Form + meaning

Pattern/marker Parallelism

Which

More than one modifier of any kind in a

row

If.. Then

Modifiers (general)

1. if there is a "that" in the non-

underlined part the
underlined part should be parallel -->
check that "that" is not lost before one
of the clauses

2. that cannot be dropped in parallel

That-clauses constructions
That (pronoun)

<Noun + noun> phrases (i.e. dollar

amount)

& <possessives + <noun> >

Nouns that can't possibly do any action

(i.e. report, rules) or abstract nouns

Absolute phrases
1) , <subject 2> <ing>
2), <repeat subject or a new subject>
that
Noun
 1. Verbs that require a direct object -
check if there is one Or replace a with
Transitive verbs (require a direct object) phrasal verb

Modal verbs/orders/suggestions

Modal verbs (probability)

Forms of "Be"

1. In parallel phrases ancillary verbs can

Verb (general) be omitted
No verb/subject in the underlined
section

1. Prepositions should be repeated

2. <verb > and <verb> + <preposition> -
check that preposition fits both verbs
The first trenches have yielded strong
evidence that centrally
administered complex societies in
northern regions of the Middle East
that arose simultaneously with but
Prepositions independently of the..

1. Ambiguous pronouns are OK as long

as they refer to the subject of the first
sentence
(substitute pronouns with the subject)
2. if a pronoun is a part in a correlative
expression than the person/ item
referred to by it should be the subject
Personal pronouns of another part

Non personal pronouns


INGs - partipables or gerunds
ED - participles and pronouns
Object (direct)
Conjunctions
1. Structure: The gerund and noun - to
make a gerund parallel to a noun the
gerund must have "the"
2. Parallel: <+ing> (refers to the
following noun as a subject of action)
and <ed> (refers to the following noun
as an object - passive)
Not parallel <which originate from
diverse ethnic and cultural heritages
and perpetuated > (perpetrated is
passive, need "were perpetrated")
1. Meaning - subordinate or parallel?
2. And - means two independent ideas,
to connect them we need AND THUS,
AND THEREFORE, AND etc.
Interaction with the rest
Redundancy (repeating itself)
Time:
annually - each year
previously - past
"including among them"
Expression
Wordiness (not using GMAT preferred
form)
Both parts should be in either active or
passive (weak)
1. Avoid - Use (moderate/weak)
'- maybe - perhaps
- Hopefully - It is hoped that
- Prepositional phrase - adverb
(significantly vs to a significant
extent/degree)
- then was/were subsequently
2. Avoid: modifiers that end with
preposition
1. Avoid unidiomatic noun + noun phases
(BOSTON SOLDIER., The merger year,
firewood hauling truck)

2. <> of <> is preferred to possessive (weak)

Replace action nouns with verbs

Avoid:
- recommend/order/demand/etc … that
should

Avoid:
- possibly/perhaps/ (other expressions of
doubt) ... may/might

Avoid: -Avoid passive

- it is important that <.. Should> - Avoid <be form> + <adjective> --> replace
with a verb

Avoid:
'- have been and will continue

1. Use That-Clause rather than a long

series of prepositional phrases
Avoid as gerund
Use only for:
1.consequences of the main clause
2. action at the same time

- RULE: twice as (many, much) /twice

the/double the
- Avoid: X times, twice … as compared to
- 'Avoid <be> + <ability, capability,
disinclination, in, etc>
- Prefer an Adjective to an Adjective Clause
with Be an Adverb to a Prepositional
Phrase (Wordy: Marcos is a professor WHO
IS ADMIRABLE. Better: Marcos is an
ADMIRABLE professor.)

Avoid - Use
- instead of - rather than
- due to (only "caused by" - because of
- if - whether
- s well as - And
- “Which” after the comma - A NOUN or
ING form
- Just like Just as / Just as … so / just as … so
too
- like - such as (with examples; use like only
for "akin to") OR as if/as though (with
verbs)
- Avoid "it is <> that"
Clarity Specific concepts

When ‘which’ is used as a relative pronoun

to introduce a modifier, it refers to the
noun immediately preceding it.
If ‘which’ seems to refer to the action of
the preceding clause, you must look for an
alternative that either links ‘which’
properly with a noun antecedent, or
rework the sentence to avoid the use of
‘which’ completely.

Modifier of a modifier pattern - generally

(not always) results in incorrect meaning
<clause 1>, <clause 2> - clause 2 modifies
clause 1
<clause 1> and <clause 2>, - modify the
preceding/following noun

1. Modifier placement

1. That vs which: essential or non-

essential clauses
2. That vs who
1. Doesn't 3. That is required after certain verbs
Can't refer to an action, only to an
actor:The goalkeeper blocked two penalty
kicks in the second half, and these stellar
defensive plays caused his team to win the
game.
1. <pronoun> or <pronoun> + <noun>
should refer to the second noun in noun +
noun phrase : Minnesota is the only one of
the contiguous forty-eight states that still
has a sizable wolf population, and where
this predator remains
SV agreement (agrees with the one in
bold):
1. <noun> of <noun> and <noun>
(can include both, as well as, etc, )
1. Can't be followed by an action verb
The ability of scientists has become-
incorrect
But: when both nouns can do the
action, look out for other references to
that action:
Exceeding even the figures predicted by
the most optimistic financial analysts,
the automobile company's earnings in
the first quarter were more than double
those of .. (earnings cos they are
compare to figures)
2. Can't be followed by -ing clause (only
-ed) or with phrases indicating
thinking/willing/ etc:
rules intending <>
3. Can only be followed by a passive
verb:
clovis points were discovered
Just remember they are correct
never start with "with"
Can't include subordinate conjunctions
(i.e. which)
Check that the sentence is full

1. Check whether the subject and object

can both be referred to by the same
pronoun (i.e. it, she, he)

2. If you see a pronoun in a non-underlined

portion of the sentence, it should agree in
number with the noun in the underlined
3. Pronouns and nouns referring to the
same thing should have the same number

1. the number might be used to determine

the number in the underlined portion (i.e.
its vs their)