Syntax: Construction of Grammatical Sentences

Grammar: Correct the Sentences ( Source: GMAT)

Tutorial 1:

Brevity is the Soul of Wit. Try to be clear and concise. Draft short sentences to avoid redundancy (repetition) and awkward syntax. Shorter sentences are apt to convey the intention of the message and eliminate the possibility of ambiguity or misinterpretation.

1.Verbose/Wordy: Past experience affirms that TB patients rarely ever display the exact same symptoms.

Improved: Experience affirms that TB patients rarely display the same symptoms.

2. Redundant: The three prices sum to a total of Rs 500.

Improved: The three prices sum to Rs 500.

3. Confusion: ‘Like’ and ‘Such as’: Students who choose majors in the sciences, like those of communication engineering, biochemistry and physics, can expect an average annual salary that is 50% higher than that of students majoring in the humanities.

Corrected: Students who choose majors in the sciences, such as Communication Engineering, Biochemistry and Physics, can expect an average annual salary that is 50% higher than that of students majoring in the humanities.

NB: ‘Like’ shows comparison; ‘such as’ is used to furnish examples.

Concept: Subject-Verb Agreement

1.A singular subject requires a singular verb form:

The cat runs out of the house.

A plural subject requires a plural verb form:

The cats run out of the house.

Key to making subject-verb agreement: Identify the correct subject, determine its number and then make the verb conform to it.

How?

Concept: Eliminate the middleman or misleading phrase.

The houses of that rich man (contain/contains) very expensive furniture.

What is the subject: houses or man?

The houses of that rich man(contain/contains) very expensive furniture.

Correct: The houses of that rich man CONTAIN very expensive furniture.

Further Illustrations:

2. The discovery of new lands WAS vital to the expansion of the British empire.

The discovery of new lands WAS vital to the expansion of the British empire.

TUTORIAL 2:

Concept: “And “ vs. Additive

The word ‘AND’ always forms a compound plural subject.

Example: Mathematics, Social Studies and Science ARE essential high-school subjects.

Additive phrases: ‘along with’,’ in addition to’, ‘as well as’, ‘accompanied by’, ‘together with’, ‘including’etc.

The above do not form compound subjects.

Example: Leander, along with his friend, IS going to the beach.

Concept: Disjunctive phrases : “or,” “either…or,” and “neither…nor.”

Tackle: Find the subject that is NEAREST the verb to make the verb agree in number with this subject.

Examples:

1.      Neither Nadal nor his his friends ARE going to the beach.

2.      Neither his friends nor Federer IS going to the beach.

NB: When ‘either’ and ‘neither’ figure alone ie. Without or/nor in the sentence, they are considered singular and take only singular verbs.

Concept: Collective Nouns are singular: army, audience, class, crowd, faculty, orchestra, team etc.

Example: The crowd IS cheering as the home team TAKES the field.

Tutorial 3:

Concept: Indefinite Pronouns: Usually Singular

An indefinite pronoun is not specific about the thing to which it refers.Eg: Anyone

Pronouns that end in –one, -body or –thing fall in this category.

Singular Pronouns: Anyone, Anybody, Anything

Everyone, everybody, everything

Whatever, Whoever

Either, Neither(these may be differently treated when they occur with ‘or/nor’.

Someone, Somebody, Something

No one, Nobody, Nothing

Each, every

Exception: SANAM Pronouns: Some, Any, None, All, Most

For SAMAN pronouns the object of the “of” construction to determine the number of the subject.

Some of the money WAS stolen from my wallet.(Money is singular)

Some of the documents WERE stolen from the bank.(Documents is plural)

Tutorial 4:

Concept: “Each” and “Every” : Singular

‘Each’ and ‘every’ as subjects or as words preceding subjects require singular verb form.

Every dog HAS paws.

Every dog and cat HAS paws.

Each of these shirts IS pretty.

Concept: Numerical Words and phrases:

The phrase the number of always takes a singular verb form.

The phrase a number of always takes a plural verb form.

NB: Golden rule/Mantra: When in Doubt, Think Singular as singular subjects dominate the chart.