GRE VERBAL REASONING SENTENCE EQUIVALENCE

Sentence Equivalence - Overview 4 Sentence Equivalence questions in each Verbal Reasoning section Tests ability to determine how sentence should be completed by using meaning of entire sentence In each sentence, one word is missing – you must identify 2 correct words to complete the sentence Correct answer choices, when inserted, result in same meaning for both sentences Sentence Equivalence Directions: Select the two answer choices that, when inserted into the sentence, fit the meaning of the sentence as a whole and yield complete sentences that are similar in meaning

Sentence Equivalence - Steps #1 Read the sentence and look for clues (road signs) Straight Ahead (; semicolon, similarly, consequently, in addition) Detour (while, conversely, on the other hand, nonetheless) #2 Predict an answer Prediction should be a word you choose before looking at answer choices #3 Select two choices that most closely match prediction Choose 2 words that, when plugged into sentence. most closely match prediction Eliminate answer choices that don’t fit prediction If necessary, adjust prediction to find two answer choices that match #4 Check answers to see if sentence retains the same meaning

Sentence Equivalence - Tips Consider all Answer Choices Paraphrase the Question Putting a difficult or long sentence into your own words makes it easier to predict the answer Ensures that you understand the meaning of the sentence Look beyond Synonyms (words with similar meaning) Finding synonym pairs does not always lead to correct answer choices Answer choices may include synonym pairs that don’t fit sentence context Remember the meaning of each sentence must be the same & correct Use Prefixes, Suffixes, and Roots Think about the meaning of prefixes, suffixes, & roots to help define words