Conjunctions Conjunctions are joining words: they help to link together two nouns, or two verbs, or two larger structures in a sentence. Coordinating conjunctions (e.g. “and”, “but”, “or”) simply link two words or parts — they can even link two independent clauses. Subordinate conjunctions (“because”, “that”, “who”, etc.) introduce a subordinate clause, a dependent clause. [...]
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GMAT Pronoun Traps
On the GMAT Sentence Correction, one of the most common types of traps involves simple ordinary pronouns, usually personal pronouns. What’s so hard about pronouns? Well, consider this practice Sentence Correction question. 1. While the Senate of the Roman Republic did not have the power to enact laws, their decrees generally were obeyed like law, [...]
GMAT Grammar
The GMAT Sentence Correction tests a few different things, but of course, the most important thing it tests is good old-fashion grammar. To get anywhere with the GMAT SC, you have to know your grammar inside-out. Here’s a brief overview. Verbs! GMAT grammar all starts with verbs. Every sentence on the GMAT has at [...]
GMAT Idioms of Comparison
Business is all about comparisons — which brand or option or product is cheaper? faster? more reliable? safer? a better investment? etc. etc. Because of this, the GMAT loves comparisons, and loves to explore then in Sentence Correction. The idioms used in comparisons are endless varied and subject to numerous colloquial errors, so this is [...]
GMAT Idioms Involving “As”
The word “as” is a remarkable little power-packed word. It functions as both a preposition (as in this sentence!) and as a conjunction. It is one of the flexible and multifaceted words in the English language. Not surprisingly, the word “as” appears in a wide assortment of idioms. This blog article covers the “as”-idioms most [...]
Absolute Phrases on the GMAT
It is not uncommon for test takers, when sloughing through the thicket of GMAT Sentence Correction questions to find themselves scratching their heads over a tricky little GMAT grammar conundrum known as an absolute phrase. What exactly are absolute phrases you ask? Well, before we dive into definitions and explanations, here are a couple of [...]
GMAT Prepositions and Idioms: On
Prepositions in English display a powerful diversity of uses. Your preposition knowledge will most certainly be tested in the GMAT. In previous preposition article, we talked about the proposition “against”. Here, we will look, at the preposition “on”. Prepositions on the GMAT A preposition must be followed by a noun — or by something [...]
GMAT Prepositions and Idioms: Against
Prepositions in English display a powerful diversity of uses. In previous preposition article, we talked about the proposition “for”. Here, we will look, at the prepositions “against”. Prepositions A preposition must be followed by a noun — or by something playing the role of a noun. This latter category includes gerunds and substantive clauses. [...]
Repeating Verb Phrases on the GMAT
“Fred wrote to Congress to complain about this policy nearly four months before Silvia ____________” What we want to say is — Fred wrote to Congress, and Silvia also wrote to Congress, but Fred did what he did before Silvia did what she did. The question is — how do we end that sentence eloquently [...]
Active Verbs on the GMAT
To start, consider these practice GMAT Sentence Correction questions. 1) The Senator’s warm recommendation of the popular Congressman seemed to many an implication that he will not see re-election to his current office. an implication that to make the implication to imply that as if implying to make implicit that 2) Five-star General John Pershing [...]
