GMAT Verbal : GMAT Verbal
Study concepts, example questions & explanations for GMAT Verbal
All GMAT Verbal Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #692 : 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.
Many articles are edited on Wikipedia every day.
A great number of articles are edited by a great number of people every day on Wikipedia.
People edit a great amount of articles on Wikipedia every day.
Many articles are edited on Wikipedia every day.
People edit many articles on Wikipedia every day.
An enormous amount of articles are edited on Wikipedia every day.
People edit many articles on Wikipedia every day.
This sentence contains an error in verb voice. The sentence is in the passive voice (e.g. "are edited"). In the correct choice, the subject should be in the active voice, for clarity's sake: the subject of the sentence should be doing the action. The best choice is, "People edit many articles on Wikipedia every day" because it fixes this issue and is the most concise sentence. The other choices are too wordy or redundant.
Example Question #693 : 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.
Rock is said to have evolved from African-American styles of music, like Jazz.
Rock evolved African-American styles
Rock evolved from African-American styles
Rock has evolved from African-American styles
Rock is said to have evolved from African-American styles
Rock was created from African-American styles
Rock evolved from African-American styles
This sentence contains an error in verb voice. The passive voice is used (is said). Since "Rock" is the subject of the sentence, it should do the action of the sentence. The best choice is "Rock evolved from African-American styles" since it is the most concise choice that fixes this issue. The choice "Rock evolved African-American styles" is incorrect because it changes the entire meaning of the sentence.
Example Question #694 : 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.
After only one year, the song was named "The Best Song of All Time."
the song was named the best song of all time.
the song was named "The Best Song of All Time."
people named the song the best song of all time.
the song, named "The Best Song of All Time."
people named the song "The Best Song of All Time."
people named the song "The Best Song of All Time."
This sentence contains an error in verb voice: the phrase "the song was named" is in the passive voice; active voice is usually preferred. In this case, the presence of the introductory clause "after only one year" makes a more active, concise verb voice the better choice. Rephrasing to "the people named the song" fixes this issue. Note that "the best song of all time" should be in quotes and capitalized because it is treated as an exact title given to the song. The answer is, "people named the song "The Best Song of All Time." "
Example Question #695 : 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.
Tim was reprimanded by his parents for staying out till 12 AM.
Tim was reprimanded for staying out till 12 AM.
Tim was reprimanded by his parents till 12 AM.
His parents reprimanded for staying out till 12 AM.
Tim's parents reprimanded him for staying out till 12 AM.
Tim was reprimanded by his parents for staying out till 12 AM.
Tim's parents reprimanded him for staying out till 12 AM.
This sentence contains an error in verb voice. The phrase "Tim was reprimanded" is in the passive voice; the correct choice should always be in the active voice (That is, the subject of the clause should be doing the action). The only choice that corrects this issue is, "Tim's parents reprimanded him for staying out till 12 AM."
Example Question #701 : 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.
After the storm hit, many new buildings were built instead of reconstructing the old ones.
the town built many new buildings instead of reconstructing the old ones.
the town built many new buildings instead of: reconstructing the old ones.
the town built: buildings instead of reconstructing the old ones.
many new buildings were built instead of reconstructing the old ones.
many new buildings were built instead of: reconstructing the old ones.
the town built many new buildings instead of reconstructing the old ones.
This sentence contains an error in verb voice. The phrase "buildings were built" is passive voice; the correct choice should be in the active voice (The subject of the clause should do the action). No additional changes are necessary. The choice that fixes this error is, "the town built many new buildings instead of reconstructing the old ones."
Example Question #702 : 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.
Strategy games were preferred by her and her friends.
Strategy games were preferred by her and her friends.
Strategy games were preferred by her, and her friends.
Strategy games were preferred, by her and her friends.
She and her friends preferred strategy games.
She, and her friends preferred strategy games.
She and her friends preferred strategy games.
This sentence contains an error in verb voice. The phrase "Strategy games were preferred" is in the passive voice; the correct choice in the active voice (The subject of the clause should do the action). The issue here is the friend's choice, not the strategy games themselves. It is confusing and unnecessary to make the receiver of the action the grammatical subject here. The choice that fixes this issue is, "She and her friends preferred strategy games."
Example Question #1842 : 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 repeats the underlined portion as it is written.
Horses were domesticating by humans thousands of years ago.
were domesticating
were domesticated
domesticated taking place
domestication
domesticating
were domesticated
The sentence describes what humans did to horses in the past, a fact that needs to be reflected in the verb's tense and transitivity. The correct answer must indicate that the domesticating being discussed took place in the past and was done by humans to horses, leading to "were domesticated" as the only possible answer choice.
Example Question #24 : Correcting Verb Voice 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.
His pictures were hung on the wall in order to show off the beautiful places he traveled.
His pictures were hung on the wall, in order to show off
His pictures, being hung on the wall, in order to show off
He hung his pictures on the wall in order to show off
He hung his pictures, on the wall, in order to show off
His pictures were hung on the wall in order to show off
He hung his pictures on the wall in order to show off
This sentence contains an error in verb voice. The phrase "His pictures were hung" is in the passive voice. The correct choice should always be in the active voice (i.e. the subject of the sentence should be doing the action of the main verb). No other changes are necessary. The correct choice is "He hung his pictures on the wall in order to show off."
Example Question #31 : Correcting Verb Voice 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.
Kim was praised by her teammates for scoring the winning goal at the last second.
Kim's teammates praised for scoring the winning goal at the last second.
Kim, praised by her teammates for scoring the winning goal at the last second.
Kim was praised by her teammates for scoring the winning goal at the last second.
Kim's teammates praised her for scoring the winning goal at the last second.
Kim praised her teammates for scoring the winning goal at the last second.
Kim's teammates praised her for scoring the winning goal at the last second.
This sentence contains an error in verb voice. The phrase "Kim was praised" is in the passive voice. The correct choice should always be in the active voice (the subject of the sentence should do the action of the sentence). The correct choice is, "Kim's teammates praised her for scoring the winning goal at the last second."
Example Question #32 : Correcting Verb Voice Errors
Which option best replaces the underlined sentence?
The video games are played by the programmers daily to test for bugs in the system.
The video games, played by the programmers, daily to test for bugs in the system.
The video games played by the programmers are daily to test for bugs in the system.
The video games are played by the programmers daily to test for bugs in the system.
The programmers play the video games daily, to test for bugs in the system.
The programmers play the video games daily to test for bugs in the system.
The programmers play the video games daily to test for bugs in the system.
This sentence contains an error in verb voice. The phrase "The video games are played" is in the passive voice. The correct choice should always be in the active voice (the subject of the sentence should do the action of the sentence). The correct choice is, "The programmers play the video games daily to test for bugs in the system."
All GMAT Verbal Resources
