GMAT Verbal : Correcting Verb Mood Errors
Study concepts, example questions & explanations for GMAT Verbal
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Example Questions
Example Question #221 : 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.
Were you to have chosen that restaurant, we would have to dress up.
Were you to chose
Were you to have chosen
Was you to choose
Were you to choose
Was you to chose
Were you to choose
This sentence is an example of the present subjunctive, which is most commonly used in English to express hypothetical situations, wishes, and desires. The correct long form of the sentence is “if you were to choose that restaurant,” and “were you to choose that restaurant” is simply an inversion and shortening of the long form. (“Were you to have chosen that restaurant” is the past subjunctive, which doesn’t match the future conditional form of the second half of the sentence.)
Example Question #11 : Correcting Verb Mood 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.
Touching on subjects like greed and corruption in Chilean politics and delivering a scathing condemnation of neo-liberalism, the novel will tell of one bureaucrat ’s attempts to take down Chile’s dictatorial regime.
the novel shall tell
there will be a novel telling
it is a novel that tells
it will be a novel that tells
the novel will tell
the novel will tell
The choices that include the pronoun "it" are clearly wrong because there is no noun preceding the word "it" that can be referenced. This question involves a dangling modifier. What is touching on those subjects? The novel. The novel should therefore come after the comma. Eliminate answers that do not have this structure. "Shall" is not usually used in the third person. It is usually used in the first person. It is used to make suggestions or to give offers of help. For example, "shall we go the beach" and "shall I help you with those bags". The sentence is correct as written.
Example Question #12 : Correcting Verb Mood 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 con artist evaded detection for years by conducting himself as though he were a registered clinical practitioner.
as if he was a clinical practitioner with registration.
like as if he was a registered clinical practitioner.
like he was a registered clinical practitioner.
as though he were a registered clinical practitioner.
as though he was a registered clinical practitioner.
as though he were a registered clinical practitioner.
The sentence is correct because we change "was" to "were" following a noun in situations in which the statement communicates something contrary to fact or highly unlikely.
Example Question #13 : Correcting Verb Mood 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.
Touching on subjects like corruption in Brazilian politics and delivering a scathing condemnation of globalization and liberalism, the book must tell of one politician’s failed attempt to take down a corrupt system.
it is a book that tells
the book shall tell
there will be a book telling
it will be a book that tells
the book will tell
the book will tell
The choices that include the pronoun "it" are clearly wrong because there is no noun preceding the word "it" that can be referenced. This question involves a dangling modifier. What is touching on those subjects? The book. The book should therefore come after the comma. Eliminate answers that do not have this structure. "Must" is clearly awkward. "Shall" is not usually used in the third person. It is usually used in the first person. It is used to make suggestions or to give offers of help, for example, "shall we go to the beach" and "shall I help you with those bags". The correct choice implements the simple structure "the book will tell".
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