GMAT Verbal : Correcting Noun-Noun Agreement Errors
Study concepts, example questions & explanations for GMAT Verbal
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Example Questions
Example Question #5 : Correcting Noun Noun Agreement Errors
Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English.
In most forms of martial arts, two examples of physical attack are kicks and punches.
of physical attacks
of physically attack
of physical attack
of attacks physical
of physically attacks
of physical attacks
The primary issue with the underlined phrase "of physical attack" is that it uses a singular noun ("attack") to modify the plural nouns "kicks" and "punches." The uderlined phrase should be changed to "of physical attacks" as this version of it uses the plural noun "attacks," which agrees in number with the compound predicate nominative "kicks and punches."
Example Question #6 : Correcting Noun Noun Agreement Errors
Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English. One of the answer choices reproduces the underlined portion as it is written in the sentence.
All children are taught at an early age never to run while holding their pencil.
while holding their pencils
while holding her pencil
while holding their pencil
while holding our pencil
while holding his pencil
while holding their pencils
The noun "pencil" needs to be pluralize to reflect the fact that the subject of the sentence is "All children," who presumably each have a pencil and do not share a single pencil.
Example Question #7 : Correcting Noun Noun Agreement Errors
Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English. One of the answer choices reproduces the underlined portion as it is written in the sentence.
Manny would always check his students' note to make sure that they were staying on task.
would always check his students' note
would always check his students's notes
would always check his students' notes
would always check his students's note
would always check his student's notes
would always check his students' notes
The sentence uses the plural possessive form "students'," so the best answer choice uses the plural noun "notes" in order to modify the initial noun. Therefore we would select "would always check his students' notes."
Example Question #1191 : Sentence Correction
Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English. One of the answer choices reproduces the underlined portion as it is written in the sentence.
At the sound of the gun, all of the racers gripped their bicycle and set off for the finish line.
gripped their bicycles and setting off for the finish line
gripped their bicycles and set off for the finish line
gripped their bicycle and set off toward the finish line
gripped their bicycle and set off for the finish line
gripped their bicycle and set off towards the finish line
gripped their bicycles and set off for the finish line
Since we’re talking about multiple racers, we must assume that they have “bicycles” (plural). Otherwise, the sentence implies that they are all using the same bicycle (singular).
Example Question #1192 : Sentence Correction
Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English.
Each of my three pets, which I bought with money I earned babysitting, are purebreds and comes with extensive pedigrees.
are purebreds and coming with extensive pedigrees.
is a purebred and coming with an extensive pedigree.
is a purebred and comes with an extensive pedigree.
are purebreds and come with extensive pedigrees.
are purebreds and comes with extensive pedigrees.
is a purebred and comes with an extensive pedigree.
Although there are three pets, the subject of the sentence is “each” of the pets, which is a singular noun; therefore, the singular “a purebred” is the correct noun, and the singular verb forms “is” and “comes” are the correct conjugations.
Example Question #1193 : Sentence Correction
Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English.
There is a multitude of interesting company in the world.
of interesting company in the world.
of interesting companies in the world.
of interestings company in the world.
of interesting companys in the world.
of interesting company's in the world.
of interesting companies in the world.
This sentence contains a noun-noun agreement error. The word "multitude" is the antecedent of the word "company," but the former word indicates that the word that follows should be in the plural form, which "company" is not. Instead, it should be replaced with "companies." The correct choice is, "of interesting companies in the world."
Example Question #1194 : Sentence Correction
Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English.
The mother and her daughters bravely defended herself against the accusations the clearly unstable store-clerk flung at them.
The mother and her daughters bravely defended herself and her daughters against the accusations
The mother and her daughters bravely defended themselves against the accusations
The mother and her daughters bravely defended themself against the accusations
The mother and her daughters bravely defended everybody against the accusations
The mother and her daughters bravely defended themselfs against the accusations
The mother and her daughters bravely defended themselves against the accusations
The pronoun "themselves" agrees with the compound subject "the mother and her daughters". The other answer choices are either gross errors in which the pronoun (herself) does not agree with the compound subject or words that simply don't exist (themself, themselfs).
Example Question #1195 : Sentence Correction
Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English.
Burger Place's serving size has dramatically increased over the years, but so has Burger Royalty's and Female Name's.
and so has Burger Royalty's and Female Name's.
and so did Burger Royalty's and Female Name's.
but so did Burger Royalty's and Female Name's.
but so has Burger Royalty's and Female Name's.
but Burger Royalty's and Female Name's too.
but so has Burger Royalty's and Female Name's.
We need the "but" connecting the two clauses because "and" changes the meaning and strength of the sentence. The best option is the way the sentence was written originally. The options with "did" do not have tense agreement.
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