Mastering Sentence Correction: Parallelism and Modifier Placement
Welcome to this module on two crucial elements of GMAT Verbal Reasoning: Parallelism and Modifier Placement. Mastering these concepts will significantly improve your ability to identify and correct errors in sentence structure, leading to higher scores on the GMAT.
Understanding Parallelism
Parallelism, also known as parallel structure, refers to the use of the same pattern of words to show that two or more ideas have the same level of importance. This means that elements in a series or comparison should be grammatically similar. For example, if you have a list of verbs, they should all be in the same tense or form (e.g., all infinitives, all gerunds, all past tense).
Using the same grammatical form for similar ideas or elements in a series or comparison.
Common Parallelism Errors and How to Fix Them
| Incorrect Structure | Correct Structure | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| She enjoys reading books, watching movies, and to listen to music. | She enjoys reading books, watching movies, and listening to music. | All verbs in the list should be gerunds (reading, watching, listening). |
| The company aims to increase profits, expand market share, and customer satisfaction. | The company aims to increase profits, expand market share, and improve customer satisfaction. | The list should contain parallel verb phrases (to increase, to expand, to improve). |
| He is not only intelligent but also hardworking. | He is not only intelligent but also hardworking. | When using 'not only...but also,' both elements should be of the same grammatical type (adjectives in this case). |
Understanding Modifier Placement
Modifiers are words, phrases, or clauses that provide additional information about another word or phrase in a sentence. Proper modifier placement is crucial for clarity and to avoid ambiguity. A misplaced or dangling modifier can change the intended meaning of a sentence or make it nonsensical.
Think of modifiers as descriptive stickers. You want to place the sticker right next to the object it's describing, not across the room!
Consider the sentence: 'I saw a dog running down the street with a wagging tail.' The phrase 'with a wagging tail' modifies 'dog.' It is placed immediately after 'dog,' ensuring clarity. If it were placed differently, like 'I saw a dog running down the street, which had a wagging tail,' it could be ambiguous whether 'which' refers to the street or the dog. The ideal placement is adjacent to the noun it modifies. This principle applies to adverbs too; an adverb modifying a verb should be placed close to it. For example, 'He quickly ran' is clearer than 'He ran quickly' if the speed is the primary focus, though both are grammatically correct. However, 'He ran the race quickly' is standard. The key is proximity and logical connection.
Text-based content
Library pages focus on text content
Modifiers should be placed as close as possible to the words they modify.
Applying Concepts: Practice Questions
Now, let's test your understanding with some practice. Analyze the following sentences for errors in parallelism and modifier placement.
- Having finished the report, the printer was turned off.
- The committee decided to approve the budget, to allocate funds, and the project's timeline.
- Running quickly, the bus was missed by me.
- She is interested in history, art, and to learn about science.
- Covered in dust, the antique furniture was discovered in the attic.
Answers and Explanations
- Error: Dangling modifier. 'Having finished the report' doesn't logically modify 'the printer.' Correction: 'Having finished the report, I turned off the printer.'
- Error: Lack of parallelism. The list contains two verb phrases ('to approve,' 'to allocate') and a noun phrase ('the project's timeline'). Correction: 'The committee decided to approve the budget, to allocate funds, and to begin the project.'
- Error: Dangling modifier. 'Running quickly' implies the bus was running. Correction: 'Running quickly, I missed the bus.'
- Error: Lack of parallelism. The list contains nouns ('history,' 'art') and an infinitive phrase ('to learn about science'). Correction: 'She is interested in history, art, and science.' (or 'She is interested in history, art, and learning about science.')
- Error: Dangling modifier. 'Covered in dust' doesn't logically modify 'the antique furniture' as it's discovered. Correction: 'Covered in dust, the antique furniture was discovered in the attic.' (This one is tricky; the modifier does correctly modify the subject, but it's a common structure to watch out for ambiguity if the subject were different.)
Key Takeaways
Focus on consistent grammatical structures for parallel elements and ensure modifiers are placed directly next to the words they describe. Practice identifying these errors in various sentence structures to build your GMAT sentence correction skills.
Learning Resources
A comprehensive guide to parallelism on the GMAT, including common errors, rules, and practice questions with detailed explanations.
This blog post breaks down the concept of parallelism, offering clear examples and strategies for tackling parallelism questions on the GMAT.
A detailed video tutorial explaining modifier placement rules, common errors like dangling and misplaced modifiers, and how to correct them with GMAT-style examples.
This article covers the essential rules for modifier placement on the GMAT, focusing on clarity and avoiding ambiguity.
An in-depth look at parallelism, including common traps and how to identify and correct errors effectively for the GMAT.
The official guide provides authentic GMAT practice questions and explanations, crucial for understanding the test's style and difficulty for sentence correction.
While not GMAT-specific, this article provides a clear explanation of dangling modifiers with examples, which is fundamental to understanding modifier placement errors.
This resource offers practical strategies and tips for identifying and correcting modifier placement errors on the GMAT.
A foundational tutorial on parallel structure that explains the concept clearly with examples, beneficial for building a strong understanding.
A collection of GMAT Club forum posts and practice questions specifically focused on modifier placement, offering diverse examples and user discussions.