GMAT Verbal : GMAT Verbal
Study concepts, example questions & explanations for GMAT Verbal
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Example Questions
Example Question #6 : Correcting Punctuation Errors
It was once generally believed that the controversy over radical Averroism had died out in Paris by the time of Thomas's second residency, and, in many circles, this interpretation still dominates; however, more recent examination of the relationship between the writings of the Averroists and the Quodlibetal Questions of Aquinas suggest that Averroism still had at least a vocal foothold in Paris at that time.
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.
second residency; and, in many circles, this interpretation still dominates; however, more recent examination
second residency, and, in many circles, this interpretation still dominates, however, more recent examination
second residency, and, in many circles, this interpretation still dominates: however, more recent examination
second residency; and, in many circles, this interpretation still dominates, however, more recent examination
second residency, and, in many circles, this interpretation still dominates; however, more recent examination
second residency, and, in many circles, this interpretation still dominates; however, more recent examination
In the sentence as it is written, the semicolon is used to join two thematically related independent clauses into a single sentence. Only one is needed—placed before the conjunction "however," which introduces the second independent clause. Multiple semicolons in a single sentence are generally rare in standard written English when joining independent clauses, and they are usually discouraged.
Example Question #1 : Correcting Semicolon 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 new style was loathsome to older designers; but they all knew the importance of the innovations made by younger stylists.
The new style was loathsome to older designers; but they all knew the importance of the innovations made by younger stylists.
The new style was loathsome to older designers, but they all knew the importance of the innovations made by younger stylists.
The new style was loathsome to older designers, they all knew the importance of the innovations made by younger stylists.
The new style was loathsome to older designers; and they all knew the importance of the innovations made by younger stylists.
The new style was loathsome to older designers so they all knew the importance of the innovations made by younger stylists.
The new style was loathsome to older designers, but they all knew the importance of the innovations made by younger stylists.
A compound sentence, like the one written in this question, must have its two independent clauses joined by either a semicolon or a conjunction and a comma. Using a semicolon and a conjunction, like written in the sentence, is never correct, and the semicolon should be replaced by a comma, as done in "The new style was loathsome to older designers, but they all knew the importance of the innovations from younder stylists."
Example Question #1 : Correcting Semicolon 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.
Drawing the opposing team into an attacking formation; the coach felt he knew exactly what he wanted to do.
Drawing the opposing team into an attacking formation; the coach felt he knew exactly what he wants to do.
Drawing the opposing team into an attacking formation; the coach feels he knew exactly what he wanted to do.
Drawn the opposing team into an attacking formation; the coach felt he knew exactly what he wanted to do.
Drawing the opposing team into an attacking formation, the coach felt he knew exactly what he wanted to do.
Drawing the opposing team into an attacking formation; the coach felt he knew exactly what he wanted to do.
Drawing the opposing team into an attacking formation, the coach felt he knew exactly what he wanted to do.
Although the sentence is written as compound sentence joined by a semicolon, the first portion, "Drawing the opposing team into an attacking formation," is actually an introductory clause. As such, the clause should be set apart from the rest of the sentence by a comma. Therefore, the correct answer choice is "Drawing the opposing team into an attacking formation, the coach felt he knew exactly what he wanted to do."
Example Question #2 : Correcting Semicolon 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.
I talked to Jenny this morning; who said that it was too cold to go swimming.
morning; who
morning. Who
morning, who
morning—who
morning: who
morning, who
A comma should separate the two clauses of the sentence; the second clause is a dependent clause, and cannot stand alone as its own sentence.
Example Question #1 : Correcting Semicolon 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.
Because my aunt lives far away; I do not see her very often.
Because my aunt lives far away. I do not see her very often.
Because my aunt lives far away, I do not see her very often.
Although my aunt lives far away; I do not see her very often.
Because my aunt lives far away; I do not see her very often.
Because my aunt lives farthest away; I do not see her very often.
Because my aunt lives far away, I do not see her very often.
The two clauses need to be separated by a comma.
Example Question #2 : Correcting Punctuation 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.
There are three colors in a typical traffic light; red, green, and yellow.
traffic light, those being red, green, and yellow.
traffic light, red, green, and yellow.
traffic light: red and green and yellow.
traffic light. Red, green, and yellow.
traffic light: red, green, and yellow.
traffic light: red, green, and yellow.
A semicolon should only ever be used to seperate two parts of a sentence that could each stand as independent clauses on their own. If you can't take the two parts of the sentence on either side of the semicolon and make them into their own sentences, then you should use something different. In this case, "red, green, and yellow" does not make sense as a sentence on its own, so a semicolon should not be used. A colon makes more sense because a list is being introduced, and colons are often used to introduce lists.
Example Question #3 : Correcting Punctuation 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 new plan had made a small difference; reducing costs and expenditures somehat over the last year.
The new plan had made a small difference reducing costs and expenditures somehat over the last year.
The new plan had made a small difference, reducing costs and expenditures somehat over the last year.
The new plan had made a small difference; reduce costs and expenditures somehat over the last year.
The new plan made a small difference; for reducing costs and expenditures somehat over the last year.
The new plan had made a small difference; reducing costs and expenditures somehat over the last year.
The new plan had made a small difference, reducing costs and expenditures somehat over the last year.
The use of the semicolon in the sentence is incorrect, as a semicolon needs to separate two independent clauses in a compound sentences, instead of separating a dependent clause from the main part of the sentence it is reliant on. The sentence needs to feature a comma separating the two parts, making the correct answer "The new plan had made a small difference, reducing costs and expenditures somehat over the last year."
Example Question #2 : Correcting Semicolon 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 scientist conducted her experiment in the tropical forest; instead of in the desert where the lizard population was flourishing.
forest; instead
the lizard population
desert where
No error
was flourishing
forest; instead
A semi-colon, or a colon, is used to connect two complete sentences: here the second sentence is a fragment.
Example Question #3 : Correcting Semicolon 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.
Leading the Transcendentalist movement, Ralph Waldo Emerson championed individualism; and spoke against slavery.
Leading the Transcendentalist movement, Ralph Waldo Emerson championed individualism, and spoke against slavery.
Leading the Transcendentalist movement; Ralph Waldo Emerson championed individualism and spoke against slavery.
Leading the Transcendentalist movement, Ralph Waldo Emerson championed individualism; and spoke against slavery.
Leading the Transcendentalist movement, Ralph Waldo Emerson championed individualism and spoke against slavery.
Leading the Transcendentalist movement; Ralph Waldo Emerson championed individualism, and spoke against slavery.
Leading the Transcendentalist movement, Ralph Waldo Emerson championed individualism and spoke against slavery.
A semi-colon separates two independent clauses. No punctuation between "individualism" and "and" is necessary.
Example Question #4 : Correcting Punctuation 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.
Pensions are a complicated financial problem for many municipalities; but many cities have made changes to their pension programs in recent years.
Pensions are a complicated financial problem for many municipalities; but many cities have made changes to their pension programs in recent years.
Pensions are a complicated financial problem for many municipalities; and many cities have made changes to their pension programs in recent years.
Pensions are a complicated financial problem for many municipalities, but many cities have made changes to their pension programs in recent years.
Pensions are a complicated financial problem for many municipalities so many cities have made changes to their pension programs in recent years.
Pensions are a complicated financial problem for many municipalities but many cities have made changes to their pension programs in recent years.
Pensions are a complicated financial problem for many municipalities, but many cities have made changes to their pension programs in recent years.
The sentence as written as a complex sentence, and it joins its two parts with a semicolon and the conjunction "but;" however, a compound sentence needs to be joined either by just a semicolon or a conjunction and comma, but not a semicolon and a conjunctionl; therefore the correct answer choice is "Pensions are a complicated financial problem for many municipalities, but many cities have made changes to their pension programs in recent years."
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