GMAT Verbal : Correcting Verb Errors
Study concepts, example questions & explanations for GMAT Verbal
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Example Questions
Example Question #4 : Correcting Verb Tense 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.
Very few politicians are willing to make a promise to eliminate social safety net programs, which made the congressman a rarity in Washington.
which having made the congressman a rarity in Washington.
which making the congressman a rarity in Washington.
which makes the congressman a rarity in Washington.
which had made the congressman a rarity in Washington.
which made the congressman a rarity in Washington.
which makes the congressman a rarity in Washington.
The underlined portion of the sentence uses a past tense verb, "made," even though the previous, non-underlined portion of the sentence uses the present tense form "are." The underlined portion needs to be changed so that the two verbs in the sentence agree. The only answer choice which correctly changes the verb is "which makes the congressman a rarity in Washington."
Example Question #5 : Correcting Verb Tense 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.
Finding new evidence in unpublished journals, the historian produced research that greatly reshaped the way the academy thinking about the Civil War.
the way the academy thinks about the Civil War.
the way the academy will be thinking about the Civil War.
the way the academy thinking about the Civil War.
the way the academy can think about the Civil War.
the way the academy was thinking about the Civil War.
the way the academy thinks about the Civil War.
The use of the gerundive "thinking" is incorrect, as it means there is no verb, as a gerund is a verb form that functions as a noun. While all of the answer choices change the verb, the best change is to make it a simple present tense verb. The only answer choice which makes this change is "the way the academy thinks about the Civil War."
Example Question #6 : Correcting Verb Tense 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 students grew increasingly confused by the professor's lecture, which is covering material that the students were completely unfamiliar with from their readings.
which will cover material that the students
which is covering material for the students
which is covering material that the students
which covered material that the students
that is covering material which the students
which covered material that the students
The underlined portion of the sentence uses the present participle verb form "is covering" incorrectly, as the first part of the sentence clearly shows the lecture as taking place in the past. The verb needs to be changed to a past tense form to match "grew" and "confused" from the earlier part of the sentence. The only answer choice that makes this change, "which covered material that the students," is the correct answer choice.
Example Question #7 : Correcting Verb Tense Errors
Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English.
Boswell described his conversations with Dr. Johnson and writes that Johnson's wit was unparalleled.
Dr. Johnson and says that
Dr. Johnson: claiming that
Dr. Johnson and wrote that
Dr. Johnson and asserts that
Dr. Johnson and has written
Dr. Johnson and wrote that
The example sentence features a verb tense error. Since "described" is in the past tense and the writing Boswell did about Johnson contains descriptions of Johnson, the verb "writing" should agree with the tense of "described." Replacing the underlined section with "and wrote that" is the correct answer.
While "asserts" and "says" are both potentially correct verbs to insert, those options were in the present tense, and thus would be incorrect in this context.
The phrase "and has written" would need to be a separate clause, and would require a comma preceding it to be correct.
Example Question #271 : Correcting Word Usage 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.
Working closely with the leaders of a wide range of businesses, the organization provides opportunities that are not open to young entrepreneurs in previous decades.
the organization provides opportunities that are not open
the organization provides opportunities that can not open
the organization provides opportunities that have not open
the organization provides opportunities that were not open
the organization provides opportunities that is not open
the organization provides opportunities that were not open
The phrasing of the sentence ("in previous decades") indicates that these were past "opportunities" that are presently available. This means that the present tense verb "are" in the underlined portion of the sentence needs to be changed to a past tense verb. Only one answer choice makes this change, "the organization provides opportunities that were not open," making it the correct answer choice.
Example Question #1 : Correcting Verb Tense Errors
In a prolonged effort to curb abuses, the governments reduce the amount in bonuses for arrests.
the governments reduced
the governments reduce
the governments to reduce
the governments reduces
the governments reduction
the governments reduced
The opening clause of the sentence notes a "prolonged effort," which indicates the government action has taken place over a long time period. The proper verb will either be in the past tense or show a long amount of time. "The governments reduced" is the best choice among the answers.
Example Question #1 : Correcting Verb Tense Errors
Celebrations begun in the school after it was announced they had won the championship.
began in the school
begin the school
began the school
begun in the school
begun by the school
began in the school
The underlined section of the sentence contains both a verb and a preposition, but the only issue lies in the present tense verb. The use of time in the sentence, "after they found out," indicates the celebrations took place in the past. "Began in the school," is the correct answer choice.
Example Question #391 : Word Usage Errors
Something strange occurs every night of the trip, which spooked the entire family.
Something strange occurred every night of the trip,
Something strange occurs every night of the trip,
Something strange occurs every nights of the trip,
Somethings strange occurs every night of the trip,
Something strange occurring every night of the trip,
Something strange occurred every night of the trip,
The sentence contains two complete thoughts, separated by the conjunction "which." This means the two verbs in each phrase need to have the same tense. As "spooked" is in the past tense, "Something strange occurred every night of the trip," is the correct answer.
Example Question #932 : Gmat Verbal
Politics has gains such a nasty tone in recent years that it has turned off many voters.
has gains a nasty tone
has gains such nasty tone
gains such a nasty tone
has gained such a nasty tone
has gains such a nasty tone
has gained such a nasty tone
The underlined phrase needs to be parallel to the later verb usage of "has turned off" later in the sentence. The underlined phrase then needs to similarly be in the past perfect tense. "Has gained such a nasty tone" is the correct answer.
Example Question #1 : Correcting Verb Tense Errors
All of the people know the costs of done business with the corrupt shopkeeper.
do business
doing business
business doing
does business
done business
doing business
The underlined phrase does not appropriately parallel the earlier verb use of "know" in the sentence. Thus, the correct answer choice needs to make the verb form into a present tense verb. "Doing business" is the best choice among the answers.
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