2.4 English Grammar, Syntax & Error Identification
Key Takeaways
- Error identification and sentence correction questions on the HEC HAT test core rules of formal written academic English.
- Subject-verb agreement errors often conceal the true subject behind intervening prepositional phrases or relative clauses.
- Dangling modifiers occur when an introductory modifier phrase does not logically describe the subject immediately following the comma.
- Parallel structure requires that items in a list, series, or paired conjunction follow identical grammatical forms.
- Pronoun logic demands clear, unambiguous antecedent references and strict adherence to case (subjective vs. objective) and agreement.
2.4 English Grammar, Syntax & Error Identification
The English Grammar and Error Identification portion of the HEC HAT Verbal section measures your mastery of formal written academic English. Questions typically present sentences with underlined portions or complete sentences where you must identify grammatical errors or select the most syntactically correct revision.
Rule 1: Subject-Verb Agreement
A verb must agree in number (singular or plural) with its grammatical subject, regardless of intervening words, phrases, or clauses.
Key Subject-Verb Agreement Rules
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Intervening Prepositional Phrases: Test makers routinely insert long prepositional phrases between the subject and the verb to distract candidates.
- Incorrect: The list of new research findings and experimental data were published yesterday.
- Correct: The list [of new research findings...] was published yesterday. (Subject is singular: list).
-
Compound Subjects with Correlative Conjunctions (
Neither...nor,Either...or): The verb must agree with the subject closest to the verb.- Correct: Neither the principal researcher nor her assistants were available.
- Correct: Neither the assistants nor the principal researcher was available.
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Additive Phrases (
along with,as well as,in addition to,together with): These phrases do not make a singular subject plural.- Correct: The professor, along with three graduate students, is attending the symposium.
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Indefinite Pronouns: Pronouns such as each, every, everyone, everybody, someone, neither, either, anybody are grammatically singular and require singular verbs.
- Correct: Each of the participants has submitted a summary.
Rule 2: Modifier Placement (Dangling & Misplaced Modifiers)
Modifiers are words, phrases, or clauses that add detail to another part of a sentence. A modifier must be placed adjacent to the noun or pronoun it modifies.
Dangling Participle Modifiers
A dangling modifier occurs when an introductory participial phrase (usually ending in -ing or -ed) is not logically connected to the noun immediately following the comma.
HAT Rule: The noun performing the action in an introductory modifier MUST immediately follow the comma.
- Incorrect (Dangling): Walking through the ancient campus library, several rare manuscripts were discovered by the student.
- Analysis: As written, 'several rare manuscripts' were walking through the library!
- Correct: Walking through the ancient campus library, the student discovered several rare manuscripts.
Misplaced Modifiers
A misplaced modifier is separated from the word it modifies, creating awkward or unintended meanings. Pay special attention to restrictive adverbs such as only, barely, almost, nearly.
- Incorrect: The researcher only published two articles last year. (Implies he did nothing else with the articles except publish them).
- Correct: The researcher published only two articles last year. (Accurately restricts the number of articles).
Rule 3: Parallelism / Parallel Structure
Parallelism requires that matching elements in a sentence share the same grammatical form. This rule applies to lists, series, items linked by coordinate conjunctions (and, or, but), and paired correlative conjunctions (not only... but also, either... or, both... and, rather than).
Common Parallelism Structure Scenarios
| Structure Type | Non-Parallel (Incorrect) | Parallel (Correct) |
|---|---|---|
| Gerunds vs. Infinitives | The manager enjoys reading research papers, writing reports, and to present findings. | The manager enjoys reading research papers, writing reports, and presenting findings. |
| Paired Conjunctions | The university aims not only to attract top scholars but also retaining them. | The university aims not only to attract top scholars but also to retain them. |
| Series of Clauses | She was praised because she worked hard, showed dedication, and her accuracy. | She was praised because she worked hard, showed dedication, and maintained accuracy. |
Rule 4: Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement & Case
A pronoun must agree with its antecedent (the noun it replaces) in number, gender, and person, and must clearly identify a single unambiguous noun.
1. Ambiguous Pronoun Reference
If a pronoun can refer to more than one preceding noun, the sentence is syntactically flawed.
- Incorrect: When the dean met with the professor, he discussed the new curriculum. (Unclear whether he refers to the dean or the professor).
- Correct: When the dean met with the professor, the dean discussed the new curriculum.
2. Singular Collective Nouns
Nouns representing a single group (e.g., committee, board, jury, faculty, team, government) take singular pronouns (it, its) when acting as a unified body.
- Correct: The committee rendered its final verdict after hours of deliberation.
3. Pronoun Case (Subjective vs. Objective)
- Use subjective pronouns (I, he, she, we, they, who) for subjects performing actions.
- Use objective pronouns (me, him, her, us, them, whom) for objects receiving actions or following prepositions.
- Incorrect: The award was presented to the two lead researchers, Dr. Khan and I.
- Correct: The award was presented to the two lead researchers, Dr. Khan and me. (Object of preposition to).
Rule 5: Verb Tense Consistency & Sequence of Tenses
Verb tenses must logically reflect the time relationship between actions. Avoid unnecessary shifts in tense.
- Past Perfect Tense (
had+ Past Participle): Used to indicate an action that occurred in the past before another past action.- Correct: By the time the laboratory results arrived, the clinical team had already made the diagnosis.
- Subjunctive Mood: Used to express hypothetical conditions, wishes, or demands following verbs like insist, demand, request, suggest.
- Correct: The committee insisted that the researcher be present during the review. (Not was).
Rule 6: Idiomatic Prepositional Usage in Academic English
Academic English requires specific fixed prepositional combinations. Using incorrect prepositions is a frequent error type on the HEC HAT.
- Different from (NOT different than)
- Comply with (NOT comply to)
- Capable of (NOT capable to)
- Attribute X to Y (NOT attribute X with Y)
- Regard as (NOT regard to be)
Identify the grammatical error in the following sentence: 'The collection of rare antique books and historical manuscripts were damaged during the severe storm last night.'
Which of the following sentences correctly repairs the dangling modifier in: 'Having completed the lab experiment, the results were compiled into a comprehensive report by the research team.'
Which sentence demonstrates correct parallel structure?
Select the correct pronoun form to complete the sentence: 'The grant was awarded jointly to the principal investigator and _______ after a rigorous peer review.'