GMAT Verbal : GMAT Verbal
Study concepts, example questions & explanations for GMAT Verbal
All GMAT Verbal Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #4 : 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. One of the answer choices reproduces the underlined portion as it is written in the sentence.
Mitchell was one of the first members of corporate to realize that employees are most productive when he or she feels to be part of a team.
feeling part of a team is made possible
it's more like a team for them
he or she feels to be part of a team
they feel as if they are part of a team
he or she feels part of a team
they feel as if they are part of a team
The pronoun refers to employees, so the pronoun should be plural rather than the singular he or she.
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. One of the answer choices reproduces the underlined portion as it is written in the sentence.
The loss of a parent at a young age can traumatize a person for the rest of your life.
for the rest of your living.
on the rest of your life.
for the rest of your life.
for the rest of yourself's life.
for the rest of his or her life.
for the rest of his or her life.
The use of "your" at the end of the sentence is confusing, as the only reference in the sentence is "a person," and the second person pronoun has no place in the sentence. Changing "your" to a third person possessive pronoun will straighten out this problem. Because we do not know whether the "person" in question is male or female, we should use the phrase "his or her." The correct answer choice, therefore, is "for the rest of his or her life."
Example Question #991 : Correcting Grammatical 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 rites of ancient Roman religion are nearly impossible to recreate centuries after it was no longer an active faith.
after it was no longer active as a faith.
after it was no longer an active faith.
after it was not an active faith.
after the faith was no longer active.
after the faith not being active.
after the faith was no longer active.
The phrase as written in the underlined portion makes an odd reference. The subject of the sentence are the "rites," and not the religion. The faith needs to be specifically referenced, as well as being fully grammatically correct; therefore, "after the faith was no longer active" is the correct answer choice.
Example Question #23 : Pronoun Antecedent Number 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.
Even though the army used every weapon at their disposal, the enemy was still able to make it into the base.
Even though the army used every weapon at their disposal
Even though the army uses every weapon at their disposal
Even though the army used every weapon at its disposal
Even if the army used every weapon at their disposal
Even though the army used every weapons at their disposal
Even though the army used every weapon at its disposal
The plural possessive pronoun "their" does not agree with its singular subject, "the army." Even though "the army" represents a group of people, it is a singular noun, and should consequently be modified by the pronoun "its."
Example Question #1161 : 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. One of the answer choices repeats the underlined portion as it is written.
The event required a large amount of planning and preparation, with the event planner being sure every group of representatives was in their correct place on the stage.
every group of representatives were in their correct place on the stage.
each group of representatives was in their correct place on the stage.
every group of representatives were in its correct place on the stage.
every group of representatives was in their correct place on the stage.
every group of representatives was in its correct place on the stage.
every group of representatives was in its correct place on the stage.
The final phrase of the sentence contains a problem with the pronoun "their" and its antecedent, "group." Because "every group" is a singular noun, it later needs to be referenced with a singular pronoun and verb, although the sentence already uses the appropriate verb form. The only answer choice which has appropriate agreement between all of the words is "every group of representatives was in its correct place on the stage."
Example Question #21 : 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.
The recent photographs of the giant squid are remarkable because they show these enormous living creatures as moving around in their natural environment, whereas previous pictures have been of only dead animals.
because they show this enormous living creature moving around in a
because these enormous living creatures are shown to be moving around in their
because they show these living creatures as moving around in their
in that they show this enormous living creature moving around in its
in that they show this most enormous of living creatures moving around in its
in that they show this enormous living creature moving around in its
Do not make the mistake of deciding to eliminate either ‘because’ or ‘in that’ – both are more or less the same, and they are not what is being tested. The main problem with the sentence is that suddenly the single squid has become a multitude. Thus you can immediately eliminate those containing "these creatures". You can also eliminate the phrase which changes the meaning and makes the squid one of the most enormous of all living creatures. Finally, we are talking about the creature in its natural environment and so the vague ‘a natural environment’ is not appropriate.
Example Question #1161 : 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 committee has decided to forward their findings to the state licensing board in the hopes that being proactive will lessen the sanctions against the corporation.
their's
their
theirs
its
it's
its
The antecedent for the pronoun is "the committee" which is singular and must be referenced by a singular pronoun. "It's" means "it is" and is thus not appropriate in this sentence.
Example Question #1162 : 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 extraction of minerals left behind much different kinds of debris and detritus, all of which took months to fully clean up.
left behind many different kinds
left behind much different kinds
left behind much differing kinds
left behind much different kind
leaving behind much different kinds
left behind many different kinds
The use of "much" in this sentence is incorrect as the word should only be used with singular nouns, and the sentence uses it to refer to "different kinds." In this situation, the appropriate word is "many." The only answer choice that uses the correct word is "left behind many different kinds."
Example Question #713 : 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.
Unlike previous efforts at changing the law, a wide range of political figures supported this new piece of legislation.
a wide ranging of political figures supported this new piece of legislation.
a wide range of political figures were supporting this new piece of legislation.
a wide range of political figures supported this new piece of legislation.
this new piece of legislation being supported from a wide range of political figures.
this new piece of legislation was supported by a wide range of political figures.
this new piece of legislation was supported by a wide range of political figures.
As it is presently written, the sentence has a lack of agreement between the introductory phrase and the antecedent word. The subject of the sentence needs to more directly link back to "previous efforts." The answer choice which most clearly makes this link is "this new piece of legislation was supported by a wide range of political figures."
Example Question #3 : Correcting Modifier Word Modified 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.
Having rammed into the tree at over one hundred miles per hour, the responsibility for the crash was placed squarely on the movie star despite his protestations.
the movie star had responsibility for the crash squarely placed on him despite his protestations.
the responsibilities for the crash was placed squarely on the movie star despite his protestation.
the responsibility for the crash placed squarely on the movie star despite his protestations.
the responsibility for the crash was placed squarely on the movie star despite his protestations.
the movie star has responsibility for the crash squarely placed on him despite his protestation.
the movie star had responsibility for the crash squarely placed on him despite his protestations.
The sentence, as it is written, contains a misplaced modifier, as the sentence reads as though "the responsibility" is what "rammed into the tree." The sentence needs to be rewritten to show that it was "the movie star" who actually "rammed into the tree." The only answer choice that does this in a grammatically correct manner is "the movie star had responsibility for the crash squarely placed on him."
All GMAT Verbal Resources
