Sentence Correction

#1 Clarity and Active Voice
Examples of Passive Voice to Avoid

Active Voice (better)

 Spending all day at the library was
my little sister

 My little sister spent all day at the
library

 The student was hit by the teacher

 The teacher hit the student

Passive voice is not incorrect. In fact, some answers on the GMAT will be passive
voice. But if you have a choice betweenactive voice and passive voice, then the
GMAT prefers the active voice.

There was animosity towards the US, which contributed to the attacks of September 11, along with no solid airport security.
A) There was animosity towards the US, which contributed to the attacks of September 11, along with no solid airport security.
A attacks of
B) Contributing to thective Voice!September 11 wereanimosity towards the US and weak airport security . [passive voice]

(

(

)(

)

C) The absence of strong airport security and animosity towards the US contributed to the attacks of September 11.
D) Animosity towards the US contributed to the attacks of September 11, and so did weak airport security.

[groupings]

[afterthought]

E) Animosity towards the US, along with weak airportsecurity, contributed to the attacks of September 11.

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The GMAT Pill Study Method
 The Sentence Correction Pill’s 10 Core Frameworks
 31 Slides for Reference

 Please review the actual video to better understand these slides

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#2: Comparing Apples and Oranges
[more than]

LOOK OUT FOR KEYWORDS
[better than]
[more frequently than]

[less often than]

[My writings]aremore popular than[scholars.
]
[
]
My writings are more popular than those of scholars. Correct
[Maintaining state parks]costs far more than[other state land.]
.
[Maintaining state parks]costs far more than[other state land does]Correct
What you’ll see on the test: “Cars cost more than 5 times as much as maintaining bicycles.”
Sholuld be: “Cars cost 5 times as much to maintain as bicyclesdo.” (if you are comparing cost of maintenance)
OR
Should be: “Cars cost 5 times as much as bicycles.” (if you are comparing cost of the vehicles”

Although many elderly citizens believe they are entitled to healthcare benefits in their old age, some fiscally conservative officials
are quick to point out that providing healthcare benefits cost far more than other retirement benefits.

[A)

]

[

C)

providing healthcare benefits cost far more than other retirement benefits
[They]
healthcare benefits costs far more to provide than other retirement benefits do
[The act of providing]
providing healthcare benefits costs far more than other retirement benefits

D)

healthcare benefits cost far more to provide than other retirement benefits do

E)

]

to providehealthcare benefits is far more expensive than other retirement benefits

B)

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#2: Comparing Apples and Oranges
Consider
My sister is more likely to study than I.
My sister is more likely than I to study.

Both are OK

My sister is more likely than I to plan on studying.
This is preferred
My sister is more likely than I in planning to study. (Incorrect)
Wrong: Cars cost more than5 times as much as maintaining bicycles.
Correct: Cars cost 5 times as much to maintain as bicycles do.
Correct: Cars cost 5 times as much to maintain as do bicycles.
Correct: Cars cost 5 times as much as bicycles.

I weigh more than he does.
I weigh more than him.

Both are OK

My weight is more than him. (Incorrect)
My weight is more than his weight (correct)
My weight is more thanthat of his. (correct)

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#3: Identify This Sentence Structure
DESCRIPTION on one side, MAIN SENTENCE on the other

[

]

[

]

window, beautifully restored to its original condition,
The antique dealer displayed the cabinet in his window. beautifully restored to its original condition.

[

B

, the

Descriptive
Phrases
Usually
Describe the
NOUN
CLOSEST TO
THE...