GMAT Verbal : Correcting Phrase, Clause, and Sentence Errors
Study concepts, example questions & explanations for GMAT Verbal
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Example Questions
Example Question #107 : Correcting Parallel Structure 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.
Elsa not only needed help with her homework, but also I helped with her social skills in general.
Elsa needed help with not only her homework, but also with her social skills in general.
Not only did Elsa need help with her homework, but also with her social skills in general.
Elsa needed help not only with her homework, but also with her social skills in general.
Elsa needed not only help with her homework, but also I had helped with her social skills in general.
Elsa needed help with her homework not only, but also with her social skills in general.
Elsa needed help not only with her homework, but also with her social skills in general.
The central issue here is consistent syntax in the parallelism related to the correlative conjunctions "Not only...but also." The correct answer follows the conjunctive phrases with an appropriate parallel structure like so: "not only with her...but also with her". The incorrect answer choices incorrectly place the phrase "not only," resulting in awkward syntax and incorrect parallelism.
Example Question #103 : Correcting Parallel Structure 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.
Poor performance among laborers has not resulted from shortcomings in management but a lack of motivation.
resulted from shortcomings not in management but
resulted from shortcomings not in management but have been stemming from
resulted not from shortcomings in management but from
not resulted from shortcomings in management but
resulted not from shortcomings in management but have stemmed from
resulted not from shortcomings in management but from
This question deals primarily with parallel structure. You can say something has resulted not from 
Example Question #104 : Correcting Parallel Structure 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 great authors who have penned celebrated masterpieces are similar to the world-class composers composing orchestral gems.
the world-class composers who are writing orchestral gems
the ones who write orchestral gems
the world-class composers which write orchestral gems
the world-class composers who have written orchestral gems
the ones used in writing orchestral gems
the world-class composers who have written orchestral gems
This question concerns parallel structure as regards verb usage. "Authors who have penned" are similar to "composers who have written." Eliminate the choices that use the incorrect verb direct. The correct choice will reflect this parallel structure and will also resolve the redundancy that results from using composers in conjunction with the verb compose.
Example Question #105 : Correcting Parallel Structure 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.
By the end of college, three of my roommates had found jobs, but I was the only one not.
had found jobs, but I was the only one not to have.
had found jobs, but I was the only one who did not have.
had found jobs, but I was the only one who did not.
had found jobs, but I was the only one who had not.
had found jobs, but I was the only one not.
had found jobs, but I was the only one who had not.
This sentence involves parallel structure. Because the roommates "had" found jobs, the second part must also employ the word "have" (singular). "Did" is not correct because it is not in the same tense. For parallel structure, the wording and the tense must match with the rest of the sentence.
Example Question #151 : Correcting Phrase, Clause, And Sentence 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 business plan presented by the consultant was difficult for the company’s management to take, it heavily criticized most of the key decisions they had made in the past year.
management to take, as it heavily criticized
management to take, it heavily criticizing
management to take, it heavy criticized
management to take it heavily criticized
management to take, it heavily criticized
management to take, as it heavily criticized
The sentence as written is a run-on sentence, as it combines two independent clauses with a comma, which is incorrect. The sentence's two independent clauses need to be connected with a comma followed by a conjunction or by a semicolon. The only answer choice which does either is "management to take, as it heavily criticized," making it the correct answer choice.
Example Question #155 : Correcting Phrase, Clause, And Sentence 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 race track was known for being the venue of many dangerous events, with few companies willing to insure any races held there.
and so then few companies willing to insure any races held there.
as a result of which very few companies are willing to insure any races held there.
with less companies willing to insure any races held there.
with few companies willing to insure any races being held there.
with few companies willing to insure any races held there.
as a result of which very few companies are willing to insure any races held there.
As written in the question, the final phrase of the sentence is awkwardly appended to the main body of the sentence, indicating no real link between the two ideas. The fact that "few companies" will "insure any races" needs to be tied more closely to the "dangerous" aspect of the track. The only answer choice that appropriately connects the two ideas is "as a result of which very few companies are willing to insure any races held there."
Example Question #2 : Correcting Sentence Fragment And Sentence Combination 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.
Creating new models is always a tricky proposition for mathematicians, always trying to do things no one else has ever done before.
because they are always trying to do things no one else has ever done before.
always trying to do things no one else has ever done before.
always they try to do things no one else has ever done before.
always having to try to do things no one else has ever done before.
they always try to do things no one else has ever done before.
because they are always trying to do things no one else has ever done before.
The underlined portion of the sentence is awkwardly appended to the previous clause in the sentence, which is not even a full thought. The underlined portion must be changed to a construction that turns the sentence into a complete sentence. The only answer choice that appropriately does this is "because they are always trying to do things no one else has ever done before."
Example Question #157 : Correcting Phrase, Clause, And Sentence 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.
She was the first female chairperson in the company's long history, this position meant that she had challenges that any previous chairs had never dealt with in their careers.
the company's long history this position meant
the company's long history; this position meant
the company's long history so this position meant
the company's long history, this position meant
the company's long history and this position meant
the company's long history; this position meant
The sentence is written as a compound sentence, a sentence that features two complete thoughts put together to show their relationship. As the two parts of a compound sentence can be complete sentences on their own, the two parts need to be joined either by a comma and a conjunction or a semicolon. The answer choice "the company's long history; this position meant" is the only answer choice that correctly connects the two parts of the compound sentence.
Example Question #3 : Correcting Sentence Fragment And Sentence Combination Errors
Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English.
Buying an electric car offers many incentives. Such as lower fuel costs, generous rebate offers, and tax benefits.
Buying an electric car offers many incentives; such as lower fuel costs, generous rebate offers, and tax benefits.
Buying an electric car offers many incentives, such as lower fuel costs, generous rebate offers, and tax benefits.
Buying an electric car offers many incentives such as lower fuel costs; generous rebate offers; and tax benefits.
Buying an electric car offers many incentives: Such as lower fuel costs, generous rebate offers, and tax benefits.
Buying an electric car offers many incentives. Such as lowering fuel costs, as well as offering generous rebate offers and tax benefits.
Buying an electric car offers many incentives, such as lower fuel costs, generous rebate offers, and tax benefits.
The example sentence contains a sentence fragment, meaning that a dependent clause has been separated from the main clause it needs to be connected to in order to make grammatical sense. The best correction would be to simply replace the period after "incentives" with a comma. "Such as" is a reliable marker of a dependent clause, and as such should rarely, if ever, begin a new sentence.
The correct version of the sentence reads: "Buying an electric car offers many incentives, such as lower fuel costs, generous rebate offers, and tax benefits."
Example Question #6 : Correcting Sentence Fragment And Sentence Combination 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.
In the middle of the conflict, when the hope for victory was at its lowest ebb and troop morale was completely wrecked.
In the middle of the conflict, as the hope for victory was at its lowest ebb and troop morale was completely wrecked.
In the middle of the conflict when the hope for victory was at its lowest ebb and troop morale was completely wrecked.
When the hope for victory was at its lowest ebb and troop morale was completely wrecked in the middle of the conflict.
In the middle of the conflict, when the hope for victory was at its lowest ebb and troop morale was completely wrecked.
The hope for victory was at its lowest ebb and troop morale was completely wrecked in the middle of the conflict.
The hope for victory was at its lowest ebb and troop morale was completely wrecked in the middle of the conflict.
The sentence as it is written is not a sentence, but a sentence fragment. Both parts of the sentence are actually written as dependent clauses, and a sentence needs at least one independent clause to be considered a complete sentence. The only answer choice that properly corrects the sentence is "The hope for victory was at its lowest ebb and troop morale was completely wrecked in the middle of the conflict." This answer choice changes the original sentence's two dependent clauses to independent clauses.
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