All GMAT Verbal Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #11 : Correcting Other Errors
Which option best replaces the underlined sentence?
Some cities are now so big that we classify them as mega cities; the metro-Tokyo area - and this is amazing - has a population of over 36 million people.
Tokyo is a mega-city with a population of over 36 million people .
Some cities are now so big that we classify them as mega cities; the metro-Tokyo area has a population of over 36 million people.
Some cities are now so big that we classify them as mega cities; the metro-Tokyo area, and this is amazing, has a population of over 36 million people.
Some cities are now so big that we classify them as mega cities; the metro-Tokyo area: has a population of over 36 million people.
Some cities are now so big that we classify them as mega cities; the metro-Tokyo area - and this is amazing - has a population of over 36 million people.
Some cities are now so big that we classify them as mega cities; the metro-Tokyo area has a population of over 36 million people.
While this sentence does not have anything grammatically wrong with it (the interjection is fine), it is wordy due to the inclusion of the interjection, which is somewhat unnecessary; therefore, it is best to omit it. The best choice is, "Some cities are now so big that we classify them as mega cities; the metro-Tokyo area has a population of over 36 million people."
Example Question #11 : Correcting Other 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.
Studies have found that the safer we make things, the more wreckless people act.
safer we make things, the more wreckless people act.
safer we make things, the more, wreckless people act.
safer we make things the more wreckless people act.
safer we make things the more reckless people act.
safer we make things, the more reckless people act.
safer we make things, the more reckless people act.
This sentence contains a spelling error. "Wreckless" is not a word. It is spelled "reckless." The phrase "Studies have found that the safer we make things" is an example of an introductory phrase, explaining information necessary to the context of the sentence, but outside of the main sentence, grammatically. These types of phrases must be followed by a comma in order to separate them from the rest of the sentence, so the comma should stay where it is. The correct choice is, "safer we make things, the more reckless people act."
Example Question #12 : Correcting Other 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.
The worlds first University was established in Morocco.
Morocco is home to the world's oldest university.
The worlds first University was established in Morocco.
Morocco is home to the worlds oldest university.
The world's first University was established in Morocco.
The world's first university was established in Morocco.
Morocco is home to the world's oldest university.
There are three errors in this sentence:
- The absence of an apostrophe for "worlds"
- The capitalization of the word "University"
- The use of the passive voice in the verb "was established"
There should be an apostrophe before the "s" in "worlds" because it is possessive. Second, the word "university" should not be capitalized because the sentence is not referring to a specific university, but universities in general. Besides capitalization due to the position of a word at the beginning of a sentence, words are only capitalized when the word is a name or is referring to something specific that has already been named. Lastly, passive voice is a worse option than active voice in this case (the subject of the sentence should do the action of the sentence). The correct choice is, "Morocco is home to the world's oldest university."
Example Question #281 : Correcting Other Errors And Recognizing Correct Sentences
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.
Benjamin, running around his neighborhood.
Benjamin, running around his neighborhood.
Benjamin, ran around his neighborhood.
Benjamin running around his neighborhood.
Benjamin, was running around his neighborhood.
Benjamin was running around his neighborhood.
Benjamin was running around his neighborhood.
This sentence contains two errors:
- "Running" is not a verb; it is a participle. Without a verb, this is not a sentence.
- There is no need for a comma between "Benjamin" and the "verb."
The correct choice is, "Benjamin was running around his neighborhood."
Example Question #282 : Correcting Other Errors And Recognizing Correct Sentences
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.
Veronica stated, "Ralph Marston said what you do today can improve all your tomorrows."
Veronica stated, "Ralph Marston said what you do today can improve all your tomorrows."
Veronica stated, "Ralph Marston said, 'What you do today can improve all your tomorrows.' "
Veronica stated, "Ralph Marston said, "what you do today can improve all your tomorrows." "
Veronica stated, "Ralph Marston said, "What you do today can improve all your tomorrows." "
Veronica stated, "Ralph Marston said, 'What you do today can improve all your tomorrows'."
Veronica stated, "Ralph Marston said, 'What you do today can improve all your tomorrows.' "
This sentence contains three errors:
- The quote "What you do today can improve all your tomorrows" is not in quotation marks.
- There is not a comma after "said."
- The word "what" is not capitalized.
Note two things: quotations inside of quotations must take single quotation marks ('), instead of the usual double quotation marks. Additionally, ending punctuation should always appear within quotation marks. The correct choice is, "Veronica stated, "Ralph Marston said, 'What you do today can improve all your tomorrows.' " "
Example Question #282 : Correcting Other Errors And Recognizing Correct Sentences
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.
No one clearly understood who the new marketing campaign was targeted at.
whom the new marketing campaign targeted.
who the new marketing campaign was targeted at.
who the new marketing campaign targeted.
at whom the new marketing campaign was targeted.
who the new marketing campaign is targeting.
whom the new marketing campaign targeted.
This sentence contains two errors:
- The phrase "the...campaign was targeted at" is in the passive voice.
- The phrase "the...campaign was targeted at" contains a dangling preposition.
The verb voice error is easily fixed by changing the words "was targeted" to "targeted," but you run into another error when rewording the sentence to fix the dangling preposition. In order to fix error number two, you must reword the sentence, but then that makes "who" the object of its clause, meaning you must also change this pronoun to "whom." The correct choice is, "whom the new marketing campaign targeted."
Example Question #1850 : 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.
In the novel Death of a Salesman, Arthur Miller states when today fails to offer the justification for hope, tomorrow becomes the only grail worth pursuing.
In the novel Death of a Salesman, Arthur Miller states, when today fails to offer the justification for hope, tomorrow becomes the only grail worth pursuing.
In the novel Death of a Salesman, Arthur Miller states, "When today fails to offer the justification for hope, tomorrow becomes the only grail worth pursuing."
In the novel Death of a Salesman, Arthur Miller states, "When today fails to offer the justification for hope, tomorrow becomes the only grail worth pursuing."
In the novel Death of a Salesman, Arthur Miller states "when today fails to offer the justification for hope, tomorrow becomes the only grail worth pursuing."
In the novel Death of a Salesman, Arthur Miller states "When today fails to offer the justification for hope, tomorrow becomes the only grail worth pursuing."
In the novel Death of a Salesman, Arthur Miller states, "When today fails to offer the justification for hope, tomorrow becomes the only grail worth pursuing."
This sentence contains four errors:
- The words Death of a Salesman need to be italicized since it is the title of a book.
- A comma should follow the word "Miller," as it separates the main clause from the following quotation.
- Quotation marks should be used from "When...pursuing."
- The word "when," which should appear in the quote, should be capitalized since it is at the beginning of the sentence.
The correct choice is, "In the novel Death of a Salesman, Arthur Miller states, "When today fails to offer the justification for hope, tomorrow becomes the only grail worth pursuing.""
Example Question #12 : Correcting Other 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.
Though it was written over 50 years ago, many regard the book The Intelligent Investor as the best book on investing.
many regard the book "The Intelligent Investor" as the best book on investing.
many regard the book The Intelligent Investor as the best book on investing.
many regard the book 'The Intelligent Investor' as the best book on investing.
many regard the book The Intelligent Investor as the best book on investing.
many regard the book "The Intelligent Investor" as the best book on investing.
many regard the book The Intelligent Investor as the best book on investing.
As stated in the sentence, the word "The Intelligent Investor" is the title of a book. Book titles should always be underlined or italicized. The correct choice is, "many regard the book The Intelligent Investor as the best book on investing."
Example Question #284 : Correcting Other Errors And Recognizing Correct Sentences
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.
He thought that it was was the duty of everyone, men, women, and children, to be involved in the various stages of political process.
He thought that men, women, and children should be involved in the various stages of political process.
He thought that everyone should be involved in politics.
He thought that it was was the duty of everyone, men, women, and children, to be involved in the various stages of political process.
He thought that it was was the duty of everyone to be involved in the various stages of political process.
He thought that it was was the duty of every man, woman, and child to be involved in the various stages of political process.
He thought that everyone should be involved in politics.
All of the above choices are grammatically correct, but all but the correct option are obviously wordy. "He thought that everyone should be involved in politics" is the correct choice because it concisely states the same idea of all the other choices. None of the other choices add any substance to this sentiment (correct answer is always the most concise).
Example Question #1852 : 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.
Even though he made mistakes, he was respected for.
mistakes, he respected
mistakes, he was respected for admitting them
mistakes, people respected him for admitting them
mistakes, he was respected for
mistakes, people respected him for
mistakes, people respected him for admitting them
This sentence contains three errors:
- Dangling preposition (for).
- Sentence Fragment (second clause is incomplete).
- Passive voice (he was respected).
The sentence needs to be reworded in order to fix these errors. Note that the correct sentence should always be in the active voice (i.e. the subject of a clause should do the action of the main verb). Additionally, prepositions should never end a clause. The correct choice is, "mistakes, people respected him for admitting them."