Sentence Correction - 2 Flashcards by Iman Mohammadi

Parallelism signal words:

FANBOYS (For, And, Nor, But, Or, Yet, So)
Not only, …, But also
Not only, …, But …, As well.
Neither …., Nor …
Not …., But
Either …, Or
Both …., and
X rather than Y
mistake X for Y
prefer X to Y
range from X to Y
more X than Y (in certain cases)

8 ~ 12 must be grammatically similar (verb, sentence, geround, …)

اینجا معنا از همه جا مهم‌تره

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Correct/Incorrect

hand signs used by natives and appearing in rural area

parallel wise …

used by is a past participle modifier
appearing in rural area is present participle modifier

Both used as adjective => Correct

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Strategy for

Comparison:

Identification method:
Comparison markers (like,as,-er,than,more)

Fix:
Exactly like Parallelism (Isolate individual elements and make sure they’re comparable.)

Beware of “FORGETTING ABOUT THE MEANING”
WHENEVER you see answer choices split between “LIKE and SUCH AS, PICK SUCH AS. (LIKE = Is similar to, SUCH AS = Examples)
LIKE compare NOUNS. The word “like” can be used in a comparison, but not to introduce an example. For introducing examples, “such as” is commonly used. “Including” is also used to introduce examples.
The word “like” can be used only in comparisons of nouns or pronouns. It cannot be used to connect verbs or clauses. In a comparison involving two clauses, “as” must be used.
AS compare CLAUSES (Has a verb) - AS IF and AS THOUGH are work the same but → make it hypothetical/subjunctive.
After Like …,X is …-er is an incomplete comparison.

گودرز و شقایق - concise vs. wordy
برای Pronoun وردار Antecedent رو با مادیفایرهای ریستریکتیوش بذار تا قبل helping verb با خودش مقایسه نشه
وقتی عبارت کلی ای مثل all یا any دیدی حواست باشه تو مقایسه خود اون یارو رو هم شامل نشه
مادیفایر رستریکت با پریپوزیشن دیدی حواست باشه فاعل یا چیزی که داره مقایسه میشه رو درست تشخیص بدی
در مورد مقایسه فعل ها اولا تکرار وردی هست ولی نکته مهم اینه که اولا برای اکشن از do و مشتقاتش استفاده کنیم و برای to be از همون. تغییر زمان هم ایراد نداره اگر منطقی باشه
6.Ellipsis مجاز است اگر معنی خراب نشه. ولی خیلی ریسکیه چون معانی ممکنه دوگانه بشه
7.اگر مادیفایر نان ریستریکتیو داشتیم و مقایسه با اون انجام شد باید حواسمون باشه به referrer اون داریم اشاره می‌کنیم برای مقایسه
8.با تغییر گزینه ها و اصلاح یه تیکه ممکنه یه جای دیگه به هم بریزه. این تو تستای comparision شایع هست
9.تو یه کیس هایی مثل when compared to یا if compare to. و از این دست باید حواست باشه گول نخوری. مثلا تندتر از چی؟ ما باید در یک زمان مقایسه کنیم.
“as opposed to” = “rather than” or “not”.
Quantity: “fewer” vs. “less”, “much” vs. “many”, “number” vs. “amount”
“Greater than” is used in comparing the sizes, levels, degrees, magnitudes, or extents of things. “Greater than” is synonymous with “larger than” or “higher than.” in these cases DO NOT USE “MORE THAN”
May include incorrect combinations of comparison words, such as “greater as” rather than the correct “greater than,” “more … as” rather than the correct “more … than,” “so … as,” rather than the correct “as … as,” “as … than,” rather than the correct “as … as,” or “such … like,” rather than the correct “such … as.”
Unlike با “Whereas”, “Although”, and “While” فرق داره. تو Unlike باید مواظب باشیم گودرز و شقایق رو مقایسه نکنیم ولی تو اون سه تا این شرط لازم نیست. هم میشه باشه هم میشه نباشه. Whereas = incontrast with the face that,
نکته آخر و مهم اینه که پیش میاد یه جاهایی تو comparison بازی می‌کنن باهات با چیزایی مثل those of …و helping ver گذاشتن و نذاشتن. سعی می‌کنن حواس رو پرت کنن که جاهای دیگه اشتباهات فاحش رو نبینی. مثلا تو مادیفایر یه گیری هست یا SV. اینجور جاها سریع برو سراغ decision point بعدی
تو سوالای comparison که سخت و کوتاه هستن عموما، دوتا کار رو باید بکنی. اول بنویس رو کاغذ قراره چی با چی مقایسه بشه. دوم عادلانه ellipsis های محتمل رو بنویس. از ذهنت چیزی در نیار. شاید غایب نباشه چیزی که دنبالش هستی.

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Strategy for

Subject-Verb Agreement:

Identification method:
I will look for verbs and/or nouns split signular and plural in the answer choices. If there were any difference that will be Subject-Verb Agreement.

Fix:
1. If the VERB IS SPLIT (Singular or Plural) Find Subject.
2. If the SUBJECT IS SPLIT (Singular or Plural) Find The verb.
3. Eliminate middleman (modifiers of some sort)
4. Match in the same Clause

Sometime verb/sub sinulairty or plurality based on non-underinedpart. It’s a Great clue for collective nouns, which can be both singular and plural.

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Strategy for

Parallelism:

Identification method:
Parallelism markers (either, or, and, both, from/to, commas, between/and)

Fix:

Isolate individual elements and make sure they match.
WHATEVER COMES DIRECTY AFTER A PARALLEL MARKER SHOULD BE AN ELEMENT.

Review the list of Parallelism signitures
If we put words in a parallel construction, we are giving them parallel meaning.
If we connect two sentences/clause with “and”, we are implying (unless other transition words are present) that the 2 ideas are independent of one another.
1. There was a great deal of traffic today, and I was late to to work. → The traffic is NOT responsiblr for my being late. These are presented as two indipendent events.
2. There was a great deal of traffic today, and THUS I was late to to work. → The traffic MADE me late

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Strategy for

Pronouns:

Identification method:
Pronouns! (He, She, Its, It, They, Their, ….)

Fix:
Go looking for Antecedent. It should:
1. Agree in number
2. Not be ambigiuous.

If you have the choice between a CLEAR NOUN and a PRONOUN, PICK THE CLEAR NOUN.
Check redundancy: (the ball, which I am hoping to HIT → “ball, which” = object. the ball, which I am hoping to HIT it → Nonsensical; you can’t have a double object).
Sometime pronoun sinulairty or plurality based on non-underlined part

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Be familiar with:

Common redundancy:

explain … because
sufficient enough (kind of contrast)
reason … because
possibly … may
since … prompted
seems likely … may be
TWO TRANSISION WORD: (Negative) x (Negative): However, yet, although, …
then … subsequently
of the californians, … more than 43% of them …
lag behind by … less
then also later
for … reason
different significantly … in comparison to
two times more than

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Strategy for

Idioms:

Identification method:
Splits in prepositions

Fix:
1. Notice the idiom split.
2. Try it out in YOUR OWN LITTLE SENTENCE.
3. REPLACE it back in the big sentence.

Memorize!

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When/Where do we need helping verbs in a parallel construction?

When:
1. If they are required by two part parallel signals (Both … and, Either … or, etc)
2. To resolve Ambiguity (i.e. to take a sentence with two possible meanings, and reduce to one meaning)

Where:
EXTREMELY IMPORTANT: we are talking about HELPING verbs (Can, Will, Do(es), Could, etc.)

(✓) I know more about Rachmaninoff than my brother does.

———————————

(✓) I know more about Rachmaninoff than does my brother.

in parallel construction, helping verbs can precede their subject

———————————

(✓) I know more about Rachmaninoff than my highly educated brother does.

adjectives/modifiers placed BEFORE the noun don’t change anything about this

———————————

(✓) I know more about Rachmaninoff than does my highly educated brother.

———————————

(-) I know more about Rachmaninoff than my brother, who has not studied Classic music, does.

If the helping verb is separated from the noun by a following modifier, that’s considered AWKWARD (Not totally wrong, but awkward)

———————————

(✗) I know more about Rachmaninoff than my brother does, who has not studied Classic music.

We cannot place a verb between a noun and noun-modifier.

———————————

(✓) I know more about Rachmaninoff than does my brother, who has not studied Classic music.

When a noun is FOLLOWED by a modifier we SHOULD PLACE HELPING VERB BEFORE THE NOUN+MODIFIER.

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The period when the great painted caves at Lascaux and Altamira were occupied by upper Paleolithic people has been established by carbon-14 dating, but what is much more difficult to determine are the reason for their decoration, the use of to which primitive people put the caves, and the meaning of the magnificently depivted animals.

A. has been established by carbon-14 dating, but what is much more difficult to determine are
B. has been established by carbon-14 dating, but what is much more difficult to determine is
C. have been established by carbon-14 dating, but what is much more difficult to determine is
D. have been established by carbon-14 dating, but what is much more difficult to determine are
E. are established by carbon-14 dating, but what is much more difficult to determine is

A. has (Singular) been established by carbon-14 dating, but what is much more difficult to determine are (Plural)
B. has (Singular) been established by carbon-14 dating, but what is much more difficult to determine is (Singular)
C. have (Plural) been established by carbon-14 dating, but what is much more difficult to determine is (Singular)
D. have (Plural) been established by carbon-14 dating, but what is much more difficult to determine are (Plural)
E. are (Plural) established by carbon-14 dating, but what is much more difficult to determine is (Singular)

B is the correct choice

…what is much more difficult to determine … is the object of the verb so it cannot be the subject → BACKWARD CONSTRUCTION: “.. the reason for … decoration, the use of … put the caves, and the meaning of … depivted animals.” is the SUBJECT
This LIST must be treated as ONE PIECE – i.e: you can’t treat “the reason” BY ITSELF as a subject. this is like ONE WORD - and that would be PLURAL.

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Where and When use helping verb?

Where:
EXTREMELY IMPORTANT: we are talking about HELPING verbs (Can, Will, Do(es), Could, etc.)

(✓) I know more about Rachmaninoff than my brother does.

———————————

(✓) I know more about Rachmaninoff than does my brother.

in parallel construction, helping verbs can precede their subject

———————————

(✓) I know more about Rachmaninoff than my highly educated brother does.

adjectives/modifiers placed BEFORE the noun don’t change anything about this

———————————

(✓) I know more about Rachmaninoff than does my highly educated brother.

———————————

(-) I know more about Rachmaninoff than my brother, who has not studied Classic music, does.

If the helping verb is separated from the noun by a following modifier, that’s considered AWKWARD (Not totally wrong, but awkward)

———————————

(✗) I know more about Rachmaninoff than my brother does, who has not studied Classic music.

We cannot place a verb between a noun and noun-modifier.

———————————

(✓) I know more about Rachmaninoff than does my brother, who has not studied Classic music.

When a noun is FOLLOWED by a modifier we SHOULD PLACE HELPING VERB BEFORE THE NOUN+MODIFIER.

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Though margarine was introduced as a supposedly healthful alternative to butter, recent studies suggest it is as harmful or worse than butter.

it is as harmful or
that it is just as harmful or even
that it is as harmful as if not
it to be just as harmful as or
that it is as harmful if not

Starting Point: The original sentence makes a comparison between margarine and butter, but it messes up the comparison structure. One thing is as harmful as another. One thing is worse than another. When you want to combine the two comparison structures into one bigger structure, you have to use the full comparison structure for each: One thing is as harmful as or worse than the other.

Issue #1: Comparison. The original sentence is missing the second as in the comparison structure as harmful as. Answers (B) and (E) repeat this error. Eliminate choices (A), (B), and (E) for a faulty comparison structure.

Issue #2: Idiom / Word Choice. Studies suggest that something is (or was or will be) a certain way. Don’t say that studies suggest that something to be a certain way.

The correct answer, (C), fixes the original error by adding the second instance of the word as to the comparison: as harmful as. This choice also uses the correct idiom studies suggest that it is.

Note: The structure as harmful as or worse than is acceptable, as is the structure as harmful as if not worse than. They mean the same thing. Some answer choices include the words just or even; these are not incorrect, though they are also not necessary to include. These are red herrings; the test writers are hoping to get you to waste time debating between differences that are all acceptable.

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Countable/Uncountable:

Time

Uncountable

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Countable/Uncountable

Money

Uncountable
BUT
if it depends on the context
i.e. …resulted in many more dollors

اگر به خود مبلغ دلار اشاره بشه countable هست

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Countable/Uncountable

Weight

Uncountable

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Windsurfing is considered physically challenging, involves standing on a board and holding a sail, and is in contrast to kiteboarding, which involves standing on a board and being attached to a kite and can be done in ways to make it not very physically challenging, though still somewhat dangerous.

(A) Windsurfing is considered physically challenging, involves standing on a board and holding a sail, and is in contrast to kiteboarding, which involves standing on a board and being attached to a kite and can be done in ways to make it
(B) Whereas windsurfing, which involves standing on a board and holding a sail, is considered to be physically challenging, kiteboarding, which involves standing on a board and attached to a kite, can be done in ways in which it is
(C) Unlike the way in which windsurfing, which involves standing on a board and holding a sail, is considered physically challenging, there are ways in which kiteboarding, which involves standing on a board while attached to a kite, can be done so that it is
(D) Windsurfing, which involves standing on a board and holding a sail, is considered physically challenging, while there are ways in which kiteboarding, which involves standing on a board while attached to a kite, can be done such that it is
(E) Windsurfing, involving standing on board while holding a sail, is considered to be physically challenging, unlike ways in which kiteboarding, which involves standing on a board while being attached to a kite, can be done so that it is

داره windsurfing رو با kiteboarding مقایسه می‌کنه

A. Windsurfing is considered physically challenging, involves standing on a board and holding a sail, and is in contrast to kiteboarding, which involves standing on a board and being attached to a kite and can be done in ways to make it not very physically challenging, though still somewhat dangerous.

Windsurfing is considered physically challenging, involves standing on a board and holding a sail, and is in contrast to → گیر parallelism داره
standing on a board and being attached to a kite and can be done in ways → تصورش هم خنده دار هست

B. Whereas windsurfing, which involves standing on a board and holding a sail, is considered to be physically challenging, kiteboarding, which involves standing on a board and attached to a kite, can be done in ways in which it is not very physically challenging, though still somewhat dangerous.

is considered to be physically … → idiom غلطه Consider X, Y [characteristic/thing]
standing on a board and attached to a kite → درسته جفتشون گرامری participale هستن و درسته ولی اینا دارن تداعی می کنن که :
1. which involves: “standing on a board” and “attached to a kite”
2. which involves standing: “on a board” and “attached to a kite”
دومی واقعا چرت هست standing … attached to a kite
can be done in ways in which it is not very physically challenging → it بر می‌گرده به kiteboarding لذا معنی اینجوری میشه:
کایت بوردینگ خیلی چالشی نیست “in” راه هایی که “can” انجام بشه،

C. Unlike the way in which windsurfing, which involves standing on a board and holding a sail, is considered physically challenging, there are ways in which kiteboarding, which involves standing on a board while attached to a kite, can be done so that it is not very physically challenging, though still somewhat dangerous.

Unlike → برای مقایسه اسم هست ولی اینجا the way in which windsurfing is considered physically challenging کاملا phrase هست
… there are ways … → مرجعش کجاس؟

D. Windsurfing, which involves standing on a board and holding a sail, is considered physically challenging, while there are ways in which kiteboarding, which involves standing on a board while attached to a kite, can be done such that it is not very physically challenging, though still somewhat dangerous.

E. Windsurfing, involving standing on board while holding a sail, is considered to be physically challenging, unlike ways in which kiteboarding, which involves standing on a board while being attached to a kite, can be done so that it is not very physically challenging, though still somewhat dangerous.

… considered to be physically challenging … → idiom غلطه Consider X, Y [characteristic/thing]
… unlike ways in which kiteboarding … → برای مقایسه اسم هست ولی اینجا ways in which kiteboarding can be done کاملا phrase هست

D is the correct answer

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Which one is correct?

Their bone structures fairly rigid, the wings of birds are less flexible than bats’.
Its bone structure fairly rigid, the wings of birds are less flexible than those of bats.

While the wording in the comparison part of (2), “the wings of birds … those of bats,” may appear to be more balanced than that in the comparison part of (1), “the wings of birds … bats’,” either wording is acceptable, so we need another decision point.

We can find one by considering the opening modifiers, since “it” in (B) has no logical referent, because there is no singular noun to which “it” could refer, while “their” in (1) logically refers to “wings.”

1 is the correct

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Which one is correct?

The local weather forecasters make accurate predictions more often than the economic experts on the national news make accurate predictions, even though, in most cases, the latter have had extensive training.
The local weather forecasters make accurate predictions more often than the economic experts on the national news do, even though most of the latter has had extensive training.

In this case, (1) does not omit any words. Rather it uses the wording “make accurate predictions” both in the first part and in the second part of the comparative clause. So, while the way in which (1) expresses the comparison is not incorrect, (A) may seem a bit unnecessarily wordy when compared with (B), which uses the simpler “do” rather than repeat “make accurate predictions.”

However, (2) is not the better choice, because (2) is clearly incorrect, as “latter” refers to “experts,” and therefore, “most of the latter” must be plural and, thus, does not agree with the singular “has.” In (1), on the other hand, “latter,” which must refer to the plural “experts,” agrees with the plural “have.” So, even though (2) expresses the comparison more concisely, (1) is the better choice.

1 is the correct

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Which one is correct?

When pushed by reporters to describe his decision making process, it became apparent that, from the beginning, the judge had liked one of the submissions more than he had liked any of the others.
When he was pushed by reporters to describe his decision making process, it became apparent that, from the beginning, the judge had liked one of the submissions more than he had any of the others.

Because (1) repeats the word “liked” in “more than he had liked any of the others,” while (2) omits “liked” and says “more than he had any of the others,” one might be tempted to decide that (1) makes the comparison clearer, and is, therefore, the better choice. However, the truth is that it is not necessary to repeat “liked,” and that, therefore, either version of the comparative part of the sentence is acceptable.

Meanwhile, the use of the opening noun modifier “when pushed …” in (1) is clearly illogical, since the subject of the clause that follows the modifier is “it,” and “it” does not refer to someone who would have been “pushed by reporters. So, (2) is the better choice, because (2) opens with a clause, “when he was pushed …,” and a clause does not need a noun to modify.

2 is the correct

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Whereas the paintings of Jackson Pollock are completely non-representational, elements that represent real world objects are included among those of Henry Moore’s sculptures.

(A) Whereas the paintings of Jackson Pollock are completely non-representational, elements that represent real world objects are included among those of Henry Moore’s sculptures.

(B) Unlike Jackson Pollock’s completely non-representational paintings, Henry Moore included in his sculptures some elements that represent real world objects.

(C) In contrast to the elements of Jackson Pollock’s paintings, which are completely non-representational, the elements of Henry Moore’s sculptures include some, which represent real-world objects.

(D) In comparison with Jackson Pollock’s completely non-representational paintings are the elements of Henry Moore’s sculptures, among which are some that represent real-world objects.

(E) Unlike the paintings of Jackson Pollock, being completely non-representational, the sculptures of Henry Moore include some elements, representing real world objects.

(A) Whereas the paintings of Jackson Pollock are completely non-representational, elements that represent real world objects are included among those of Henry Moore’s sculptures.

(B) Unlike Jackson Pollock’s completely non-representational paintings, Henry Moore included in his sculptures some elements that represent real world objects.

نقاشیای JP با خود HP مقایسه شده

include some چی؟ element. منتها non-restrictive modify شده. اگر بود
Jackson Pollock’s paintings that are completely non-representational, the elements of Henry Moore’s sculptures include some درست می شد

(D) In comparison with Jackson Pollock’s completely non-representational paintings are the elements of Henry Moore’s sculptures, among which are some that represent real-world objects.

in comparison with نقاشی JP, المنت نقاشی HP بلا بلا بلا

(E) Unlike the paintings of Jackson Pollock, being completely non-representational, the sculptures of Henry Moore include some elements, representing real world objects.

the sculptures of Henry Moore include some include some elements … پس JP نقاشیاش هوا هم نداشته بنده خدا

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What is the difference between much and many?

Much is used with nouns that cannot be counted (e.g., there is too much water in the sink);
many is used with nouns that can be counted (e.g., I have many toys to give away).

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-ing modifier vs. -ed modifier

the “ing” action …
1. … is simultaneous with, and subordinate to the main action
2. is a direct and immediate subsequence of the main action

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“v. + that” vs. “n. + that”

v. + that → IC
n. + that → IC or v.

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Singular/Plural

Species

Both

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# Singular/Plural Clothes

Plural

# Singular/Plural Congragulations

Plural

# Singular/Plural Earnings

Plural | درآمد

# Singular/Plural Goods

Plural

# Singular/Plural Outstkirs | ˈaʊtˌskərts

Plural | کنار، پیرامون، حومه حول و حوش

# Singular/Plural Particulars

Plural | information

# Singular/Plural premises | = building

Plural

# Singular/Plural Riches

Plural | دارایی زیاد، غنا، اشیای پر ارزش، منابع، ذخایر (زیاد)

# Singular/Plural Savings

Plural

# Singular/Plural Stairs

Plural

# Singular/Plural Surroundings

Plural

# Singular/Plural Thanks

Plural

Proper use of "Because"

"Because" helps answer the WHY question – why did something happen? It modifies entire clauses and is used to explain the verb or the action described in the clause. It is typically followed by a clause. ➔ The match was called off because it rained today. Here, "because” modifies the clause "the match was called off" and is followed by another clause "it rained today."

Proper use of "Because of"

"Because of" functions like "because" and modifies a clause but is always followed by a noun. ➔ The match was called off because of rain. Here, "because of" modifies the clause "the match was called off" and is followed by the noun "rain." | **< _clause_ > because of < _noun_ >**

Proper use of "Due to"

"Due to" implies causation and can modify only nouns. ➔ The flight was canceled due to engine trouble. ✗ ➔ The flight’s cancellation was due to engine trouble. ✓ In the first case, "due to" incorrectly modifies the clause "the flight was canceled." But in the second case, it correctly modifies "flight’s cancellation," which is a noun. | **< _noun_ > due to < _noun_ >**

Subject joined by the compound conjunction “or,” “either … or,” or “neither … nor” Verb should be plural or singular?

Agree with the closest

“In addition to,” “accompanied by,” or “together with” What about verb?

Singular subject followed by an additive phrase remains singular.

# What is the proper structure after this verb? Advice