Sentence Correction - 3

  1. Parallelism (Apples + Oranges)

This error is not a frequently encountered error, but it is worth knowing and practicing such errors. In such sentences, generally two things or items are compared.

  1. When the sentence compares two items. Ask yourself, can they be really compared?
  2. When the sentence compares two actions as well.


 

Usually, the problem is with hidden comparison where two things or actions are compared, but another two items or actions are intertwined and you lose the comparison relationship.


 

Example: "Synthetic oils burn less efficiently than natural oils."


 

The sentence is wrong because we are trying to compare how well each oil burns and not the oils themselves. But do you see how the actual thing being compared is easily missed?


 

  1. Quantity Words

  2. The words measuring quantity may be used incorrectly. For example, when comparing two items, it would be inappropriate to use "among" to compare them. Here's a chart:


 

2 items                if more than 2

Between            among

More                most

Better                best

Less                least


 

  1. Items that can't be counted should not use quantity words. For example, you can't say "fewer soup". Here's a chart:


     

    Non-countable words        Countable words

        Less                fewer

        Amount, quantity        number

        Much                many


     

  2. When two distinct words or phrases are joined by the correlatives
    either, or,
    neither, nor, not only, but also
    , the number (singular or plural) of the word or phrase nearest to the verb determines the number of the verb.
  • Example: Either his parents or he is bringing it (notice "is" is singular) This can be a confusing sentence because parents is plural, but we pay attention to he which is the noun "he" tells us that we need to keep "is" singular.
  • Example: Either he or his parents are bringing it. Notice "parents" is plural and is the closest to the verb so we use "are" which is plural.


 

  1. Idioms

Such sentences incorporate incorrect usage of idiomatic expressions. There are no rules. Really need good English familiarity.

Overall rule: If it's not one of the previous 7, then it's very likely an idiom expression test question. Watch for the prepositions (to, the, of, at, for, on, in, about, etc.,) changing among the answer choices. This usually implies an Idiomatic problem, if not a Parallel Construction problem


 

Major Idioms you should be pretty familiar with:

  1. a debate over
  2. a lot
  3. a responsibility to
  4. a result of
  5. a sequence of
  6. acclaimed as is the correct idiom (Acclaimed to be is wrong)
  7. accompanied by....
  8. adapted for
  9. Adverb twice cannot be an object of proposition 'by'. 'Increase by twice' is incorrect; 'doubled' is correct
  10. affect to..
  11. agree with
  12. Aid in (Aid for is incorrect)
  13. Allergy to (Allergy of, allergy for are incorrect)
  14. Allocated to is the correct idiom
  15. alternative to....
  16. as a result of...
  17. as an instance of
  18. as good as...or better than
  19. as great as
  20. as much as
  21. Associate X with Y
  22. assume ...to be of...
  23. At least as strong as(At least as great as)
  24. Attempt to 'do something' (Attempt at doing is incorrect).
  25. attend to (someone)
  26. attribute X to Y/X is attributed to Y
  27. based on
  28. believe X to be Y
  29. Believed to have
  30. benefit from...
  31. better served by X than Y ..
  32. between X and Y
  33. Both X and Y (Both X as well as Y is incorrect) Both at X and at Y is correct. Both on X or on Y is correct.
  34. Business ethics - Is a singular word
  35. call...to consider...
  36. centers on
  37. Combined X with Y OR Combined X and Y (Both are correct)
  38. Compensate for
  39. Concerned for - worried; concerned with - related/affiliated
  40. conform to
  41. Consider X to be Y (a little controversial)
  42. contrary to...
  43. created with
  44. Credit X Rupees to Y's account (When money is involved)
  45. Credit X with discovering Y (Credit with doing something)
  46. decline in....
  47. defined as
  48. depends on whether
  49. depicted as
  50. Descendent of (Descendent for is incorrect)
  51. Different from one another (Different one from the other is wrong)
  52. Distinguish between X and Y (2 very different items, distinguished, say red and green colors)
  53. Distinguish between X and Y (Distinguish X from Y is incorrect)
  54. Distinguish X from Y (Two pretty similar items, say original paintings from fake ones)
  55. doubt that
  56. either...or
  57. enable to
  58. entrusted with...
  59. Estimated to be (Estimated at is incorrect)
  60. expected that X would be Y ...
  61. expected X to be Y ...
  62. extent to ...
  63. fascinated by
  64. for jobs..
  65. for over...XXX years...
  66. forbid X to do Y identical with
  67. forcing ...to...
  68. From X to Y (Grow from 2 million to 3 billion) (From X up to Y is wrong)
  69. Given credit for being ones - who
  70. had better(do)
  71. In an attempt to (gain control)
  72. in contrast to
  73. independent from
  74. indifferent towards
  75. Intent on
  76. interaction of ...
  77. Just as - So too
  78. May be (This is a word) is idiomatic, maybe (This means perhaps) is not idiomatic
  79. Mistake X for Y
  80. modeled after
  81. more than ever
  82. more X than Y ...
  83. more...than / less...than
  84. more...than ever...
  85. must have (done)
  86. Native of (Native to is also used in some cases)
  87. Neither - Nor should have parallel forms associated to it.
  88. no less....than
  89. No sooner than
  90. Not in a flash but in a
  91. not only...but also
  92. Not so much to X as to Y
  93. not X ...but rather Y ..
  94. noted that ..
  95. one attributes X (an effect) to Y (a cause)
  96. One X for every ZZ( some numeric number) Y's ...
  97. Persuaded X to do Y
  98. Plead guilty for failing
  99. Potential for causing
  100. potential to
  101. prohibits X from doing Y
  102. range from X to Y
  103. range of ...
  104. reason….. that incorrectly seen as reason….. because
  105. "Regard as" is the correct idiom -- Regarded as having, Regarded as ones who have
  106. regardless
  107. regards X as Y ...
  108. replacing with...
  109. Require that X be Y (Not require that X is Y)
  110. research to
  111. responsible for
  112. restitution...for ...
  113. resulting in
  114. retroactive to
  115. Same as X..as to Y
  116. same to X as to Y
  117. seem...to...(seem is plural)
  118. so (adjective) that
  119. So X as to be Y (So unreal as to be true)
  120. So X that Y (So poor that they steal)
  121. subscribe to
  122. such...as
  123. targeted at
  124. that X ...that Y ...
  125. That X is called for is indicated both by Y and by Z.
  126. the same to X as to Y
  127. to .. used to (example to get used to or to become used to)
  128. to contrast X with Y
  129. To exchange X for Y (exchange X with Y or any other form is incorrect)
  130. to mistake X for Y
  131. to monitor ...
  132. to orbit...
  133. To ratify (At ratifying is incorrect) An attempt to ratify is the correct use
  134. to result in
  135. to sacrifice X for Y
  136. to survive
  137. To try to fix is the right idiom (to try and fix is incorrect)
  138. To worry about someone's condition (To keep worrying over an action)
  139. used in the construction...
  140. used to (do)
  141. viewed marriage as
  142. way to provide (Way for providing is incorrect)
  143. When 'rates' means 'prices charged' it should be followed with 'for'
  144. widely anticipated that....
  145. Worried about (When talking about someone's condition)
  146. X [is] expected to Y
  147. X as Y ..
  148. X forbids Y to do Z ...
  149. X is attributed to Y
  150. X is different from Y (different than Y is incorrect)
  151. X is to what Y is to
  152. X is unknown, nor it is known - is a correct idiom (Neither is not required)
  153. X ordered that Y be Z'ed...
  154. X ordered Y to be Z'ed..
  155. X ordered Y to do Z
  156. X prohobits Y from doing Z ...


 

* Resemblance between X and Y , also X resembles to Y

There are three types of idioms that you'll see on the GMAT:

word pairs that go together

prepositions and the verbs that use them

standard expressions.


 

'It-- must always follow a noun, not an action.
Eg. Wrong : Frank says I took his cookies, but I didn't do it.
Right : Frank says I took his cookies, but I didn't take them.


 


 

  • Scientists estimate (on the basis of Y) X

    2. Scientists estimate (based on Y) X

    I think 1 sounds better.

    Maybe . . . .

    Nouns = based on, "The verdict was based on X"

    Verbs/action = on the basis of, "The jury ruled on the basis of X"


 


 

Required of ---- It is required of you to wear formals in office (aap se umeed ki jaati hai ki aap office mein formals pahen ke aaenge.)


 

Required by ----- Timely supply of raw materials is required by the company. (company ko jaroorat hai.)


 

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