1. Centre de Ressources Linguistiques Session 1GMAT Verbal Success GMAT Sentence Correction Section (1) Written Communication Fundamentals

2. Centre de Ressources Linguistiques Session 1GMAT Verbal Success Written Communication Words –Self-explanatory –Smaller parts possible (phonemes, morphemes, etc.)

3. Centre de Ressources Linguistiques Session 1GMAT Verbal Success Written Communication Phrases –Group of words with similar meaning –Noun phrase –Verb (participial) phrase –Prepositional phrase –Adjective phrase –Adverb phrase

4. Centre de Ressources Linguistiques Session 1GMAT Verbal Success Written Communication Clauses –Groups of phrases of similar or different types –Independent clause => main –Dependent clause => subordinate Relative clause => in direct relation to another Participial clause => involving a type of verb (gerund, infinitive, etc.) If clause => conditional using if or a similar form

5. Centre de Ressources Linguistiques Session 1GMAT Verbal Success Written Communication Sentences –Always one whole thought. –Avoid splicing two whole thoughts. –Word order is crucial: S – V – O EXTREMELY IMPORTANT!!!

6. Centre de Ressources Linguistiques Session 1GMAT Verbal Success Written Communication Paragraphs –At least 2 sentences in English –Often—one topic / subject sentence + several backing / support sentences

7. Centre de Ressources Linguistiques Session 1GMAT Verbal Success Modifiers A word or group of words that limits or describes another word or words. Adjectives & adverbs / adverbials Prepositional phrases Participials  phrases beginning or centered around verbs

8. Centre de Ressources Linguistiques Session 1GMAT Verbal Success Modifiers Problematic –Dangling  “You want to put it where?” –Misplaced  “Not there!” –Squinting  “What?”

9. Centre de Ressources Linguistiques Session 1GMAT Verbal Success Modifiers Dangling Modifiers –A modifier left without something to modify. Examples –Walking through the park, the grass tickled my feet. –Driving to work this morning, my car broke down. –Having listened to Jake, her problems were solved.

10. Centre de Ressources Linguistiques Session 1GMAT Verbal Success Modifiers How about this one from the New York Times: –After wading through a long, quasi-academic examination of the statistical links between intelligence, character, race and poverty, the reader’s reward is a hoary lecture on the evils of the welfare state.

11. Centre de Ressources Linguistiques Session 1GMAT Verbal Success Modifiers Misplaced Modifiers –Modifier in the wrong position in the sentence. Examples –A small book sat on the desk that Sarah had read. –The professor posted the notes for the students covered in class. –The young girl was walking the dog in a short skirt.

12. Centre de Ressources Linguistiques Session 1GMAT Verbal Success Modifiers Squinting Modifiers: –Modifiers that are placed between two words so that they could be understood to modify either word. Examples –The thief who was gesturing wildly stalked his victim. –He said tonight he'd call me. –I said eventually I would do it.