Sentence Equivalence Tips: GRE Verbal 170

Sentence Equivalence is definitely not the easiest section of the GRE, but I will try to make it a bit easier with this video. I will show you a way of thinking about these questions that you may never have thought of. Or maybe you have! But practice is always good, right?
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Your job is to pick two words that can both fit in the sentence and give roughly the same meaning to the sentence as each other. This is the meaning of ‘equivalence’ - the sentences should end up meaning the same thing - they should be ‘equivalent’ - equal.
So, what is the secret?
You are basically always being asking to reinforce an idea or say its opposite. Or to be more fancy, find a synonym or antonym. Your job is to find the main idea of the passage, and then look out for hints about whether to reinforce that idea with the words you choose, or express the opposite.
To decide, look out for key contrasting words. These are turning points, or twists in the sentence, that are crucial for getting the question right. Here are over 25 examples that I have seen.
But, not, yet, even though/when/with, despite, in spite of, unexpected, however, actually, belies, notwithstanding, nevertheless, nonetheless, although, while, whereas, unlike, on the contrary, distinct, differing, contradicting, contrasting, conversely, instead, rather, hardly …
When we see one of these words, we know we are looking for a contrast. And we need to pay particular attention the words surrounding these key turning-point words.
Sentence Equivalence is of course a key part of the GRE Verbal section, and mastering it makes you one step closer to getting a GRE Verbal 170 score. This video goes well with those from Veritas Prep, greg mat, Galvanize Test Prep, Egoland Learning and Grockit.
Although it does contain some pioneering ideas, one would hardly characterize the work as __________.
A. orthodox
B. eccentric
C. original
D. trifling
E. conventional
F. innovative
Can you spot the keyword contrasting word? It is ‘although’. This first part of the sentence: ‘Although it does contain some pioneering ideas’ is alerting us to the fact that the work is actually not very original or pioneering.
This is why the answer is C and F. ‘One would hardly characterise the work as’ just means ‘you wouldn’t actually call the work …’ As we established, we wouldn’t call the work pioneering or original or innovative, which mean the same thing, broadly speaking.
Notice, the sentence could have ended like this.
Although it does contain some pioneering ideas, the work is actually quite __________.
We would again have to express the idea that the work is not pioneering, so this time the answer would be something like ‘the work is actually quite ‘uninventive, unoriginal, conventional, derivative.’
This is what makes sentence equivalence harder than the other sections. You have to not only grasp the main idea but also identify whether we need to reinforce or contrast that idea.
That’s enough theory, time to do a load of examples, to bed the idea in. I am going to use majortests.com again.
Major Tests 3
I offer private GRE / GMAT tutoring online at a fixed rate of $140/hr. Please get in touch via the email below, or through my tutoring website: www.gretutorlo...
Enquiries: [e-mail] If you’re now ready to get into your dream MBA program, my former student, Angel, is offering virtual private Admissions coaching. She was admitted into Harvard Business School, The Wharton School of Business, and Columbia Business School (accepted into every school she interviewed for) after graduating from UCLA with a degree in Communication. She also got 3 perfect scores on the GRE’s Analytical Writing Assessment (99th percentile).
Here is her link - linktr.ee/ange... - and you can reach her at [e-mail] with the subject line, “PHILIP SENT ME.”

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[@TheTestedTutor]

Don't worry Haleema, I am not going anywhere. With supporters like you, how could I go?

[@uttonio]

This guy is legit. Love the way he sorts the questions from easy to difficult.

[@alaihaasif9327]

The way you read the blank "hmmm" is amazing , now I also started reading it as "mmmm" 🤣

[@dayooladipo2992]

I always get so overwhelmed that I forget to like your videos. I guess I'l post a sticky note beside my desk so I can remember to like it always. Another alternative would be to come "like" all the videos I've ever watched from here after the GRE. Funny, I know. But that's the least I could do. Thank you very much, Philip.

[@TheTestedTutor]

Haha thank you Dayo

[@rhythmsomaiya9993]

I've about 5-6 months left for my GRE and I'm so glad I found this amazing channel! Such simple and elegant teaching. Thank you 💯

[@TheTestedTutor]

Welcome!

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Your videos are crazy good quality. I can't believe this is on KZbin.

[@TheTestedTutor]

Thanks ST

[@AreebIrshadSimplifies]

This was really helpful. I like that you talk slowly and steadily since I'm a non-native English speaker from India.

[@TheAmazingmayowa]

Thanks for the video. I had to critically understand the last questions. Thanks for the trick on cancelling two twisting word.

[@TheTestedTutor]

Thanks Mayowa!

[@shaimamustafa1871]

You are an amazing tutor! You make my life and probably all those watching you much much easier! Thank you!

[@TheTestedTutor]

Thanks so much Shaima

[@EbrahimBah-p5s]

❤ this is helping me really for my GRA

[@rijuahmed8454]

Its amazing . your video is highly effective .thanks from the core of my heart

[@TheTestedTutor]

So nice of you

[@emmanuellaogbonna]

I am so thankful I found your channel.

[@jisforjoy3314]

Thank you for the brilliant video. I really need to work on my vocabulary as I have no problem with understanding the logic of the sentences.

[@isaacsarfo6432]

same here

[@drvalenpori]

1 week away from taking the GRE. thanks!

[@fuadahmed6689]

I 've found your videos very helpful. Thanks for your efforts.

[@TheTestedTutor]

Thanks so much Fuad!

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Damn I'm really blown out with the magnificent quality of your content.

[@TheTestedTutor]

Wow, thanks Chingri!

[@ihuomaokoro-ebi3837]

Almost done with all your quant videos and decided to make a visit here with a goal of finishing this too💃💃💃

[@TheTestedTutor]

Awesome! Hope they help 😀

[@adityabhat5189]

I didn't knew what impasse was otherwise i would've got all of them right. Seems like vocab makes it extremely easy to catch the right words. (and I cracked a giggle when you said "The mmmmm tone" XD) Thanks for the video Sir!

[@TheTestedTutor]

Wow well done! And thank you.

[@rish8357]

Sheldon Cooper taught me the words impasse and deadlock. #bigbang

[@reddaboinavivek7494]

Same here lol

[@cardiyansane1414]

😁

[@Srikanth-mc7xn]

Wow!!! Outstanding content... Hearty accolades from India ❤️❤️❤️

[@Makwayne]

Never clicked on a video any faster. 😁

[@TheTestedTutor]

Lol thanks Sahil! I've never liked a comment faster.

[@theexplorer8395]

Great video Philips, absolutely love it.

[@prathamgenius]

Thanks for the last SE Question, it was helpful for preparation. I got all of them except the last one but your explanation was awesome

[@TheTestedTutor]

Excellent!

[@lancelotvictor6013]

This is exceptionally great!!! Your wisdom ia inimitable!! 👍👏I'm writing from Nigeria.

[@sofiahaq7271]

So easy to understand! This was so helpful.

[@TheTestedTutor]

Thank you Sofia! Means a lot.

[@taukirhossain6374]

Thanks for your precious effort.. Please make more videos for us...

[@TheTestedTutor]

Thank you, I will

[@shritisingh2382]

Loved double shift one. Thanks Philip

[@rasheedkibria1027]

You are really great, man....Awesome explanation ...

[@TheTestedTutor]

Thanks Rasheed!

[@eyeleon]

I have about 12 days left for my exams. Wish had found this sooner!

[@Spongepop1357]

Hi Philip, thank you for your amazing video. I just barely started studying for GRE and I am so glad I found your video. Your channel is a gem. As watching, I got little confused with question 2. I understand why decorum and propriety are the answers but to me, all other options also make sense. You said they are not the answers because the answers have to be opposite of unseemly outburst due to the key twisting words, "even when." But doesn't the other words also make sense in the sentence? I guess I need little more explanation... thank you.

[@roshini7369]

It's because the opposite of outbursting with emotion is calm so that works better and more relevant

[@cloudlauncher]

This is amazing, thank you so much!

[@theesunnlightt2268]

Thank you ... very informative

[@TheTestedTutor]

Thanks again TSL!

[@mohammadhanzala1801]

Levity - Lack of seriousness, I guess.(opposite of Solemnity) Your Videos are the best Sir! Waiting for your text completion video🙏❤

[@TheTestedTutor]

Thanks Muhammad. It is coming!

[@mohammadhanzala1801]

@@TheTestedTutor Thank you Sir!

[@usersmcke345]

This is one of the most valuable sources you could find on KZbin. Thanks for this video! By the way, I have a question to ask, when there are either A or B, neither nor, or even both and structures, should we understand A and B as necessarily contrasting to each other?

[@tuqarahman5671]

Hey, great video. Could you please talk about error focus that would be a huge help Thanks a lot

[@TheTestedTutor]

Thanks! What is error focus?

[@tuqarahman5671]

@@TheTestedTutor how we can study our mistakes in Vocab to make sure they wont be repeated

[@TheTestedTutor]

@@tuqarahman5671 Good question. Have you watched all my vocab videos?

[@tuqarahman5671]

@@TheTestedTutor I am working on that, if there's a specific video that you can refer me to I would be very grateful

[@TheTestedTutor]

@@tuqarahman5671 I did a video on learning from mistakes, I think it was my second ever video. And a video recently on word lists! Hope they help.

[@williampeiser601]

Great video! Do you have any tips for always getting one of the two answer choices correct?

[@nevildenis4723]

Pls do a video on text completion too!!

[@TheTestedTutor]

Coming up!

[@kotayadakishore2813]

Amazing explanation

[@TheTestedTutor]

Thanks Kotayada!

[@lindseyoneal4602]

I love your videos. I wish you were my personal tutor. ^^

[@TheTestedTutor]

Thank you Lindsey, but this is better: it's free :)

[@mansipatel5572]

What a teacher ❤️

[@maggiejay786]

Do you make the video solutions for the ScholarDen verbal questions? The voice sounds just like yours!

[@TheTestedTutor]

Well spotted! Yes, Maggie, are they helpful?

[@maggiejay786]

@@TheTestedTutor That is awesome! Yes, I think ScholarDen is a great supplementary practice and the explanations are really thorough (I'm still struggling a bit with the questions with 3 blanks, but I'm getting better at looking for those clues!).

[@virender945]

Though not _____ good intentions, many of the trees were defaced due to the haste of the ____ farmers in clearing the land. Options for 1st blank i) lacking in ii) destitute of iii) bestowed with Options for 2nd blank i) prudent ii) futuristic iii) improvident Please help me when not or negation is used with contradicting words.. Also please let mw know where i can ace the words essential for GRE.

[@TheTestedTutor]

The word 'haste' shows that they weren't cruel, they were not 'lacking in' good intentions. Destitute is too extreme and means poverty. Being hasty is not prudent, meaning wise, it is improvident, unwise. The 'not' and 'lacking in' cancel out, leaving good intentions, just hastiness.

[@HarshPatel-dv3hm]

@@TheTestedTutor your thought process is amazing.

[@Msdrmanish]

Thank you, Sir

[@shuvobhatti3692]

Philip , correct me if I an wrong: The last example would be eccentric and innovative ?

[@rashel1]

love from Bangladesh ❤️❤️

[@prathvirajdhir5432]

hey man, how u doing ?? It's been almost a month I have watched all your videos. I am still scoring a bit less on my verbal tests which are mostly close to 150. I am doing alright with sentence equivalence but mostly I have to miss one big Rc . is it the right way to go about it. or anything you would want to suggest which can help me improve. I have my exam in 6 days.

[@TheTestedTutor]

Main thing is to target 14 correct in the first Verbal section. If you have to guess a couple then so be it. Of course, improving vocab will help enormously with the easier SE and TC.

[@shahfarhan2628]

Hi Philip, I have a doubt about question 3 The ___ tone of the biography is entirely unexpected since both the biographer in her previous works and her subject in all that "he" has written have valued levity over solemnity. In place of he, shouldn't there be a she? Will be waiting for your reply.

[@dr.ashimrajshrestha800]

Are you the voice behind The Schoarden tutorial?

[@TheTestedTutor]

Some verbal videos yep

[@jyosnaaragonda]

Hi Please suggest which book is close GRE Sentence Equivalence and Text Completion. I am right now following only ETS Verbal. Actually, I am finding it difficult to understand sentence structure. I want to practice.

[@TheTestedTutor]

Not sure about that, apart from just the official guides...

[@jyosnaaragonda]

@@TheTestedTutor ok. Thank you.

[@kgayatrisharma]

Hey! I have my test on 11th December, and I am completely freaked out about verbal as my ets mock score was 138. But my highest score in mock verbal is 147. Please help me to improve. Desperate for help! 😭

[@TheTestedTutor]

Sorry to hear that Daphne! Start with watching every vid, then complete the official guides, then Manhattan guides. Then you may have to re-sit again!

[@kgayatrisharma]

@@TheTestedTutor i scored 303 in Manhattan. With q154 and v149

[@nidhi2672]

Can you please do a video on TC tricks and tips? Thank you :)

[@TheTestedTutor]

Will do more on that. Did one though

[@virendrasingh-hh3pv]

Hi, I need an advise from you, I have given my gre on 23/08/2019 and got 138 in verbal whereas in all the mocks which i gave during my preparation i was getting between 148-156 and even one night before the exam i gave ets power pre 1 and got 149 in verbal. Can you suggest me what should i do because of this my overall score come down to 300 with 162 in quant. plz help....

[@TheTestedTutor]

It was probably just a bad day. Maybe you got fewer than 7 right in the first Verbal section and slipped into the easy level. Keep going with the strategy of practising and reviewing and watching more videos and you can bounce back.

[@stephanieikoro9615]

@@TheTestedTutor hi. I just found your channel and I’m currently preparing to take the GRE by the first week of October. Could you shed more light on this? Getting more than 7 right in the first verbal section increases my overall score?

[@virajanand9659]

Few other contrasting words: For all(start of sentence), Far from, all but, anything but

[@arunangshupal8331]

Wonderful video... Can you share your website link

[@TheTestedTutor]

Email in description

[@oishikachaudhury5519]

Hello, The Tested Tutor! I have a question! Would you suggest it is more beneficial to first memorise a word list before beginning practice on sentence equivalence questions?

[@TheTestedTutor]

Either order is fine!

[@azminislam6149]

I got all of them right!but still my verbal isn't improving! :( I'm still stuck at 148/149

[@TheTestedTutor]

I will do harder ones soon! Keep trying.

[@azminislam6149]

@@TheTestedTutor Thanks! I'm watching your videos and practising!

[@inderTheGreat]

Good videos. Keep up the good work :)

[@godslove2106]

Even is also a detour!!

[@ehza]

great...

[@TheTestedTutor]

Thanks Emrul!

[@rohit4539]

Isn't solemnity means serious or dignified and sincere? I haven't found the meaning of solemnity as sad anywhere

[@TheTestedTutor]

Hey Bharath, yes but also 'grim and 'unsmiling', not cheerful or smiling; serious earnest grave sober sombre unsmiling poker-faced stern grim

[@rohit4539]

@@TheTestedTutor thanks 🙌 this had been the problem with me, I know the meanings and in context but sometimes I couldn't apply broadly

[@bushraakram9989]

Amazing

[@artwithrekha9615]

very informative

[@anjuniranjani123]

I scored 286 in my gre though I finished up both the ets and Manhattan 5lb.. Pls help.. Give me some tips

[@TheTestedTutor]

Hope you saw my other comment!

[@anjuniranjani123]

@@TheTestedTutor Yes I did.. Thank u

[@anjuniranjani123]

@@TheTestedTutor Sir pls make more videos on TC and SE solving more questions.. Your videos are really helpful

[@bilalansarkhan3008]

Thankss

[@olakunleadewole4272]

Pls how can I get your previous videos

[@TheTestedTutor]

Playlists

[@samarthsairam3512]

Isn't eccentric a good fit too for the last question?

[@TheTestedTutor]

Could be!

[@shubhamjain1316]

Sir, from which source we should do TC ?? Please let me know sir

[@TheTestedTutor]

Official guide is a great start

[@shubhamjain1316]

@@TheTestedTutor ​ Thank You for replying. I had commented 4 months ago. I am done with exams, applied to universities and got into 3 top 30 universities of the world. It was possible because of You. I owe you my friend. Thanks a lot. God bless You with all the love, wealth and happiness to you and your family brother.

[@prathamsharma149]

Done

[@cardiyansane1414]

Got them all! Bobs’ your uncle ( hope i used it ok )

[@TheTestedTutor]

Kinda! Getting there!

[@talibunajat8178]

I find Sentence equivalence easier than Sentence completion, who else agrees?

[@TheTestedTutor]

Probably right Dhulkifi

[@talibunajat8178]

@@TheTestedTutorcan I book personal coaching with you sir? my exam is in 20days

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YOUR subscribe will be increased as u made many valuable Videos. Which helps me lot.. Loves From #Bangladesh

[@TheTestedTutor]

I hope so Mizanur! Spread the word

[@ChetanPalicherla]

Is anything but.. a twisting word?

[@margaretoduwole2168]

50-100 words daily?😢😢😢😢

[@franklineze8636]

I thought I was the only one 😅