GMAT Verbal : Correcting Other Errors and Recognizing Correct Sentences

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for GMAT Verbal

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Example Questions

Example Question #211 : 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.

Tom is exhausted after a long day of work.

Possible Answers:

Work exhausted: Tom.

Tom is exhausted after a long day of work.

Tom exhausted after a long day of work.

The long day of work and effort exhausted Tom.

Tom, exhausted after a long day of work.

Correct answer:

Tom is exhausted after a long day of work.

Explanation:

There are no errors in this sentence. This is a simple sentence and the word "exhausted" is not part of a verb (and therefore is not passive voice); it is an appositive adjective, joined to the word "Tom" by the linking verb "is." The other sentences contain errors in punctuation, are incomplete, or wordy. The correct choice is, "Tom is exhausted after a long day of work."

Example Question #212 : 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.

Every day, Martha would dance at 5 PM for one hour, and she would always end with the same song.

Possible Answers:

Martha would dance at 5 PM for one hour, and she would always end with the same song.

Martha would dance at 5 PM and she would always end with the same song.

Martha would dance at 5 PM for one hour and she would always end with the same song.

Martha would dance at 5 PM for one hour, and would always end with the same song.

Martha would dance at 5 PM for one hour; and she would always end with the same song.

Correct answer:

Martha would dance at 5 PM for one hour, and she would always end with the same song.

Explanation:

This sentence contains no errors. The phrase "every day" 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.

In the latter part of the sentence, two independent clauses are combined by the coordinate conjunction "and," so a comma is necessary. Note that omitting the word "she" makes the last clause dependent and would remove the need for the comma as a result. The correct choice is, "Martha would dance at 5 PM for one hour, and she would always end with the same song."

Example Question #212 : 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.

The people that attended the opening of the new restaurant were very pleased by the spectacular service.

Possible Answers:

The people that attended the opening of the new restaurant

The people, who attended the opening of the new restaurant

The people which attended the opening of the new restaurant

The people, that attended the opening of the new restaurant

The people, that attended the opening of the new restaurant,

Correct answer:

The people that attended the opening of the new restaurant

Explanation:

This sentence contains no errors. The use of the word "that" is completely appropriate, as along the clause following it is not separated from the main sentence with commas or other punctuation. Since this is a simple sentence, no extra punctuation is necessary whatsoever. Note that "which" is inappropriate because "people" is a human group, and "which" is reserved for non-humans. The correct choice is, "The people that attended the opening of the new restaurant"

Example Question #213 : 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.

Ronaldo affected the rankings so greatly that many thought it would be impossible for another player to catch up for years. 

Possible Answers:

Ronaldo affected the rankings so greatly that many thought

Ronaldo affected the rankings, so greatly that many thought

Ronaldo effected the rankings so greatly that many thought

Ronaldo effected the rankings: so greatly that many thought

Ronaldo affected the rankings so greatly, that many thought

Correct answer:

Ronaldo affected the rankings so greatly that many thought

Explanation:

This sentence contains no errors. The word "affect," meaning to cause a change, is used appropriately here. Furthermore, the sentence is a simple sentence and requires no additional punctuation. The correct choice is, "Ronaldo affected the rankings so greatly that many thought."

Example Question #215 : 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 Megan knew much about the stock market, she just did not have the time to do the research necessary in order to manage her investments herself. 

Possible Answers:

While Megan knew much about the stock market - she just did not have the time to do the research

While Megan knew much about the stock market, she just did not have the time to do the research

While Megan knew much about the stock market; she just did not have the time to do the research

While Megan knew much about the stock market, she just did not have the time: to do the research

While Megan knew much about the stock market she just did not have the time to do the research

Correct answer:

While Megan knew much about the stock market, she just did not have the time to do the research

Explanation:

This sentence contains no errors. The phrase "While Megan knew much about the stock market" 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 latter part of the sentence is a simple independent clause, needing no additional punctuation. The correct choice is, "While Megan knew much about the stock market, she just did not have the time to do the research."

Example Question #216 : 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.

The government brought litigation against the company with accusations of predatory practices and accused it of trying to become a monopoly.

Possible Answers:

against the company - with accusations of predatory practices and accused it of trying to become a monopoly.

against the company with accusations of predatory practices and accused it of trying to become a monopoly.

against the company with accusations of predatory practices, and accused it of trying to become a monopoly.

against the company with accusations of predatory practices: and accused it of trying to become a monopoly.

against the company, with accusations of predatory practices and accused it of trying to become a monopoly.

Correct answer:

against the company with accusations of predatory practices and accused it of trying to become a monopoly.

Explanation:

This sentence contains no errors. No comma should appear before the word "and" because "accused it of trying to become a monopoly" is not an independent clause. This sentence is simply long because of its many prepositional phrases, which do not count as separate clauses. The correct answer is, "against the company with accusations of predatory practices and accused it of trying to become a monopoly."

Example Question #217 : 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.

It was Diana's duty to order the new parts for the machine: its big, powerful engine; the small, color-coded dials; and the long conveyor belt.

Possible Answers:

new parts for the machine its big powerful engine the small color-coded dials and the long conveyor belt.

new parts for the machine its big, powerful engine; the small, color-coded dials; and the long conveyor belt.

new parts for the machine: its big, powerful engine; the small, color-coded dials; and the long conveyor belt.

new parts for the machine: its big, powerful engine, the small, color-coded dials, and the long conveyor belt.

new parts for the machine: its big, powerful engine the small, color-coded dials and the long conveyor belt.

Correct answer:

new parts for the machine: its big, powerful engine; the small, color-coded dials; and the long conveyor belt.

Explanation:

This sentence contains no errors. "Big, powerful engine," "small, color-coded dials," and "the long conveyor belt" is a list of things. Normally, all items in any sort of list/parallel words or phrases should be separated by commas, but the items in this list already have commas because of the use of coordinate adjectives like "big, powerful." Using commas to separate the items would be confusing, so it is appropriate to use semicolons to separate the items in this case. The correct choice is, "new parts for the machine: its big, powerful engine; the small, color-coded dials; and the long conveyor belt."

Example Question #214 : 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.

Howard loves to read classical books so much that he writes a newsletter about them.

Possible Answers:

books so much that, he writes a newsletter about them.

books, so much that he writes a newsletter about them.

books so much that he writes a newsletter, about them.

books so much, that he writes a newsletter about them.

books so much that he writes a newsletter about them.

Correct answer:

books so much that he writes a newsletter about them.

Explanation:

This sentence contains no errors. This is a simple sentence, so no additional punctuation is necessary. Note that the word "that," as it is used in this way does not need a comma in order to join clauses. The correct choice is: "books so much that he writes a newsletter about them."

Example Question #215 : 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.

Juliana's parents decided to buy a house by the beach in their retirement.

Possible Answers:

Juliana's parents decided to buy a house, by the beach, in their retirement.

Juliana's parents decided to buy a house by the beach, in their retirement.

Juliana's parents decided to buy a house, by the beach in their retirement.

Juliana's parents decided to buy a house by the beach in their retirement.

Juliana's parents decided to buy a house: by the beach in their retirement.

Correct answer:

Juliana's parents decided to buy a house by the beach in their retirement.

Explanation:

This sentence contains no errors. It is a complex sentence that contains prepositional phrases as subordinate clauses. No additional punctuation is necessary. The correct choice is, "Juliana's parents decided to buy a house by the beach in their retirement."

Example Question #216 : 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.

According to rumors, the phone company will be raising its rates soon.

Possible Answers:

According to rumors the phone company will be

According to rumors, the phone company will be

According to rumors the phone company would be

According to rumors; the phone company would be

According to rumors: the phone company would be

Correct answer:

According to rumors, the phone company will be

Explanation:

This sentence contains no errors. The phrase "According to rumors" 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. Note that a colon is inappropriate after this phrase, since colons should appear after an independent clause. The correct choice is, "According to rumors, the phone company will be."

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