GMAT Verbal : Correcting Other Phrase, Clause, and Sentence Errors

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for GMAT Verbal

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Example Questions

Example Question #3 : Correcting Other Phrase, Clause, And Sentence 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.

Mr. and Mrs. Jeffries are nervous about finding out where they will be accepted to graduate school, as where they are accepted may force them to have a long-distance relationship and they have never had that before.

Possible Answers:

may be forcing them to have a long-distance relationship, and that is something they have never had that before.

may force them to have a long-distance relationship and they have never had that before.

may be forcing them to have a long-distance relationship, which they have never had that before.

may force them to have a long-distance relationship, which they have never had before.

may force them to have a long-distance relationship, and they have not had a long-distance relationship before.

Correct answer:

may force them to have a long-distance relationship, which they have never had before.

Explanation:

The correct answer is: "may force them to have a long-distance relationship, which they have never had before," because it is the most efficiently phrased and is grammatically correct. 

The answer choice "may force them to have a long-distance relationship, and they have not had a long-distance relationship before" is incorrect because the phrase "and they have not" is unnecessarily wordy compared to the correct answer. 

The answer choice "may be forcing them to have a long-distance relationship, and that is something they have never had that before" is incorrect because "may be forcing" refers to present action, and Mr. and Mrs. Jeffries have not yet found out where they have been accepted to graduate school.

The answer choice "may be forcing them to have a long-distance relationship, which they have never had that before" is wrong because "which they have never had that before" is grammatically improper.

The answer choice "may force them to have a long-distance relationship and they have never had that before" is somewhat of a run-on sentence, and the correct answer is more succinctly phrased.

Example Question #1411 : 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 repeats the underlined portion as it is written.

Forecasters warn of a sharp drop in oil prices, although loved by consumers, could have dire consequences for the world economy.

Possible Answers:

Forecasters' warn of a sharp drop in oil prices

Forecasters warn that a sharp drop in oil prices

Forecasters warn of a sharp drop in oil price

Forecasters warn of a sharp drop in oil prices

Forecasters warning of a sharp drop in oil prices

Correct answer:

Forecasters warn that a sharp drop in oil prices

Explanation:

The key word to consider when answering this question is the conditional word "could" in the last portion of the sentence. Because the forecasted shop drop in oil prices is discussed in conditional terms after the comma, it must also be discussed in conditional terms before the comma, and in the way the sentence is presented, it is not. The only answer choice that features appropriate wording is "Forecasters warn that a sharp drop in oil prices"; the "that" allows for the conditional, in the sense of the forecasters warning that if a sharp drop in oil prices occurs, it could have dire consequences for the world economy.

Example Question #6 : Correcting Other Phrase, Clause, And Sentence 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.

With just a few quick swings of the machete, the debris was cleared away by the guide, allowing his group to follow his path without obstruction.

Possible Answers:

the debris was cleared away by the guide, allowing his group to follow his path without obstruction

the guide allowing his group to follow his path without obstruction cleared away the debris

the guide cleared away the debris, allowing his group to follow his path without obstruction

the debris was cleared away, the guide allowing his group to follow his path without obstruction 

the guide allowing his group to follow his path without obstruction is clearing away the debris

Correct answer:

the guide cleared away the debris, allowing his group to follow his path without obstruction

Explanation:

Eliminate the answer choices which include the passive voice. This question also has to do with order of relevance. Consider that the initial prepositional phrase describes the guide's most relevant action. What is the most important thing the guide did? He cleared away the debris. That should be mentioned in the active voice before the fact that he allowed his group to follow his path. Choose the answer that most efficiently describes the primary action (in the active voice) and sets up the clauses about the consequences of his action.

Example Question #7 : Correcting Other Phrase, Clause, And Sentence 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.

With just a few quick swings of his ax, the log was split down the middle by the carpenter, allowing the wood to sit in the fireplace just right.

Possible Answers:

the carpenter’s splitting the wood allowed it to sit just right down the middle of the fireplace.

the carpenter’s splitting of the wood down the middle allowed it just right to sit in the fireplace.

the carpenter split the log down the middle, allowing the wood to sit in the fireplace just right.

the carpenter’s splitting the wood allowed it to sit just right down the middle of the fireplace.

the log was split down the middle by the carpenter, allowing the fireplace to hold just right the wood.

Correct answer:

the carpenter split the log down the middle, allowing the wood to sit in the fireplace just right.

Explanation:

Eliminate the answer choices which include the passive voice. This question also has to do with order of relevance. Consider that the initial prepositional phrase describes the carpenter’s most relevant action. What is the most important thing the carpenter did? He split the log down the middle. That should be mentioned in the active voice before the fact that his action allowed the wood to sit in the fireplace. Choose the answer that most efficiently describes the primary action (in the active voice) and sets up the clauses about the consequences of his action.

Example Question #8 : Correcting Other Phrase, Clause, And Sentence 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.

There is no other specialized term for those who study tsunamis than "seismologist," as the study of tsunamis is but a subspecialty of those who study the Earth's movements in general.    

Possible Answers:

Without a specialized term for those who study tsunamis other than as

There is no specialized term for those who study tsunamis other than

Because there is no specialized term for those who study tsunamis except

Since there is no specialized term for those who study tsunamis but for

There is no other specialized term for those who study tsunamis than

Correct answer:

There is no specialized term for those who study tsunamis other than

Explanation:

The "as" at the beginning of the sentence’s final clause, "as the study of…" makes that clause dependent—it can’t stand on its own. Thus, the underlined clause must remain independent, or else the sentence will become a fragment. 

The word "seismologist" must be linked to noun phrase that begins "no specialized term…" with a word that makes sense in context and is idiomatically correct.

"Other than" makes perfect sense in context, and adding a conjunction to the beginning of the sentence would leave us with two dependent clauses.

Example Question #9 : Correcting Other Phrase, Clause, And Sentence 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.

With just a few quick swings of his ax, the debris was cleared away by forester, allowing his vehicle to pass without obstruction.

Possible Answers:

the debris was cleared away, the forester allowing his vehicle to pass without obstruction 

the debris was cleared away by the forester, allowing his vehicle to pass without obstruction

the forester cleared away the debris, allowing his vehicle to pass without obstruction

the forester allowing his vehicle to pass without obstruction is clearing away the debris

the forester allowing his vehicle to pass without obstruction cleared away the debris

Correct answer:

the forester cleared away the debris, allowing his vehicle to pass without obstruction

Explanation:

Eliminate the answer choices that include the passive voice. This question also has to do with order of relevance. Consider that the initial prepositional phrase describes the forester's most relevant action. What is the most important thing the forester did? He cleared away the debris. That should be mentioned in the active voice before the fact that his action allowed his vehicle to pass. Choose the answer that most efficiently describes the primary action (in the active voice) and sets up the clauses about the consequence of his action. If the subject of the first clause is the forester "swinging" his axe, he must be the subject of the second clause to avoid a dangling modifier error.

Example Question #10 : Correcting Other Phrase, Clause, And Sentence 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.

Since her husband began playing the guitar, Martha has become far more expert a distinguisher of a tuned instrument and an out of tune instrument, a classical guitar and an electric guitar.

Possible Answers:

far more expert in distinguishing a tuned one and an out of tune one, a classical guitar or  

much more expert when it comes to distinguishing a tuned instrument and an out of tune one, a classical guitar from 

far more expert in distinguishing a tuned instrument from an out of tune one, a classical guitar from 

far more expert a distinguisher of a tuned instrument and an out of tune one, a classical guitar and

far more the expert as far as distinguishing between a tuned instrument, an out of tune one, a classical guitar, and

Correct answer:

far more expert in distinguishing a tuned instrument from an out of tune one, a classical guitar from 

Explanation:

One can distinguish a from b, or distinguish between a and b. The correct answer is the only one that follows this idiomatic pattern.

Example Question #11 : Correcting Other Phrase, Clause, And Sentence 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 Great Gatsby examined the cultural excesses of America in the 1920's. 

Possible Answers:

has examined the cultural excesses

examined the cultural excesses

examined the cultural excesses

did examine the cultural excesses

examines the cultural excesses

Correct answer:

examines the cultural excesses

Explanation:

Present tense is always preferable when referring to existing works. The book was written in the past but still exists in the present. 

Example Question #12 : Correcting Other Phrase, Clause, And Sentence 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 February we will be married ten years.

Possible Answers:

shall be married ten years

shall be married for ten years. 

have been married for ten years. 

will have been married ten years.

will be married for ten years.

Correct answer:

will have been married ten years.

Explanation:

"February" is presumed to be in the future which requires the future tense "will." Adding "will" to "have been married" makes the future perfect tense. "Will be" is incorrect because it is the Simple Future tense which means that we will be married in February and then 10 years thereafter. 

Example Question #13 : Correcting Other Phrase, Clause, And Sentence 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.

My Advanced Literature class just finished reading: "Eve's Diary", a short story by Mark Twain.

Possible Answers:

reading: "Eve's Diary," a short story by Mark Twain. 

reading "Eve's Diary," a short story by Mark Twain. 

reading Eve's Diary: a short story by Mark Twain.

reading "Eve's Diary", a short story by Mark Twain. 

reading: "Eve's Diary", a short story by Mark Twain.

Correct answer:

reading "Eve's Diary," a short story by Mark Twain. 

Explanation:

There is no punctuation between the verb and its object. Additionally, the comma goes inside the quotation marks. Any combination of punctuation makes the other answers incorrect. 

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