GMAT Grammar Basics & Sentence Correction Rules to Know

Preparing for the GMAT is no small feat, especially with the introduction of the GMAT Focus Edition. This revamped version of the test is designed to assess your data, verbal, and quantitative skills in a modernised format. While some changes, such as the removal of sentence correction questions, might seem like a reason to breathe easy, grammar knowledge remains crucial. Why, you ask? Because solid grammar skills will strengthen your ability to understand, analyse, and respond to GMAT questions effectively.

Importance of Grammar in GMAT Focus Edition 

The GMAT Focus Edition previously consisted of a grammar-centric question type — Sentence Correctin. Sentence Correction has now been removed from the GMAT Focus Edition:

• Verbal Reasoning: This section tests your ability to comprehend written material and evaluate arguments. Misinterpreting sentence structures or grammatical nuances can lead to incorrect answers. For instance, understanding modifiers and pronouns can clarify relationships between ideas in a passage.
• Data Insights: Although this section primarily focuses on interpreting data, the questions often come with descriptive explanations. A solid understanding of grammar ensures you don’t misinterpret these details, which could lead to errors in your analysis.
• Communication Skills: Strong grammar skills are essential for your business school application essays and interviews. They demonstrate your ability to articulate ideas clearly and professionally, which is highly valued by admissions committees.

Ready to top the GMAT? Yocket Prep makes mastering grammar feel like a breeze with personalised resources and practice tests that take your skills to the next level!

Grammar Basics for GMAT

A firm grasp of grammar is needed for the Verbal Reasoning and Data Insights sections of the GMAT Focus Edition effectively. While sentence correction is no longer a direct component, understanding grammar ensures clarity and precision in comprehending and analysing text. Let’s understand the basic grammar concepts, with detailed explanations and examples. Tables are provided for each category to aid your understanding.

Verbs

Verbs are action words that describe what the subject is doing or a state of being. They are pivotal in ensuring grammatical correctness and sentence clarity in GMAT passages.

1.Action Verbs

These verbs express physical or mental actions.

Examples:

1. She studies the material thoroughly.
2. The team analysed the results.

2. Linking Verbs

Linking verbs connect the subject to a description or state. Common linking verbs include is, are, was, were, seem, appear.

Examples:

1. The conclusion is valid.
2. The argument seems flawed.

3. Helping Verbs

Helping verbs, such as has, have, had, will, and shall, modify the main verb to indicate tense, mood, or voice.

Examples:

1. He has been studying for weeks.
2. They will complete the project tomorrow.

4. Subject-Verb Agreement

Subject-verb agreement ensures the verb matches the subject in number.

• Correct: The data was consistent.
• Incorrect: The data were consistent.
• Complex case: Each of the participants has been informed. (Each is singular, despite the plural participants.)

Nouns

Nouns identify people, places, things, or ideas. In GMAT passages, nouns play a key role in defining subjects and objects within sentences. Do you remember that game you used to play as alittle kid — Name, Place, Animal, Thing ? Use that as your guiding light!

1.Common Nouns

General names for people, places, or things.

Examples:

1. The university offers various programs.
2. A student was awarded a scholarship.

2. Proper Nouns

Specific names of people, places, or organisations.

Examples:

1. Stanford University is renowned.
2. The GMAC administers the GMAT.

3. Abstract Nouns

Intangible concepts such as emotions, qualities, or ideas.

Examples:

1. Integrity is essential in decision-making.
2. The argument lacked clarity.

4. Pluralisation Rules

1. Add -s: book → books, idea → ideas
2. Add -es for nouns ending in -s, -x, -z, -ch, or -sh: class → classes, box → boxes
3. Irregular plurals: man → men, child → children

Adjectives

Adjectives modify nouns and pronouns by adding detail, making sentences more specific and meaningful.

1.Descriptive Adjectives: Describe qualities of nouns.

Examples:

1. The difficult question required careful analysis.
2. The bright idea impressed the committee.

2. Quantitative Adjectives: Indicate quantity or amount.

Examples:

1. She solved several problems within the time limit.
2. Only a few applicants met the requirements.

3. Demonstrative Adjectives: Point to specific nouns: this, that, these, those.

Examples:

1. These examples clarify the concept.
2. That book contains useful strategies.

4. Comparative and Superlative Forms: Comparative compares two things: better, faster.

Examples:

1. This argument is stronger than the previous one.
2. The new method is more efficient.
3. This is the most critical point in the argument.
4. She solved the problem in the fastest time.

Tense

Tenses convey the time of action or state and are crucial for identifying the sequence of events in GMAT passages.

1.Present Simple: General facts or habitual actions.

Examples:

1. The GMAT tests analytical reasoning.
2. She prepares daily for the exam.

2. Past Simple: Completed actions in the past.
Examples:

1. She completed the exam last month.
2. They conducted a detailed analysis.

3. Present Perfect: Actions that occurred in the past but have relevance now.
Examples:

1. He has studied extensively for the test.
2. The team has improved their approach.

4. Past Perfect: Actions completed before another past event.
Examples:

1. She had reviewed all the materials before the deadline.
2. They had finalised the schedule before the announcement.

5. Future Tense: Actions that will happen.
Examples:

1. They will prepare for the mock test tomorrow.
2. The report will be published next week.

Pronouns

Pronouns are essential in sentence construction because they stand in for nouns to avoid redundancy. Correct pronoun usage is important for clarity, especially in GMAT verbal questions.

1.Personal Pronouns: Personal pronouns are used to refer to people or things. They change form depending on their role in the sentence.

Examples:

1. She is a diligent student. (subject)
2. I cannot attend the meeting, but he will. (object)
3. The decision was hers. (possessive form)

2. Possessive Pronouns: Possessive pronouns show ownership. They are different from possessive adjectives (e.g., my, your) as they replace the noun completely.

Examples:

1. The success of the project is mine.
2. The car is ours now.
3. This assignment is his to complete.

3. Reflexive Pronouns: Reflexive pronouns reflect the subject of the sentence. They are used when the subject and object are the same person or thing.

Examples:

1. She completed the task herself.
2. I looked at myself in the mirror.

4. Relative Pronouns: Relative pronouns introduce relative clauses, which provide more information about a noun. They are crucial in connecting ideas.

Examples:

1. The report which he prepared was excellent.
2. The teacher who taught me was very helpful.

5. Interrogative Pronouns: Interrogative pronouns are used to form questions. They help to ask about persons or things.

Examples:

1. What is the goal of the project?
2. Who submitted the proposal?

Prepositions

Prepositions describe the relationship between a noun or pronoun and another word in the sentence. Correct usage of prepositions helps provide clarity in the sentence structure.

1.Prepositions of Place: These prepositions show where something is located or happens. They give us information about position.

Examples:

1. The book is under the table.
2. They live in New York.

2. Prepositions of Time: Prepositions of time help us talk about time-related concepts.

Examples:

1. I have a meeting at 2 PM.
2. He worked until midnight.

3. Prepositions of Direction: These prepositions are used to show the movement of something.

Examples:

1. He is moving towards the exit.
2. The car is going into the garage.

4. Prepositions of Manner: These prepositions tell us how something is done.

Examples:

1. She spoke with confidence.
2. He wrote the email by hand.

5. Prepositions of Reason: These prepositions explain the cause or reason behind something.

Examples:

1. He was chosen for his experience.
2. She did it because of the deadline.

Top 5 Recommended Books to Learn Grammar for GMAT

Here are the Top 5 Recommended Books to help you master grammar for the GMAT, especially focusing on the key elements:

1. The GMAT Official Guide 2024 by GMAC

The GMAT Official Guide 2024 is one of the most trusted resources for understanding the GMAT's structure and content, as it is published by the makers of the GMAT. This guide includes a wide range of real GMAT questions from past exams, which makes it invaluable for practicing your grammar skills. It covers all sections of the GMAT, including the Sentence Correction and Verbal Reasoning sections, providing targeted exercises that allow you to refine your grammar skills in the context of the actual test.

Key Features:

• Over 900 real GMAT questions, providing an authentic practice experience.
• Detailed explanations for every question, which helps you understand the grammatical principles behind the correct answer.
• Focuses on critical grammar rules and strategies for improving performance in the Sentence Correction section.

2. Manhattan Prep GMAT Strategy Guides: Verbal by Manhattan Prep

The Manhattan Prep GMAT Strategy Guides: Verbal is an excellent resource to help you master the key grammar principles tested on the GMAT. This book provides a clear understanding of sentence structure, modifiers, and other key grammar rules that will boost your performance in the Verbal Reasoning section. The explanations are in-depth, ensuring that you not only understand the correct answers but also grasp why the other choices are incorrect.

Key Features:

• In-depth coverage of the Verbal Reasoning section, focusing on essential grammar rules and strategies.
• Step-by-step solutions for each question to clarify complex concepts.
• Hundreds of practice questions designed to improve your accuracy and understanding of grammar.

3. The PowerScore GMAT Critical Reasoning Bible by PowerScore

Although not entirely focused on grammar, The PowerScore GMAT Critical Reasoning Bible is a valuable resource for improving your sentence construction and reasoning skills. It helps you understand how sentences are logically structured, which is essential for identifying and correcting grammatical errors in GMAT questions. The book provides insights into reasoning techniques that will enhance your understanding of how grammar functions within the context of sentence logic.

Key Features:

• Emphasis on sentence structure and logical reasoning, which aids in identifying grammatical errors.
• Offers techniques for approaching complex sentence construction and error spotting.
• Includes comprehensive strategies for both Critical Reasoning and Sentence Correction questions.

4. The Complete Guide to GMAT Verbal by Kaplan

The Complete Guide to GMAT Verbal by Kaplan is an excellent resource for improving your verbal skills across all sections of the GMAT, including Sentence Correction, Critical Reasoning, and Reading Comprehension. The book covers the essential grammar rules required for the exam, focusing on sentence clarity, conciseness, and correctness. It includes numerous practice questions that help reinforce your understanding of grammar rules while offering strategies for solving GMAT verbal questions more effectively.

Key Features:

• A comprehensive breakdown of all verbal reasoning sections, with a strong focus on grammar.
• Strategies for tackling Sentence Correction questions by improving grammatical precision.
• Full-length practice tests to simulate real GMAT conditions and test your grammar knowledge under timed pressure.

5. GMAT Advanced Verbal by Manhattan Prep

If you're looking to take your grammar skills to the next level, GMAT Advanced Verbal by Manhattan Prep is a great resource. This book is designed for students who already have a solid understanding of grammar but want to tackle more complex GMAT questions. It dives into advanced grammar topics such as sentence structure, parallelism, and idiomatic expressions, which are critical for achieving high scores in the Verbal Reasoning section.

Key Features:

• Provides a deeper exploration of complex grammar concepts tested on the GMAT.
• Advanced-level practice questions to challenge and refine your skills.
• Comprehensive explanations that break down each concept thoroughly.

From the Desk of Yocket

As the GMAT evolves with the introduction of the GMAT Focus Edition, it’s easy to think that grammar might take a backseat now that Sentence Correction questions have been removed. But don’t be fooled! Grammar continues to play a huge role in your preparation. In fact, good grammar underpins the clarity and precision needed to respond to questions, analyse data, and structure your responses.

That’s where Yocket Prep can help. Whether you’ve begun with GMAT prep on your own or looking for structured support, there are offer plenty resources to sharpen your grammar skills. Our expert guides and practice materials are designed to help you master the core grammar concepts still essential for success on the exam. With Yocket Prep, you’ll have all the tools to not only survive but thrive as you attempt the GMAT Focus Edition.