GMAT Verbal : GMAT Verbal

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for GMAT Verbal

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Example Questions

Example Question #562 : 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.

Between you and I, we could not send you to that private high school because the tuition was so expensive.

Possible Answers:

Between you and I, we couldn’t send you to that private high school because the tuition was so expensive. 

Between you and me, we could not send you to that private high school because the tuition was so expensive. 

Between you and I, we could not send you to that private high school for the tuition was so expensive. 

Between you and I, we cannot send you to that private high school because the tuition was so expensive. 

Between you and I, we could not send you to that private high school because the tuition was so expensive.

Correct answer:

Between you and me, we could not send you to that private high school because the tuition was so expensive. 

Explanation:

After the preposition "between," one uses the objects pronouns "you" and "me."

Example Question #641 : 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 reproduces the underlined portion as it is written in the sentence.

Me and the general always took a stroll in the morning.

Possible Answers:

The general and me

Me and the general

I and the general

The general, I

The general and I

Correct answer:

The general and I

Explanation:

The underlined portion is an incorrect usage of "me." A good rule of thumb, and the best way to find the answer, is to see which pronoun is appropriate alone, "me" or "I." "The general and I" is the correct answer.

Example Question #564 : 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.

She and him do not dance under any circumstances.

Possible Answers:

She and he do not

She and him do not

They do not

She and him does not

They does not

Correct answer:

They do not

Explanation:

Using "she and him" is always incorrect, as "she" is a subject and "him" is an object. The best way to fix this is to use "they" and its correct verb usage, "do not."

Example Question #42 : Correcting Pronoun Errors: Case

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.

Me and my best friend always went down to the river on Saturdays in the summer.

Possible Answers:

Me and my best friend

My best friend and I

I and my best friend

My best friend and me

My best friend and us

Correct answer:

My best friend and I

Explanation:

The use of "me" as a subject in a sentence is always incorrect. As a subject, "I" is the correct first person singular pronoun, and should always be the final subject when more than one is mentioned; therefore, "My best friend and I" is the correct answer choice.

Example Question #51 : Correcting Pronoun Errors: Case

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.

Our dad's detailed lectures were rarely understood by my brother and I.

Possible Answers:

by me and my brother.

by my brother and myself.

by my brother and I.

by I and my brother.

for my brother and I.

Correct answer:

by me and my brother.

Explanation:

The key issue in the underlined portion of the sentence is the use of the first person pronoun, "I." "I" is the subjective form, but is used as an object in the sentence. Thus, it needs to be changed to the object form "me," making "for me and my brother" the correct answer choice.

Example Question #1791 : Sat Writing

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 negotiations were specifically targeted to attack he and I.

Possible Answers:

to attack he and me.

to attack me and him.

for attacking he and I.

to attack he and I.

to attack him and I.

Correct answer:

to attack me and him.

Explanation:

The use of both "he" and "I" is absolutely incorrect, as both pronouns are subjective pronouns that should only be used as the subject of the sentence. Both pronouns should be changed to the objective forms. Therefore, the correct answer choice is "to attack me and him."

Example Question #44 : Correcting Pronoun Errors: Case

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.

For he and I, the most important issue is the debate over voting rights.

Possible Answers:

For he and I,

For he and me,

For I and he,

For him and I,

For me and him,

Correct answer:

For me and him,

Explanation:

The underlined introductory phrase features two subjective pronouns, "he" and "I," but an introductory phrase does not contain the subject of the sentence. Both pronouns need to be changed to the appropriate objective pronouns, making "For me and him" the correct answer choice.

Example Question #201 : Correcting Pronoun 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.

Raymond and me were asked to review the proposal before the investors' meeting.

Possible Answers:

Raymond was asked to review the proposal before the investors' meeting.

Raymond and I were asked to review the proposal before the investors' meeting.

I and Raymond were asked to review the proposal before the investors' meeting.

Raymond and me were asked to review the proposal prior to the investors' meeting.

Me and Raymond were asked to review the proposal before the investors' meeting.

Correct answer:

Raymond and I were asked to review the proposal before the investors' meeting.

Explanation:

The example sentence features a pronoun case error. In the example sentence, the objective case is used incorrectly. (The objective case is used when pronouns are objects of verbs or objects of prepositions.) The example sentence is best rewritten using the subjective case (which is used when the pronoun as a subject).

A quick test of the pronoun case is to rephrase the sentence using the pronoun as subject. You would not, for instance, say "Me was asked to review the proposal." The best version of the sentence is "Raymond and I were asked to review the proposal before the investors' meeting."

Example Question #651 : 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.

I have no clear idea who I am speaking to.

Possible Answers:

I have no clear idea who right now I am speaking to.

I have no clear idea to whom I am speaking with.

I have no clear idea to whom I am speaking.

I have no clear idea to what I am speaking with.

I have no clear idea whom I am speaking to.

Correct answer:

I have no clear idea to whom I am speaking.

Explanation:

The example sentence features a very common error of pronoun case, which leads the sentence to incorrectly conclude with a preposition. Rather than using the subjective-case "who" in saying "who I am speaking to," it is correct to use the objective-case "whom." The correct version of the sentence reads, "I have no clear idea to whom I am speaking."

Example Question #652 : 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 reproduces the underlined portion as it is written in the sentence.

She said that she was going to choose whomever was the first person to submit his or her resume.

Possible Answers:

She said that she was going to choose whoever; she wanted the first person to submit his or her resume.

She said that she was going to choose whoever submitted his or her resume first.

She said that she was going to choose whoever was the first person to submit his or her resume.

She said that she was going to choose whomever was the first person to submit his or her resume.

She said that she was going to choose whomever, the first person to submit their resume.

Correct answer:

She said that she was going to choose whoever was the first person to submit his or her resume.

Explanation:

When trying to determine whether to use who or whom, you can use the following rule: try to substitute “he/him” or “she/her.” If either “he” or “she” sounds correct when substituted, then you need the subjective case of the pronoun, "who," because "he" and "she" are subjective case pronouns. If an objective case pronoun ("him" or "her") sounds correct, you need the objective case pronoun "whom."

It may still seem tricky to determine which pronoun is needed here, as in the sentence as a whole, the pronoun in question appears to be the object of the verb "to choose," but it is the subject of the clause "whoever was the first person to submit his or her resume." In cases such as these, the pronoun case is determined by the role it plays in the clause, not in the entire sentence. This means that in this case, we need "whoever," as the pronoun is the subject of the clause "whoever was the first person to submit his or her resume."

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