All GMAT Verbal Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #1 : Correcting Pronoun Errors: Incorrect Usage
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.
We have both read the report, but neither of us will make any comment until the committee talks both to him and to I.
until the committee talks both to him and to me.
until the committee talks both with him and to I.
until a committee talks both to he and to I.
until the committee talks to both he and to me.
until the committee talks both to him and to I.
until the committee talks both to him and to me.
The use of "I" at the end of this sentence is incorrect, as it is a subjective pronoun used as the object of the preposition "to." Pronouns used as objects of prepositions need to be in their objective, not their subjective forms. As it is used in the sentence, "him" is correct, since it is also an object of "to," but it is an objective pronoun. "I," on the other hand, needs to be changed to its objective form, "me." The correct answer choice is the only one that makes this change, "until the committee talks to both him and me."
Example Question #2 : Correcting Pronoun Errors: Incorrect Usage
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 only time the machine ever ran properly was in it’s original demonstration, but that one exhibition was enough to make the machine’s inventors millions of dollars.
ever ran properly was in its' original demonstration,
ever ran properly was in that's original demonstration,
ever ran properly was in it’s original demonstration,
ever ran properly was in its original demonstration,
ever ran properly was in their original demonstration,
ever ran properly was in its original demonstration,
The use of "it's" as it is used in this is incorrect. "It's" is the contraction of "it is," and not as the possessive form of "it"; the possessive form of "it" is "its." Only one choice uses the correct form, "ever ran properly was in it’s original demonstration," making it the correct answer.
Example Question #1 : Correcting Pronoun Errors: Incorrect Usage
She was always hard on her, battling with low self-esteem since she was a child.
hard to her
hard on herself
hard with her
hard in herself
hard on her
hard on herself
The use of the pronoun "her" in the underlined phrase is confusing, as it is not clear whether this is a new person in the sentence or refers back to the subject. To be more clear, a reflexive pronoun must be used. The correct answer is "hard on herself."
Example Question #1 : Correcting Pronoun Errors: Incorrect Usage
The materials must be brought back to myself as soon as you are done with them.
back from myself
back to me
back toward myself
back from me
back to myself
back to me
The only issue in the sentence as it is written is the use of "myself," a reflexive pronoun, when there is no other first person pronoun to which it can refer back. The only answer choice which both appropriately uses "me," and keeps the same meaning is "back to me."
Example Question #1 : Correcting Pronoun Errors: Incorrect Usage
The information was only given to myself after the rest of the students had seen it all.
giving to me
gave to myself
given to myself
giving to myself
given to me
given to me
The only issue with the sentence is its use of the reflexive pronoun "myself," despite not previously using a first person pronoun. All reflexive pronouns need an antecedent, or previous pronoun in the same person, to be used correctly, or it should be changed to the simple pronoun. As this is the only problem with the sentence, "given to me" is the correct answer choice.
Example Question #1 : Correcting Pronoun Errors: Incorrect Usage
Those supplies all need to be brought directly to myself.
directly from myself.
direct to myself.
directly to myself.
directly for myself.
directly to me.
directly to me.
The only issue with the sentence is the use of the reflexive pronoun "myself" without a previous use of the first person pronoun. All reflexive pronouns need to refer back to an earlier use of the pronoun in the sentence. The solution to this issue is to change "myself" to the simple "me," making "directly to me" the correct answer choice.
Example Question #2 : Correcting Pronoun Errors: Incorrect Usage
The information needs to be reviewed by yourself before it is sent out.
reviews by yourself
reviewed by yourself
reviewed by you
reviewing by your
reviewing by yourself
reviewed by you
The use of the reflexive pronoun "yourself" is incorrect in this sentence, as it has no previous "you" to refer back to. "Yourself" needs to simply be replaced by "you," making "reviewed by you" the correct answer choice.
Example Question #41 : Correcting Usage Errors
The supplies were immediately brought to myself as soon as they were purchased.
brought to myself
being brought to myself
bringing to myself
bringing to me
brought to me
brought to me
The use of "myself" in the sentence is incorrect. "Myself" is a reflexive pronoun, meaning it needs an earlier first person pronoun to refer back to. The appropriate word in this situation is just "me," and that is the only issue with the sentence; therefore, "brought to me" is the correct answer.
Example Question #1 : Correcting Pronoun Errors: Incorrect Usage
Unlike myself, he has never gotten a speeding ticket on the highway.
Unlike myself,
Unlikely myself,
Unto like myself,
Unlike me,
Unlike I,
Unlike me,
The reflexive pronoun "myself" is absolutely incorrect in this sentence, as there is no regular first person pronoun to which it can refer. "Myself" needs to be changed to the subjective pronoun "me," making "Unlike me" the correct answer choice.
Example Question #11 : Correcting Usage Errors
Most of the time, he brings the newspaper to myself first, then passes it around the office.
to myself firstly
to myself first
to my own self first
to me first
from myself first
to me first
The use of the reflexive pronoun "myself" is absolutely wrong in this sentence, as there is no previous use of the first person pronoun for it to refer to. The pronoun must be changed to the simple first person objective form, "me." As this is the only issue in the sentence, the correct answer choice is "to me first."