GMAT Verbal : GMAT Verbal
Study concepts, example questions & explanations for GMAT Verbal
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Example Questions
Example Question #3 : Correcting Conventional And Idiomatic 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.
For all intensive purposes, the new plan was essentially the same as the old plan, but with a much tighter time frame in which to accomplish everything.
For all intensive purposes, the new plan being essentially the same
For all intents and purposes, the new plan was essentially the same
For all intensive purposes, the new plan was effectively the same
For all intensive purposes, the new plan was essentially the same thing
For all intensive purposes, the new plan was essentially the same
For all intents and purposes, the new plan was essentially the same
The use of the phrase "for all intensive purposes," as it is in this sentence, is incorrect. The idiom is actually "for all intents and purposes," which indicates that every element was considered. "For all intents and purposes, the new plan was essentially the same," is the correct answer choice as it is the only one that uses the correct idiom.
Example Question #4 : Correcting Conventional And Idiomatic 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.
In the back corner of the building stood a lone chair, that was said to be a memorial for the property’s original owner who died tragically before the mansion was fully completed.
a lone chair, which was saying
a lone chair, that was said
a lone chair that was said
a lone chair, which had been said
a lone chair which was said
a lone chair that was said
The use of "which" in the underlined portion of the sentence is incorrect, as it introduces information crucial to the sentence. "Which" is used to introduce non-restrictive clauses, which provide additional but non-essential information in a sentence, and "that" is used to introduce restrictive clauses, which contain information information essential to the sentence. "Which" should be preceded by a comma. In this sentence, the comma that precedes "that" is extraneous and incorrect. As the only answer choice that makes this change, "a lone chair that was said" is the correct answer choice.
Example Question #5 : Correcting Conventional And Idiomatic Usage Errors
She is as yet regarded as being the best pirate on the seven seas.
What option best replaces the underlined portion of the sentence?
She is as yet regarded as being
She is yet regarded as being
As yet, she is regarded as being
She is as yet regarded as
As yet, she is regarded as
As yet, she is regarded as
"As yet" or "as of yet" can almost always be replaced by "yet." The only exception is when it comes at the beginning of the sentence, where it means the same thing as "so far." "Regarded as being" is a common grammar mistake. It should instead be "regarded as."
Example Question #5 : Correcting Conventional And Idiomatic 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.
The snob woman looked down on the slovenly young man, who always dressed in a disheveled manner.
The snob woman looked down on the slovenly young man
The snobby woman looked down on the slovenly young man
The snob woman looks down on the slovenly young man
The snob woman looked down to the slovenly young man
The snob woman looking down on the slovenly young man
The snobby woman looked down on the slovenly young man
The use of "snob" as an adjective in this sentence is incorrect, as "snob" is a noun and cannot properly modify "woman." The word needs to be changed to an adjectival form. "The snobby woman looked down on the slovenly young man" is the only answer choice to appropriately use an adjective.
Example Question #916 : Psat Writing Skills
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.
I learned a lot from the woman that I talked to.
I learned a lot from the woman that I talked to.
I learned a lot from the woman whom I talked to.
I learned a lot from the woman to whom I talked.
I learned a lot from the woman who I talked to.
I would learn a lot from the woman that I had talked to.
I learned a lot from the woman to whom I talked.
We do not end a sentence with a preposition. Also, we use the pronoun "whom" when a person is the object of the verb. Here, the woman is the object of the verb "talked".
Example Question #521 : 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. One of the answer choices reproduces the underlined portion as it is written in the sentence.
No matter how hard I concentrated on the question, the solution to it kept alluding me.
alluding me was the solution to it.
the solution to it kept alluding me.
the solution was keeping allusive.
the solution to it kept eluding me.
the solution was kept elusive.
the solution to it kept eluding me.
This question deals with incorrect word choice. The correct word is elude, which means to stay out of reach. Allude means to indirectly refer to something.
Example Question #491 : 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. One of the answer choices reproduces the underlined portion as it is written in the sentence.
The rain has a big affect on his mood.
The rain affects his mood.
The rain has a big effect on his mood.
On his mood, the rain is largely effecting.
His mood has a big affect on the rain.
(No changes to original.)
The rain has a big effect on his mood.
Here, we need the noun “effect,” not the verb “affect.”
Example Question #34 : 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.
Many New Yorkers had no choice but to evacuate the area because of the imminent danger of the approaching snow storm.
because of the imminent danger of the approaching snow storm.
because of the eminent danger of the approaching snow storm.
because of the eminent danger from the approaching snowstorm.
because of the imminent danger of the approaching snowstorm.
because of the imminent danger from the approaching snow storm.
because of the imminent danger of the approaching snowstorm.
“Imminent” means threatening or looming, while “eminent” means well-known or famous. Also, “snowstorm” is a compound word (two words put together).
Example Question #32 : Conventional And Idiomatic 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 car was determined to be the one which was used in the robbery.
the one which was used in the robbery
that which was used in the robbery.
the one having been used in the robbery.
that was used in the robbery.
which was used in the robbery.
the one which was used in the robbery
While the underlined phrase is a bit convoluted, the phrase is fully grammatically correct. Either "that" or "which" would be appropriate in the sentence, but using both or futher modifying the phrase makes it confusing and unclear.
Example Question #31 : Correcting Other Usage Errors
The two campaigns became certain the election was so close election night would not feature a definite result.
was close
was so close that
was too close
was so close
was closely
was so close that
The key problem with the sentence is that the portion after the underlined part has to be introduced by a pronoun introducing the relative clause "election night would not feature a definite result." "Was so close that" is the only choice among the answers featuring such a word.
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