that has accumulated
(E) is a phenomenon where ocean and atmosphere changes are combining and allow the
warm water accumulating
(A)
(B)
(C)
(E)

22. Subject modified underlined
Digging in sediments in northern China, evidence has been gathered by scientists suggesting
that complex life-forms emerged much earlier than they had previously thought.
(A) evidence has been gathered by scientists suggesting that complex life-forms emerged
much earlier than they had
(B) evidence gathered by scientists suggests a much earlier emergence of complex life-forms
than had been
(C) scientists have gathered evidence suggesting that complex life-forms emerged much earlier
than
(D) scientists have gathered evidence that suggests a much earlier emergence of complex
life-forms than that which was
(E) scientists have gathered evidence which suggests a much earlier emergence of complex
life-forms than that
(A)
(B)
(D)
(E)

23. Modifier is underlined
Despite its covering the entire planet, earth has a crust that is not seamless
or stationary, rather it is fragmented into mobile semi rigid plates.
a. Despite its covering the entire planet, earth has a crust that is not
seamless or stationary, rather it is
b. Despite the fact that it covers the entire planet, earth’s crust is neither
seamless nor is it stationary, but is
c. Despite covering the entire planet, earth’s crust is neither seamless nor
is it stationary, but rather
d. Although it covers the entire planet, earth’s crust is neither seamless nor
stationary, but rather
e. Although covering the entire planet, earth has a crust that is not
seamless or stationary, but

24. Diction
In the early part of the 20th century, many vacationers found that driving automobiles
and sleeping in tents allowed them to enjoy nature close at hand and tour at their own
pace, with none of the restrictions of passenger trains and railroad timetables or with
the formalities, expenses, and impersonality of hotels.
a. with none of the restrictions of passenger trains and railroad timetables
or with the
b. with none of the restrictions of passenger trains and railroad timetables,
nor
c. without the restrictions of passenger trains and railroad timetables nor
d. without the restrictions of passenger trains and railroad timetables or
with the
e. without the restrictions of passenger trains and railroad timetables or the

25. Grammatical construction &
meaning
The remarkable similarity of Thule artifacts throughout a vast region can, in
part, be explained as a very rapid movement of people from one end of North
America to the other
a. The remarkable similarity of Thule artifacts throughout a vast region can,
in part, be explained as
b. Thule artifacts being remarkably similar throughout a vast region, one
explanation is
c. That Thule remarkably similar throughout a vast region is, in part,
explainable as
d. One explanation for remarkable similarity of Thule artifacts throughout a
vast region is that there was
e. Throughout a vast region Thule artifacts are remarkably similar, with one
explanation for this being

26. SET - 1

27. 1. It is called a sea, but the landlocked Caspian is actually the largest lake on Earth, which
covers more than four times the surface area of its closest rival in size, North
America's Lake Superior.
(A) It is called a sea, but the landlocked Caspian is actually the largest lake on Earth,
which covers
(B) Although it is called a sea, actually the landlocked Caspian is the largest lake on
Earth, which covers
(C) Though called a sea, the landlocked Caspian is actually the largest lake on Earth,
covering
(D) Though called a sea but it actually is the largest lake on Earth, the landlocked Caspian
covers
(E) Despite being called a sea, the largest lake on Earth is actually the landlocked Caspian,
covering
(A)
(B)
(D)
(E)

28. 2. Unlike the nests of leaf cutters and most other ants, situated underground or in pieces
of wood, raider ants make a portable nest by entwining their long legs to form
"curtains" of ants that hang from logs or boulders, providing protection for the queen
and the colony larvae and pupae.
(A) the nests of leaf cutters and most other ants
(B) the nests of leaf cutters and most other ants, which are
(C) leaf cutters and most other ants, whose nests are
(D) leaf cutters and most other ants in having nests
(E) those of leaf cutters and most other ants with nests
(A)
(B)
(D)
(E)

29. 3. Many of the earliest known images of Hindu deities in India date from the time of the
Kushan empire, fashioned either from the spotted sandstone of Mathura or Gandharan
grey schist.
A. empire, fashioned either from the spotted sandstone of Mathura or
B. empire, fashioned from either the spotted sandstone of Mathura or from
C. empire, either fashioned from the spotted sandstone of Mathura or
D. empire and either fashioned from the spotted sandstone of Mathura or from
E. empire and were fashioned either from the spotted sandstone of Mathura or from
A.
B.
C.
D.

30. 4. A pioneer journalist, Nellie Bly's exploits included circling the globe faster than Jules
Verne's fictional Phileas Fogg
(A) A pioneer journalist, Nellie Bly's exploits included
(B) The exploits of Nellie Bly, a pioneer journalist, included
(C) Nellie Bly was a pioneer journalist, included
(D) Included in the pioneer journalist Nellie Bly's exploits are
(E) The pioneer journalist's exploits of Nellie Bly included
(A)
(C)
(D)
(E)

31. 5. Unlike the original National Museum of Science and Technology in Italy, where the
models are encased in glass or operated only by staff members, the Virtual Leonardo
Project, an online version of the museum, encourages visitors to “touch” each exhibit,
which thereby activates the animated functions of the piece.
(A) exhibit, which thereby activates
(B) exhibit, in turn an activation of
(C) exhibit, and it will activate
(D) exhibit and thereby activate
(E) exhibit which, as a result, activates
(A)
(B)
(C)
(E)

32. SET - 2

33. 1. Not trusting themselves to choose wisely among the wide array of investment
opportunities on the market, stockbrokers are helping many people who turn to them to
buy stocks that could be easily bought directly.
(A) stockbrokers are helping many people who turn to them to buy stocks that could be
easily
(B) stockbrokers are helping many people who are turning to them for help in buying stocks
that they could easily have
(C) many people are turning to stockbrokers for help from them to buy stocks that could be
easily
(D) many people are turning to stockbrokers for help to buy stocks that easily could have
been
(E) many people are turning to stockbrokers for help in buying stocks that could easily be
(A)
(B)
(C)
(D)

34. 2. Prices at the producer level are only 1.3 percent higher now than a year ago and are
going down, even though floods in the Midwest and drought in the south are hurting crops
and therefore raised corn and soybean prices.
(A) than a year ago and are going down, even though floods in the Midwest and drought in
the south are hurting crops and therefore raised
(B) than those of a year ago, and are going down, even though floods in the Midwest and
drought in the south are hurting crops and therefore raising
(C) than a year ago and are going down, despite floods in the Midwest and drought in the
south, and are hurting crops and therefore raising
(D) as those of a year ago and are going down, even though floods in the Midwest and
drought in the south hurt crops and therefore raise
(E) as they were a year ago and are going down, despite floods in the Midwest and drought
in the south, and are hurting crops and therefore raising
(A)
(C)
(D)
(E)

35. Conditional sentences are
easy to catch
If the question contains
‘IF’

36. • 3. Starfish, with anywhere from five to eight arms, have a
strong regenerative ability, and if one arm is lost it quickly
replaces it, sometimes by the animal overcompensating
and growing an extra one or two.
(A) one arm is lost it quickly replaces it, sometimes by the
animal overcompensating and
(B) one arm is lost it is quickly replaced, with the animal
sometimes overcompensating and
(C) they lose one arm they quickly replace it, sometimes by
the animal overcompensating,
(D) they lose one arm they are quickly replaced, with the
animal sometimes overcompensating,
(E) they lose one arm it is quickly replaced, sometimes with
the animal overcompensating,

37. 4. Plants are more efficient at acquiring carbon than are fungi, in the form of dioxide, and
converting it to energy-rich sugars.
(A) Plants are more efficient at acquiring carbon than are fungi
(B) Plants are more efficient at acquiring carbon than fungi
(C) Plants are more efficient than fungi at acquiring carbon
(D) Plants, more efficient than fungi at acquiring carbon
(E) Plants acquire carbon more efficiently than fungi
(A)
(B)
(D)
(E)

38. 5. Whereas in mammals the tiny tubes that convey nutrients to bone cells are arrayed in
parallel lines, in birds the tubes form a random pattern.
(A) Whereas in mammals the tiny tubes that convey nutrients to bone cells are arrayed in
parallel lines, in birds the tubes
(B) Whereas the tiny tubes for the conveying of nutrients to bone cells are arrayed in
mammals in parallel lines, birds have tubes that
(C) Unlike mammals, where the tiny tubes for conveying nutrients to bone cells are arrayed
in parallel lines, birds' tubes
(D) Unlike mammals, in whom the tiny tubes that convey nutrients to bone cells are arrayed
in parallel lines, the tubes in birds
(E) Unlike the tiny tubes that convey nutrients to bone cells, which in mammals are arrayed
in parallel lines, in birds the tubes
(B)
(C)
(D)
(E)

39. 6. In 1713, Alexander Pope began his translation of the Illiad, a work that, taking him seven
years until completion, and that literary critic Samuel Johnson, Pope’s contemporary,
pronounced the greatest translation in any language.
(A) his translation of the Iliad, a work that, taking him seven years until completion, and
that literary critic Samuel Johnson, Pope’s contemporary, pronounced
(B) his translation of the Iliad, a work that took him seven years to complete and that
literary critic Samuel Johnson, Pope’s contemporary, pronounced
(C) his translation of the Iliad, a work that had taken seven years to complete and that
literary critic Samuel Johnson, Pope’s contemporary, pronounced it is
(D) translating the Iliad, a work that took seven years until completion and that literary
critic Samuel Johnson, Pope’s contemporary, pronounced it as
(E) translating the Iliad, a work that had taken seven years to complete and literary critic
Samuel Johnson, Pope’s contemporary, pronounced it
(A)
(C)
(D)
(E)

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