GMAT Verbal : GMAT Verbal
Study concepts, example questions & explanations for GMAT Verbal
All GMAT Verbal Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #1135 : 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.
We gives gifts to the children during the holidays.
We given gifts to the children
We gives gifts to the children
We giving gifts to the children
We give gifts to the children
We gived gifts to the children
We give gifts to the children
This sentence contains an error in subject-verb agreement. Since the subject of the sentence is "we" (1st person, plural), the correct form of the word "give" is "give." Note that "given" is passive, and "gived" is not a word. The correct choice is, "We give gifts to the children."
Example Question #1136 : 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.
Each student at each of the universities were asked to complete the survey.
Each student at each of the universities were asking
Each student at each of the universities were asked
Each student at each of the universities were always asking
Each student at each of the universities were to have been asked
Each student at each of the universities was asked
Each student at each of the universities was asked
The definite pronoun "each" should be treated as singular, and its corresponding verb should be conjugated accordingly. In this case the second instance of the word "each" in the prepositional phrase "at each of the universities" creates about as much confusion as the word "universities" (plural). The only answer choice that resolved the subject / verb agreement error uses the auxiliary verb "was."
Example Question #68 : Correcting Subject Verb Agreement 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 parents buys gifts for the children each year.
The parents buying gifts
The parents buy gifts
The parents buys gifts
The parents buyed gifts
The parents buyings gifts
The parents buy gifts
This sentence uses the wrong form of the verb "buy." In the present tense, the "s" drops off of verbs when its subject is in the third person plural. The correct form is "buy." The answer is, "The parents buy gifts."
Example Question #1137 : Sentence Correction
Choose the best version of the underlined sentence. One option will remain unchanged.
At the moment, her group of schoolchildren is exceptionally well-mannered on the field trip.
At the moment, her group of schoolchildren was exceptionally well-mannered on the field trip.
At the moment, her group of schoolchildren were exceptionally well-mannered on the field trip.
At the moment, her group of schoolchildren are exceptionally well-mannered on the field trip.
At the moment, her group of schoolchildren is exceptionally well-mannered on the field.
At the moment, her group of schoolchildren is exceptionally well-mannered on the field.
Here, we need to match the agreement between the subject and the verb. 'Schoolchildren' are plural, but the true subject is the 'group of schoolchildren', which is singular. Therefore, we need a singular verb. Because of the 'at the moment' at the start of the sentence, we need to be in present tense. Therefore, we need to use the singular verb is.
Example Question #1141 : 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.
Knowledge of core concepts such as particle types, models of the atom, and chemical bonding is required for students to fully understand chemistry.
core concepts such as particle types, models of the atom, and chemical bonding are required
core concepts such as particle types, models of the atom, and chemical bonding is required
core concept such as particle types, models of the atom, and chemical bonding is required
core concepts—particle types, models of the atom, and chemical bonding—is required
core concepts such as particle types, and models of the atom, and chemical bonding is required
core concepts such as particle types, models of the atom, and chemical bonding is required
The correct answer has the correct subject-verb agreement; the subject of the sentence is "knowledge," so the verb "is" is required.
Example Question #1142 : 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.
What is unique about these category is their relation to these things that are taken on to add to a being’s natural capacities.
What is unique about those category is it's relation to those things which are taken on
What is unique about this category is it's relation to those things that are taken on
What is unique about these category is their relation to these things that are taken on
What is unique about this category is its relation to them things which are taken on
What is unique about this category is its relation to those things that are taken on
What is unique about this category is its relation to those things that are taken on
Pronouns should agree with their noun antecedents in number and case ("this" with the singular "category;" "those" with the plural and inanimate "things;" "that" with the nominative "things"). "It's," being a contraction of "it is," is not a pronoun!
Example Question #2 : Correcting Pronoun Antecedent Agreement 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.
After reviewing all of the relevant legal information, the court decided that the original agreement had been strictly between she and the family trust, legally a technicality that significantly reduced the amount she expected to receive.
the court decided that the original agreement had been strictly between her and the family trust, a legal technicality that significantly reduced the amount she expected to receive
she expected to receive a significantly reduced amount because the court decided, based on a legal technicality, that the original agreement had been strictly between her and the family trust.
a technicality that the original agreement had been strictly between she and the family, decided by the court, significantly reduced the amount she expected to receive
the court decided that the original agreement had been strictly between she and the family trust, a legal technicality that significantly reduced the amount she expected to receive
the decision of the court significantly reduced the amount that she expected to receive, being based as it was on the legal technicality that the original agreement had been strictly between her and the family trust
the court decided that the original agreement had been strictly between her and the family trust, a legal technicality that significantly reduced the amount she expected to receive
The clause at the beginning of the sentence modifies "the court," so that must be the subject of the sentence. Otherwise, the clause would be considered a dangling modifier. Additionally, the pronoun "she" is incorrectly used. Since the pronoun is functioning as the object of the preposition "between," it must be an objective-case pronoun. In order to be correct, it must be changed to "her," as in "the agreement is between her and the family trust."
Example Question #2 : Correcting Pronoun Antecedent Agreement 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.
Like supermarkets across the country, the grocery chain was seeking to offer their clientele more local and organic products to meet new consumer demands.
the grocery chain was seeking to offer their clients more local and organic products to meet new consumer demands.
the grocery chain was seeking to offer their clientele more local or organic products to meet new consumer demands.
the grocery chain was seeking to offer their clientele more local and organic products to meet new consumer demands.
the grocery chain was seeking to offer their clientele more local and organic products, to meet new consumer demands.
the grocery chain was seeking to offer its clientele more local and organic products to meet new consumer demands.
the grocery chain was seeking to offer its clientele more local and organic products to meet new consumer demands.
In the underlined portion of the sentence, "the grocery chain" is singular, but the chain's "clientele" is referred to with a plural pronoun, "their." The pronoun must be changed to the possesive singular pronoun, "its." As the only answer choice that makes this correction, "the grocery chain was seeking to offer its clientele more local and organic products to meet new consumer demands" is the correct answer choice.
Example Question #1143 : Sentence Correction
Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English.
It is explicitly stated in the employee handbook that all workers must supply his or her own steel-toed shoes.
that all workers must supply their own steel-toed shoes.
that each worker must supply they're own steel-toed shoes.
that all workers must supply one's own steel-toed shoes.
that any worker must supply their own steel-toed shoes.
that each worker must supply their own steel-toed shoes.
that all workers must supply their own steel-toed shoes.
Because "all workers" is plural, the pronoun that refers to it as its antecedent must also be plural. Thus, the correct version of the sentence is: "It is explicitly stated in the employee handbook that all workers must provide their own steel-toed shoes."
If the workers are made individual ("each worker") then the correct pronoun form would be "his or her," because the individual pronoun is required but the gender of the worker is not specified.
Example Question #1141 : Sentence Correction
Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English.
Neither the supervisor nor the employees expressed his objections to the schedule at the time it was posted.
expressed one's objections to the schedule at the time it was posted.
had expressed his objections to the schedule at the time it was posted.
expressed their objections to the schedule at the time it was posted.
expressed his or her objections to the schedule at the time it was posted.
expressed whatever objections he had at the time it was posted.
expressed their objections to the schedule at the time it was posted.
This sentence uses a correlative conjunction ("Neither . . . nor") to connect two antecedents; therefore, the pronoun must agree with the second antecedent, in this case "the employees," which is plural. Thus, the correct pronoun is "their."
All GMAT Verbal Resources
