GMAT Verbal : GMAT Verbal

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for GMAT Verbal

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Example Questions

Example Question #13 : Correcting Errors Involving Commonly Confused Words

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 marketers intended to peek everyone's interest with their new viral ad campaign. 

Possible Answers:

The marketers intended to pique everyone's interest with their new viral ad campaign. 

The marketers intended to peak everyone's interest with their new viral ad campaign. 

The marketers intended to peek everyone's interest; with their new viral ad campaign. 

The marketers intended to pique everyone's interest; with their new viral ad campaign. 

The marketers intended to peek everyone's interest with their new viral ad campaign. 

Correct answer:

The marketers intended to pique everyone's interest with their new viral ad campaign. 

Explanation:

This sentence misuses the word "peek," which means "to glance at." The meaning in this sentence is to excite, which is the meaning of the word "pique." The correct choice is, "The marketers intended to pique everyone's interest with their new viral ad campaign" since all other punctuation and usage are correct.

Example Question #14 : Correcting Errors Involving Commonly Confused Words

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.

It was hard to perceive exactly what the object was, even though it was stationery.

Possible Answers:

even though it was staticy.

even though it was unfixed.

even though it was stationery.

even though it was stationed.

even though it was stationary.

Correct answer:

even though it was stationary.

Explanation:

The word "stationery" refers to office supplies. Do not confuse this with "stationary," which means "something that is still." The meaning in this sentence refers to the latter meaning, so the correct choice is, "even though it was stationary."

Example Question #15 : Correcting Errors Involving Commonly Confused Words

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.

Despite all her pleas, the council thought that it was mute to continue debating the proposed changes. 

Possible Answers:

her please, the council thought that it was moot to continue debating the proposed changes. 

her pleas, the council thought that it was moot to continue debating the proposed changes. 

her please, the council thought that it was mute to continue debating the proposed changes. 

her pleas, the council thought that it was resolved to continue debating the proposed changes. 

her pleas, the council thought that it was proven to continue debating the proposed changes. 

Correct answer:

her pleas, the council thought that it was moot to continue debating the proposed changes. 

Explanation:

The above sentence misused the word "mute." It is clear that whatever word should go there means something along the lines of "pointless," due to the presence of words like "despite" which indicate that something (the debates) is no longer happening. The correct word here is "moot," which means pointless or impractical. The other choices are antonyms of "moot." The correct choice is: "her pleas, the council thought that it was moot to continue debating the proposed changes."

Example Question #16 : Correcting Errors Involving Commonly Confused Words

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.

It is important to turn in you're homework every day. 

Possible Answers:

to turn in you're homework every day.

to turn in your homework every day.

to turn in you're homework, every day.

to turn in: you're homework every day.

to turn: in your homework every day.

Correct answer:

to turn in your homework every day.

Explanation:

This sentence misuses the word "you're." This word is a contraction for "you are," when the possessive form is meant here. The correct word is "your." No additional punctuation or changes is needed, so the correct choice is, "to turn in your homework every day."

Example Question #1021 : Sentence Correction

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.

There house was huge, compared to the other houses in the neighborhood.

Possible Answers:

The huge house compared the other houses in the neighborhood.

They're house was huge, compared to the other houses in the neighborhood.

There house was huge compared to the other houses in the neighborhood.

Their house was huge, compared to the other houses in the neighborhood.

Their house was huge compared to the other houses in the neighborhood.

Correct answer:

Their house was huge, compared to the other houses in the neighborhood.

Explanation:

This sentence misuses the word "there." The possessive form is meant in this sentence, which is "their." The correct answer is, "Their house was huge, compared to the other houses in the neighborhood." No other punctuation or changes is necessary (The comma should appear after "huge" since it separates the dependent clause from the main sentence).

Example Question #1022 : Sentence Correction

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 projects earned them they're peer's respect.

Possible Answers:

The projects earned them the respect of they're peers.

They earned they're peer's respect with the projects.

The projects earned them there peer's respect.

They earned there peer's respect with the projects.

The projects earned them their peer's respect.

Correct answer:

The projects earned them their peer's respect.

Explanation:

This sentence misuses the word "they're," which is a contraction for "they are." The word is clearly meant to be possessive, which would be "their." The correct answer is, "The projects earned them their peer's respect." Everything else in the sentence is correct. 

Example Question #1021 : Sentence Correction

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 owner of the store wished to conversate with his employees.

Possible Answers:

wished to conversates

was wanting to converse

desired to have a conversation

wished to conversate

wished to converse

Correct answer:

wished to converse

Explanation:

"Conversate" is not an actual word. The proper word is "converse." While the phrases "desired to have a conversation" and "was wanting to converse" are grammatically correct, these choices are less concise than the option "wished to converse." The correct choice is, "wished to converse."

Example Question #1024 : Sentence Correction

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 affect of the company's recent downsizing was a decrease in employee morale. 

Possible Answers:

The affect of the company's recent downsizing,

The effect of the company's recent downsizing

The affect of the company's recent downsizing

The effect of the company's recent downsizing,

The effect of the companies recent downsizing

Correct answer:

The effect of the company's recent downsizing

Explanation:

This sentence misuses the word "affect." The word "affect" is a verb, meaning to cause something to happen. What is meant in this sentence, however, is the noun a result of an action, which is spelled "effect." No additional punctuation is necessary. The correct choice is, "The effect of the company's recent downsizing."

Example Question #1025 : Sentence Correction

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.

Once Kelly saw her brother's presents, she wanted presents to.

Possible Answers:

she wanted presents too.

she wants presents to.

she wants presents too.

she wanted presents two.

she wanted presents to.

Correct answer:

she wanted presents too.

Explanation:

This sentence misuses the word "to." The correct word, meaning in addition to, is "too." "To" with one "o" means towards/for and "two" is a numerical value. Note that the correct verb is "wanted" since the verb used prior to this one in the sentence was "saw," which is in the perfect past tense. "Wanted" is appropriate in order to maintain consistency in tense. The correct choice is, "she wanted presents too."

Example Question #1026 : Sentence Correction

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.

Once Helena lead the kids to their classes, she returned to her office.

Possible Answers:

lead the kids to their classes

leads the kids to their classes

lead the kids to his or her classes

led the kids to his or her classes

led the kids to their classes

Correct answer:

led the kids to their classes

Explanation:

This sentence misuses the word "lead." The word "lead" is present tense, but the context of this sentence indicates that the action has already happened from our perspective and should be in the past tense. The past tense of this word is "led." Furthermore, "his or her" is imprecise; "their" is more appropriate for the sentence because the word "kids" is plural. The correct choice is, "led the kids to their classes."

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