GMAT Verbal : Recognizing Sentences That Contain No Errors

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for GMAT Verbal

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Example Questions

Example Question #181 : Correcting Other Errors And Recognizing Correct Sentences

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.

While many people find abstract art strange and confusing, Leah finds most abstract art to be calming.

Possible Answers:

While many people find abstract art strange and confusing, Leah finds most abstract art to be calming.

While many people find abstract art strange and confusing, Leah found most abstract art to be calming.

While many people find abstract art strange and confusing; Leah finds most abstract art to be calming.

Abstract art is found to be strange and confusing by many people, but Leah finds most abstract art to be calming.

While many people find abstract art strange and confusing; Leah found most abstract art to be calming.

Correct answer:

While many people find abstract art strange and confusing, Leah finds most abstract art to be calming.

Explanation:

There are no errors in this sentence. The phrase "While many people find abstract art strange and confusing" is an introductory phrase, explaining information necessary to the context of the sentence, but outside of the main sentence, grammatically. These types of phrases must be followed by a comma in order to separate them from the rest of the sentence. No additional punctuation or changes are necessary. The other sentences contain errors in voice, punctuation, and tense shift. The correct choice is, "While many people find abstract art strange and confusing, Leah finds most abstract art to be calming."

Example Question #182 : Correcting Other Errors And Recognizing Correct Sentences

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.

Macy always loved to learn new words; she often spent her free time looking up words in the dictionary.

Possible Answers:

Macy always loved to learn new words: she often spent her free time looking up words in the dictionary.

Macy always loved to learn new words; she often, spent her free time looking up words in the dictionary.

Macy always loved to learn new words, she often spent her free time looking up words in the dictionary.

Macy always loved to learn new words; she often spent her free time, looking up words in the dictionary.

Macy always loved to learn new words; she often spent her free time looking up words in the dictionary.

Correct answer:

Macy always loved to learn new words; she often spent her free time looking up words in the dictionary.

Explanation:

There are no errors in this sentence. This sentence joins two related independent clauses without the use of a coordinate conjunction; therefore, a semicolon is necessary before the word "she." No additional punctuation is needed. Note that in order to use a comma, a conjunction would need to be present, and a colon is inappropriate because, while related, the second clause does not actually clarify or explain anything about the first clause: it gives additional information. The correct choice is, "Macy always loved to learn new words; she often spent her free time looking up words in the dictionary."

Example Question #181 : Recognizing Sentences That Contain No 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.

Chess is the most popular board game in the world.

Possible Answers:

Chess is the most popular board game in the world.

Chess is the most popular board-game in the world.

Chess is the most popular board game: in the world.

Chess is the most popular board, game in the world.

Chess is the most popular board game, in the world.

Correct answer:

Chess is the most popular board game in the world.

Explanation:

There are no errors in this sentence. The sentence is a simple sentence, so no punctuation is needed. Specifically, the hyphen between "board" and "game" in one of the choices is unnecessary because it does not add any clarity to the sentence as a whole. The best choice is, "Chess is the most popular board game in the world."

Example Question #184 : Correcting Other Errors And Recognizing Correct Sentences

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.

When he sang, his voice, paired with the sweet melody of the song, brought many people to tears. 

Possible Answers:

When he sang his voice paired with the sweet melody of the song brought many people to tears. 

When he sang, his voice paired with the sweet melody of the song brought many people to tears. 

When he sang his voice, paired with the sweet melody of the song, brought many people to tears. 

When he sang, his voice, paired with the sweet melody of the song, brought many people to tears. 

When he sang, his voice paired with the sweet melody of the song, brought many people to tears. 

Correct answer:

When he sang, his voice, paired with the sweet melody of the song, brought many people to tears. 

Explanation:

There are no errors in this sentence. The phrase "When he sang" is an example of an introductory phrase, explaining information necessary to the context of the sentence, but outside of the main sentence, grammatically. These types of phrases must be followed by a comma in order to separate them from the rest of the sentence. Additionally, the phrase "paired with the sweet melody of the song" is an example of a parenthetical expression: a phrase that explains more about a particular word or phrase in the sentence, but is not introduced by a relative pronoun. These phrases must be introduced and completed with a comma in order to separate them from the main clause of the sentence. The correct choice is, "When he sang, his voice, paired with the sweet melody of the song, brought many people to tears."

Example Question #182 : Recognizing Sentences That Contain No 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.

Many people adore Nikola Tesla for his genius and personality.

Possible Answers:

 for his genius, and personality.

 for his genius and personality.

 for: his genius and personality.

 for - his genius and personality.

 for: his genius, and personality.

Correct answer:

 for his genius and personality.

Explanation:

There are no errors in this sentence. This is a simple sentence that happens to have a compound predicate (last half of the sentence). No comma is necessary before and in order to join two halves of the same clause (only use the comma when joining two independent clauses). Furthermore, it is rare to put punctuation between a preposition and its object, unless you are making an interjection within the prepositional phrase. This is not the case, so no punctuation is needed whatsoever. The correct choice is, " for his genius and personality."

Example Question #183 : Recognizing Sentences That Contain No 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.

While many people picture ancient greek statues as the colorless marble we see today, in actuality, every bit of the statures were painted.

Possible Answers:

While many people picture ancient greek statues: as the colorless marble we see today, in actuality, every bit of the statures were painted.

While many people picture ancient greek statues as the colorless marble we see today; in actuality; every bit of the statures were painted.

While many people picture ancient greek statues as the colorless marble we see today, in actuality, every bit of the statures were painted.

While many people picture ancient greek statues as the colorless marble we see today; in actuality, every bit of the statures were painted.

While many people picture ancient greek statues as the colorless marble we see today, in actuality every bit of the statures were painted.

Correct answer:

While many people picture ancient greek statues as the colorless marble we see today, in actuality, every bit of the statures were painted.

Explanation:

There are no errors in this sentence. The phrase "While many people picture ancient greek statues as the colorless marble we see today" is an example of an introductory phrase, explaining information necessary to the context of the sentence, but outside of the main sentence, grammatically. These types of phrases must be followed by a comma in order to separate them from the rest of the sentence. Furthermore, the phrase "in actuality" is an interjection or introductory phrase (to the following independent clause), which also needs to be separated from the main sentence with a comma. The correct choice is, "While many people picture ancient greek statues as the colorless marble we see today, in actuality, every bit of the statures were painted."

Example Question #184 : Recognizing Sentences That Contain No 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 most important assets a person can have when investing is time.

Possible Answers:

a person can have when investing is - time.

a person can have when, investing is time.

a person can have when investing is time.

a person can have when investing is: time.

a person can, have when investing is, time.

Correct answer:

a person can have when investing is time.

Explanation:

This sentence contains no errors. There is no need for punctuation because this is a simple sentence. Commas should not be placed between a verb and its object. The best choice is, "a person can have when investing is time."

Example Question #185 : Recognizing Sentences That Contain No 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.

Tesla is both the name of a man and a car.

Possible Answers:

Tesla is both the name of, a man and a car.

Tesla is both the name of a man and a car.

Tesla is both the name of a man, and a car.

Tesla is both: the name of a man and a car.

Tesla is both: the name of a man, and a car.

Correct answer:

Tesla is both the name of a man and a car.

Explanation:

There are no errors in this sentence. It is a simple sentence, so no punctuation is necessary. A comma is only present before conjunctions when the conjunction joins two independent clauses, which is not the case here. Additionally, commas never appear between a preposition and its object. The correct choice is, "Tesla is both the name of a man and a car."

Example Question #186 : Recognizing Sentences That Contain No 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.

Because some of the investors were not happy with the CEO's pay, they tried to force him out of the company.

Possible Answers:

not happy with the CEO's pay, they tried to force him out of the company.

not happy with the CEO's pay they tried to force him out, of the company.

not happy with the CEO's pay; they tried to force him out of the company.

not happy with the CEO's pay, they tried to force him out, of the company.

not happy with the CEO's pay: they tried to force him out of the company.

Correct answer:

not happy with the CEO's pay, they tried to force him out of the company.

Explanation:

The phrase "Because some of the investors were not happy with the CEO's pay" is an example of an introductory phrase, explaining information necessary to the context of the sentence, but outside of the main sentence, grammatically. These types of phrases must be followed by a comma in order to separate them from the rest of the sentence, as was done in the example sentence. The correct answer choice replicates the example sentence as it was written.

Example Question #187 : Recognizing Sentences That Contain No 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.

Though it requires a higher cost upfront, it is worth it to buy higher quality items over a long period of time.

Possible Answers:

cost upfront, it is worth it to buy higher quality items over a long period of time.

cost upfront - it is worth it to buy higher quality items over a long period of time.

cost upfront; it is worth it to buy higher quality items over a long period of time.

cost upfront: it is worth it to buy higher quality items over a long period of time.

cost upfront it is worth it to buy higher quality items over a long period of time.

Correct answer:

cost upfront, it is worth it to buy higher quality items over a long period of time.

Explanation:

This sentence contains no error. The phrase "Though it requires a higher cost upfront" is an example of an introductory phrase, explaining information necessary to the context of the sentence, but outside of the main sentence, grammatically. These types of phrases must be followed by a comma in order to separate them from the rest of the sentence. The correct answer choice is, "cost upfront, it is worth it to buy higher quality items over a long period of time."

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