Mastering Verbal Reasoning: Transition Words & Sentence Structure for GRE
Verbal Reasoning on the GRE tests your ability to understand complex texts, analyze relationships between ideas, and discern meaning from context. A crucial skill for success is the ability to identify transition words and understand how sentence structure guides the flow of information. This module will equip you with the tools to dissect sentences and recognize the subtle cues that signal logical connections.
The Power of Transition Words
Transition words and phrases act as signposts within a text, guiding the reader through the author's line of reasoning. They indicate relationships such as addition, contrast, cause and effect, and sequence. Recognizing these words is key to understanding how ideas connect and build upon each other.
Common Categories of Transition Words
| Category | Examples | Function |
|---|---|---|
| Addition | and, also, moreover, furthermore, in addition | Adds more information or ideas. |
| Contrast | but, however, on the other hand, yet, nevertheless | Introduces an opposing idea or statement. |
| Cause and Effect | because, since, therefore, consequently, as a result | Shows a relationship between an action and its outcome. |
| Sequence/Time | first, second, then, next, finally, meanwhile | Indicates the order of events or steps. |
| Example | for example, for instance, such as, to illustrate | Introduces an illustration or specific instance. |
| Emphasis | indeed, in fact, certainly, notably | Highlights a particular point. |
To guide the reader by indicating logical relationships between ideas and sentences.
Deconstructing Sentence Structure
Beyond individual words, the way a sentence is constructed—its structure—profoundly impacts meaning and emphasis. Understanding sentence types and their components helps you grasp the core message and the nuances the author intends to convey.
Key Structural Elements
Consider how sentence structure can alter emphasis. A sentence starting with a dependent clause, like 'Because of the complex vocabulary, many students find the Verbal section difficult,' places emphasis on the reason (complex vocabulary). Conversely, starting with the independent clause, 'Many students find the Verbal section difficult because of the complex vocabulary,' emphasizes the difficulty itself. Understanding these shifts helps in interpreting the author's intended focus.
Text-based content
Library pages focus on text content
Think of transition words as the glue that holds sentences and paragraphs together, and sentence structure as the framework that gives the text its shape and emphasis.
Putting It All Together: GRE Application
On the GRE, you'll encounter passages where understanding these elements is critical for answering questions about main ideas, author's tone, logical flow, and inferences. By actively identifying transition words and analyzing sentence structures, you can break down complex arguments and pinpoint the precise meaning.
It helps in identifying the relationship between ideas and understanding which part of the sentence is subordinate or modifies another, aiding in comprehension of complex arguments.
Practice Strategy
When tackling GRE Verbal questions, actively highlight transition words as you read. Then, pause to identify the main subject and verb of each clause. Ask yourself: What is the relationship between this sentence and the previous one? How does the sentence structure emphasize certain ideas? Consistent practice will make these skills second nature.
Learning Resources
This Kaplan resource provides a comprehensive overview of common transition words and their functions, crucial for GRE Verbal prep.
Manhattan Prep offers insights into how sentence structure impacts meaning and how to analyze it effectively for GRE questions.
ETS, the maker of the GRE, provides official guidance on Verbal Reasoning question types, including strategies relevant to understanding sentence meaning.
While not GRE-specific, this guide from UNC Writing Center explains the fundamental role of transitions in creating coherent and logical texts, applicable to GRE passages.
This article from The Princeton Review covers strategies for Reading Comprehension, which heavily relies on understanding sentence structure and transitions.
Grammar Bytes offers interactive exercises to practice identifying and using transition words, reinforcing their function.
This resource breaks down key aspects of sentence structure relevant to GRE Verbal Reasoning, helping learners identify core components.
Khan Academy provides foundational lessons on clauses and sentence types, essential for understanding complex sentence structures.
Magoosh discusses common errors in GRE Verbal, often related to misinterpreting sentence structure and transitions.
Practice applying your knowledge of transition words and sentence structure with these Sentence Equivalence questions from Kaplan.