GMAT Verbal : GMAT Verbal
Study concepts, example questions & explanations for GMAT Verbal
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Example Questions
Example Question #2 : Correcting Other 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. One of the answer choices reproduces the underlined portion as it is written in the sentence.
The night grew so cold that all the campers were shivering although a raging fire.
despite a raging fire.
even though a raging fire.
through a raging fire.
although a raging fire.
from a raging fire.
despite a raging fire.
The use of "although" in the last part of the sentence is confusing and awkward. A different preposition can more clearly indicate the fact the campers "were shivering" while a fire was "raging," which should warm them. The best answer choice to do this is "despite a raging fire."
Example Question #731 : 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. One of the answer choices repeats the underlined portion as it is written.
That author's most recent novel is based on the Civil War in Spain, but, on a deeper level, many perceive the book as a protest on Spanish social conventions.
but on a deeper level many perceive the book as a protest against Spanish social conventions.
but, on a deeper level, many perceive the book as a protest on Spanish social conventions.
but, on a deeper level, many perceive the book as a protest against Spanish social conventions.
but on a deeper level, many perceive the book as a protest on Spanish social conventions.
but, on a deeper level many perceive the book as a protest on Spanish social conventions.
but, on a deeper level, many perceive the book as a protest against Spanish social conventions.
The fragment “on a deeper level” must have a comma before and after it because it interrupts the second clause of the sentence. Also, the word “protest” must be paired with the preposition “against.”
Example Question #11 : Correcting Preposition 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.
The beach can be a fun place to visit about long weekends.
The beach is always a fun place to visit beyond long weekends.
The beach is often a fun place to visit around long weekends.
The beach is always a fun place to visit further long weekends.
The beach can be a fun place to visit about long weekends.
The beach can be a fun place to visit on long weekends.
The beach can be a fun place to visit on long weekends.
Here, the preposition "on" is most appropriate of the choices available.
Example Question #12 : Correcting Preposition 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.
Never before did the members of the class see a sight such like that.
a sight such that.
a sight such like.
a sight such like that.
a sight such as that.
sight such like that.
a sight such as that.
"Such as" and "like" are related terms, with both being used to indicate examples of things mentioned earlier in the sentence. The correct usage, however, is either "such as" or "like," with "such like" being completely incorrect. The correct answer is "a sight such as that."
Example Question #12 : Correcting Other 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.
When the CFO hired an outside consulting group to double-check the already-completed project, she was disappointed to learn that the new results were inconsistent to those presented by her team.
the new results were inconsistent with that presented by her team.
the new results were inconsistent to that presented by her team.
the new results were inconsistent to those presented by her team.
the new results were inconsistent with those presented by her team.
the new results were inconsistent from those presented by her team.
the new results were inconsistent with those presented by her team.
"Inconsistent with" is the correct adjective/preposition pair. The determiner "those" should match what it refers to in number, so "those (results)" is the appropriate choice over "that."
Example Question #506 : Correcting Word Usage Errors
Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English.
The COO strove to make her habits quite different than those of her predecessor, a change that did not go underappreciated by her subordinates.
The COO strove to make her habits quite different to those of her predecessor, a change that did not go underappreciated by her subordinates.
The COO strove to make her habits quite different than those of her predecessor; a change that did not go underappreciated by her subordinates.
The COO strove to make her habits quite different than that of her predecessor, a change that did not go underappreciated by her subordinates.
The COO strove to make her habits quite different than those of her predecessor, a change that did not go underappreciated by her subordinates.
The COO strove to make her habits quite different than her predecessor, a change that did not go underappreciated by her subordinates.
The COO strove to make her habits quite different than those of her predecessor, a change that did not go underappreciated by her subordinates.
The correct pairing is "different from;" "than" is only used with comparative adjectives such as "larger than" or "smarter than." "Different from those" is correct - the demonstrative "those" must match, in number, what it refers to - in this case, "habits."
Example Question #13 : Correcting Other Usage Errors
Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English.
The professor's ramblings were inconsistent to facts mentioned in the textbook, leaving the students confused and feeling lost.
The professor's ramblings were inconsistent from facts mentioned in the textbook, which left the students confused and feeling lost.
The professor's ramblings were inconsistent with facts mentioned in the textbook leaving the students confused and feeling lost.
The professor's ramblings were inconsistent with facts mentioned in the textbook, leaving the students confused and feeling lost.
The professor's ramblings were inconsistent to facts mentioned in the textbook, leaving the students confused and feeling lost.
The professor's ramblings were inconsistent to facts mentioned in the textbook, leaving the students confused and feeling lost.
The professor's ramblings were inconsistent with facts mentioned in the textbook, leaving the students confused and feeling lost.
The correct preposition pairing is "inconsistent with," not "inconsistent to" or "inconsistent from."
Example Question #21 : Correcting Preposition 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 rumors about the celebrity were the strangest things he ever heard of.
The rumors about the celebrity were the strangest things ever.
He heard the strangest things in rumors about the celebrity.
The rumors about the celebrity were the strangest things he ever heard of.
He heard the strangest rumors about the celebrity.
The rumors about the celebrity were the strangest things he ever heard.
He heard the strangest rumors about the celebrity.
It is incorrect to have a preposition dangling at the end of a sentence. In fact, the preposition "of" is unnecessary in this sentence. "He heard the strangest rumors about the celebrity" is the best answer because it conveys the same idea in the most clear and concise manner.
Example Question #22 : Correcting Preposition 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.
He forgot whom he should give the message to.
He forgot to who he should give the message.
He forgot whom he should give the message to.
He forgot who he should give the message to.
He forgot who he should give the message.
He forgot to whom he should give the message.
He forgot to whom he should give the message.
This sentence contains a dangling preposition. Prepositions should never be at the end of a sentence. The correct choice is, "He forgot to whom he should give the message." Even though people do not speak like this in everyday English, "to whom" is the correct phrasing (Note: the pronoun should be "whom" because it is the object of the preposition "to.")
Example Question #23 : Correcting Preposition 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.
Sandra felt she had no one to talk to.
Sandra felt she was talking to nobody.
Sandra felt she had no one to talk to.
Sandra felt she could not talk to anyone.
Sandra felt she wasn't speaking to anyone.
Sandra felt she had no one to talk.
Sandra felt she could not talk to anyone.
This sentence contains a dangling preposition. Prepositions should never end a sentence in English, so the sentence must be reworked in order to remove the mistake. Simply omitting the "to" at the end is not sufficient, however, since the sentence will not make sense once that is done. The correct choice is, "Sandra felt she could not talk to anyone" because it is the closest to the meaning of the original sentence and fixes the error.
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