GMAT Verbal : Correcting Phrase, Clause, and Sentence Errors
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Example Questions
Example Question #4 : 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. One of the answer choices repeats the underlined portion as it is written.
When she went to the zoo, Lyndsey got to see not only tigers, but polar bears, iguanas, and toucans.
When she went to the zoo, Lyndsey got to see not only tigers, and polar bears, iguanas, and toucans.
When she went to the zoo, Lyndsey got to see not only tigers, but also polar bears, iguanas, and toucans.
When she went to the zoo, Lyndsey got to see not only tigers, also polar bears, iguanas, and toucans.
When she went to the zoo, Lyndsey got to see not only tigers, although polar bears, iguanas, and toucans too.
When she went to the zoo, Lyndsey got to see not only tigers, but polar bears, iguanas, and toucans.
When she went to the zoo, Lyndsey got to see not only tigers, but also polar bears, iguanas, and toucans.
In standard English, when you use the phrase "not only" in a sentence, it should be followed by the phrase "but also." So, the correct answer is "When she went to the zoo, Lyndsey got to see not only tigers, but also polar bears, iguanas, and toucans."
Example Question #2 : 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. One of the answer choices reproduces the underlined portion as it is written in the sentence.
The remake of the film was neither enjoyable and definitely not faithful to the original film.
and it wasn't even faithful to the original film
nor was it faithful to the original film
nor faithful to the original film
and definitely not faithful to the original film
nor were it faithful to the original film
nor faithful to the original film
When "neither" is used in a sentence, "nor" should follow it, creating the structure "neither X nor Y," where X and Y are items formatted in the same manner. To correct the sentence, we need to change "and definitely not" to "nor." Several answer choices do this: "nor faithful to the original film," "nor were it faithful to the original film," and "nor was it faithful to the original film." "Nor were it faithful to the original film" and "nor was it faithful to the original film" might each look like potentially correct answers, but each introduces a verb that disrupts the parallel structure of "neither X nor Y," in which "nor" should be immediately followed by "faithful to the original film." The correct answer is thus "nor faithful to the original film," making the corrected sentence, "The remake of the film was neither enjoyable nor faithful to the original film."
Example Question #1 : Correcting Conjunction 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.
After Jonas graduates from high school, his father hopes that Jonas will either attend college nor join the army to learn a skill.
Jonas will either attend college and join the army to learn a skill
Jonas will neither attend college or join the army to learn a skill
Jonas will either attend college nor join the army to learn a skill
Jonas will either attend college or joining the army to learn a skill
Jonas will either attend college or join the army to learn a skill
Jonas will either attend college or join the army to learn a skill
Correlative conjunctions are used in specific pairs: "either" must be paired with "or" and "neither" must be paired with "nor" when you want to use them as correlative conjunctions. When using these correlative conjunctions, it is also important to remember to use parallel phrasing with each element that is being associated through the use of the conjunction.
Example Question #2 : Correcting Correlative Conjunction 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.
The teacher reprimanded his class, saying that he was neither pleased with their poor work nor was he willing to accept their rowdy behavior.
saying that he was neither pleased with their poor work nor was he willing to accept their rowdy behavior.
saying that he was pleased neither with their poor work nor willing to accept their rowdy behavior.
saying that he was neither pleased with their poor work nor willing to accept their rowdy behavior.
saying that he was neither pleased with their poor work or willing to accept their rowdy behavior.
saying that neither was he pleased with their poor work nor was willing to accept their rowdy behavior.
saying that he was neither pleased with their poor work nor willing to accept their rowdy behavior.
The correlative conjunctions “neither” and “nor” belong together. In "neither . . . nor" sentences, the two options (“pleased with their poor work” and “willing to accept their rowdy behavior”) must be presented in a grammatically parallel way so that the words following “neither” and the words following “nor” are parallel phrases.
Example Question #21 : Correlative Conjunction 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 told her children that she would take them to either the toy store or to the ice cream parlor if they finished all their chores on time.
she would take them to either the toy store and the ice cream parlor
she would take them to either the toy store or to the ice cream parlor
she would take them either to the toy store or to the ice cream parlor
she would either take them to the toy store or to the ice cream parlor
she would either take them to the toy store or the ice cream parlor
she would take them either to the toy store or to the ice cream parlor
The correlative conjunctions “either” and “or” get paired together here. In "either . . . or" sentences, the two options being discussed (in this case, going to the toy store and going to the ice cream parlor) must be presented in a grammatically parallel way so that the words following “either” and the words following “or” are parallel phrases. In this case, “to the toy store” and “to the ice cream parlor” are the only options that are parallel; otherwise, you’re comparing apples and oranges.
Example Question #1 : 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.
In the future, not Ellen and not Marcia are allowed to go outside without asking the teacher for permission.
neither Ellen and Marcia are allowed
not Ellen and not Marcia is allowed
not Ellen and not Marcia are allowed
neither Ellen nor Marcia is allowed
neither Ellen nor Marcia are allowed
neither Ellen nor Marcia is allowed
The correct form for this sentence is "neither . . . nor." In addition, "neither . . .nor" leads to use of the singular form "is" rather than "are."
Example Question #21 : Correcting Conjunction 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.
Neither the advisors' ominous projections or the board's grim outlook bothered the CEO enough to make her change her course.
Neither the advisors' ominous projections nor the board's grim outlook
Neither the advisors' ominous projections, nor the board's grim outlook
Neither of the advisors' ominous projections or the board's grim outlook
Neither the advisors' ominous projections or the board's grim outlook
Either the advisors' ominous projections nor the board's grim outlook
Neither the advisors' ominous projections nor the board's grim outlook
The correct correlative conjunction pair here is "neither/nor." No comma is needed. The other pairings listed are either mismatched or inappropriate. The correct correlative conjunction for "either" is "or."
Example Question #21 : Correcting Phrase, Clause, And Sentence Errors
Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English.
The professor allowed her class to choose the assignment style for the semester: either several small quizzes and one large final exam and one large midterm exam and one large final exam.
semester: either several small quizzes and one large final exam or one large midterm exam and one large final exam.
semester, either several small quizzes and one large final exam, or one large midterm exam and one large final exam.
semester; either several small quizzes and one large final exam or one large midterm exam and one large final exam.
semester: either several small quizzes and one large final exam and one large midterm exam and one large final exam.
semester, either several small quizzes and one large final exam, and one large midterm exam and one large final exam.
semester: either several small quizzes and one large final exam or one large midterm exam and one large final exam.
Although the constituents in the list are a bit convoluted, this can be boiled down to a simple either A or B. A and B each have an "and," which can make the sentence seem more confusing, but, when simplified, it can be easier to tell that the sentence is describing a choice BETWEEN two options (both of which include two items and an "and"), so the "and" between "quizzes" and "one" needs to be replaced with "or."
Example Question #22 : Correcting Conjunction 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 temperature dropped suddenly in the chamber, which will mean that the pipes passing through the manifold will be frozen by the chill.
which will mean that the pipes passing through the manifold will be frozen by the chill.
and this will mean that the pipes passing through the manifold will be frozen by the chill.
and the resulting chill will freeze the pipes that are passing through the manifold.
which will mean that the chill will freeze the pipes passing through the manifold.
and as a result, the pipes will be frozen by the chill, passing through the manifold.
and the resulting chill will freeze the pipes that are passing through the manifold.
The word “which” does not have an antecedent noun, and so the construction is incorrect in the two answer choices in which it is present. Similarly, in the sentence implementing “this,” there is no noun to which it refers. The final incorrect answer leaves the modifier “passing through the manifold” dangling too far from the noun to which the modifier refers.
Example Question #23 : Correcting Conjunction 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.
Neither of my colleagues or our professor could answer the question I raised, which I found quite disconcerting.
Neither of my colleagues and our professor could answer the question I raised
Neither my colleagues or our professor could answer the question I raised
Neither my colleagues nor our professor could answer the question I raised
Neither of my colleagues, our professor could answer the question I raised
Neither of my colleagues and nor our professor could answer the question I raised
Neither my colleagues nor our professor could answer the question I raised
The central issue here is the proper implementation of the correlative conjunction "neither...nor." The use of the preposition "of" and the conjunctions "or," "and," etc., appropriately resolve the issue. If anything, these other modifications result in unidiomatic phrases or awkward syntax.
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