GMAT Verbal : Correcting Phrase, Clause, and Sentence Errors
Study concepts, example questions & explanations for GMAT Verbal
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Example Questions
Example Question #52 : 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.
Some prescription drugs can produce dangerous interactions when combined with other chemicals, and you should always tell your physician about any medications you take at home.
so you should always tell your physician about any medications you take at home.
but you should always tell your physician about any medications you take at home.
and you should always tell your physician about any medications you take at home.
and you should always be telling your physician about any medications you take at home.
although you should always tell your physician about any medications you take at home.
so you should always tell your physician about any medications you take at home.
This sentence contains an error in its logic of cause and effect. The first part of the sentence is the reason for the advice offered in the second part. So, you should change "and" to a word that demonstrates the cause-and-effect relationship. Do not add a contrast word like "but" or "although" unless the sentence includes some sort of contradiction or opposition.
Example Question #1799 : Correcting Grammatical 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 highway, which is notorious for its terrible potholes, was closed on Monday, and I had to take an alternate route to work.
The highway, which is notorious for its terrible potholes, was closed on Monday, and I had to take an alternate route to work.
The highway, which is notorious for its terrible potholes and was closed on Monday, I had to take an alternate route to work.
The highway, which is notorious for its terrible potholes, was closed on Monday, although I had to take an alternate route to work.
The highway, which is notorious for its terrible potholes, was closed on Monday, or I had to take an alternate route to work.
The highway, which is notorious for its terrible potholes, was closed on Monday, so I had to take an alternate route to work.
The highway, which is notorious for its terrible potholes, was closed on Monday, so I had to take an alternate route to work.
Based on the information in this sentence, we can infer that there is a cause-and-effect relationship: as a result of the highway being closed, the speaker had to take a different route to work. “So” is the only conjunction here that indicates cause and effect.
Example Question #11 : Correcting Subordinating 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.
Since our family had never before been to Seattle, so our restaurant selection was a shot in the dark based on advice from others.
Since our family had never before been to Seattle so our restaurant selection was a shot in the dark based on advice from others.
Since our family had never before been to Seattle, our restaurant selection was a shot in the dark based on advice from others.
Since our family had never before been to Seattle; our restaurant selection was a shot in the dark based on advice from others.
Since our family had never before been to Seattle, so our restaurant selection was a shot in the dark based on advice from others.
Since our family had never before been to Seattle; so our restaurant selection was a shot in the dark based on advice from others.
Since our family had never before been to Seattle, our restaurant selection was a shot in the dark based on advice from others.
Each of the clauses in this sentence starts with a subordinating conjunction. This makes for an ill-crafted sentence. Only one of the two clauses should start like this. Deleting either "since" or "so" would make this sentence better. Beginning two consecutive clauses with subordinating conjunctions will almost always result in either a contradiction or a redundancy.
Example Question #13 : Correcting Subordinating Conjunction Errors
Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English.
Because the company lacked the proper funds to launch the new research project, so they turned back to the board of directors to ask for a relatively minor additional investment.
Because the company lacked the proper funds to launch the new research project; they turned back to the board of directors
The company, lacking the proper funds to launch the new research project, so they turned back to the board of directors
The company lacked the proper funds to launch the new research project, they turned back to the board of directors
The company lacked the proper funds to launch the new research project, so they turned back to the board of directors
Because the company lacked the proper funds to launch the new research project so they turned back to the board of directors
The company lacked the proper funds to launch the new research project, so they turned back to the board of directors
This sentence, as written, has an issue with its subordinating conjunctions. Both of its clauses start with these conjunctions - one with "because" and one with "so." This is problematic. The sentence, to be grammatical, can only have one of these clauses start with such a conjunction. Either one could be deleted to make the sentence grammatically correct - "because," in this case.
Example Question #1 : Correcting Other 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.
Terrorism is often defined as a violent act that is intended to create fear; perpetrated for a religious, political, or ideological goal; and deliberately targets noncombatants.
a violent act that is intended to create fear; is perpetrated for a religious, political, or ideological goal; and is deliberately targeting of noncombatants.
a violent act intended to create fear; perpetrated for a religious, political, or ideological goal; and targeted towards noncombatants.
a violent act that is intended to create fear; perpetrated for a religious, political, or ideological goal; and deliberately targets noncombatants.
a violent act that intends to create fear; perpetrates for a religious, political, or ideological goal; and targets noncombatants.
a violent act that intends to create fear; perpetrated for a religious, political, or ideological goal; and deliberately targets noncombatants.
a violent act intended to create fear; perpetrated for a religious, political, or ideological goal; and targeted towards noncombatants.
The correct answer is the only one that employs parallel structure in the construction of the list of items.
Example Question #1 : Correcting Other 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 first progress in combating infection was made in 1847 by the Hungarian doctor Ignaz Semmelweis, who, despite ridicule and opposition, introduced compulsory handwashing for everyone entering the maternal wards, and he was rewarded with a plunge in maternal and fetal deaths, however the Royal Society dismissed his advice.
who, despite ridicule and opposition, introduced compulsory handwashing for everyone entering the maternal wards, and he was rewarded with a plunge in maternal and fetal deaths, however the Royal Society dismissed his advice.
who reduced maternal and fetal deaths by introducing compulsory handwashing for everyone entering the maternal wards despite ridicule, opposition, and dismissal by the Royal Society
who reduced maternal and fetal deaths by introducing compulsory handwashing for everyone entering the maternal wards and was ridiculed, opposed, and dismissed by the Royal Society
who was ridiculed, opposed, and dismissed by the Royal Society, even though he introduced compulsory handwashing for everyone entering the maternal wards and was rewarded with a plunge in maternal and fetal deaths
who introduced compulsory handwashing for everyone entering the maternal wards and was rewarded with a plunge in maternal and fetal deaths, despite ridicule, opposition, and dismissal by the Royal Society
who reduced maternal and fetal deaths by introducing compulsory handwashing for everyone entering the maternal wards despite ridicule, opposition, and dismissal by the Royal Society
The correct answer is the most concise and the only one that maintains the correct parallel structure in the list of items.
Example Question #2 : Correcting Other 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.
Only under special circumstances would the professor allow a student to have as much authority as given to the current teaching assistant.
as he given to the current teaching assistant.
as he had gave to the current teaching assistant.
as given to the current teaching assistant.
as gives to the current teaching assistant.
as he has given to the current teaching assistant.
as he has given to the current teaching assistant.
The underlined phrase is somewhat ambiguous, as the verb "given" is awkwardly appended to the sentence, making it unclear who or what had been "given." A subject, referencing the professor, needs to be attached to the verb to make it a full, non-confusing verbal phrase. The only answer choice which actually does this is "as he has given to the current teaching assistant."
Example Question #3 : Correcting Other 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 olympic weightlifting coach always stressed three points with his athletes: maintaining a strict training regimen, to eat a balanced diet, and to sleep for an adequate number of hours.
three points with his athletes: training, diet, and sleeping
three points with his athletes: a strict training regimen, a balanced diet, and sleeping for an adequate number of hours
three points with his athletes: maintaining a strict training regimen, eating a balanced diet, and sleeping for an adequate number of hours
three points with his athletes: training, diet, and sleeping
three points with his athletes: maintaining, eating, and sleeping for a strict training regimen, balanced diet, and adequate number of hours, respectively.
three points with his athletes: maintaining a strict training regimen, eating a balanced diet, and sleeping for an adequate number of hours
Maintaining correct parallel structure requires the use of the same pattern of words to show that two or more ideas have the same level of importance. This can happen at the word, phrase, or clause level. You cannot mix verb forms or parts of speech.
Example Question #3 : Correcting Parallel Structure Errors
The American Civil War had several causes, including the diverging commercial interests of the North and South, the fact that the many Southerners wanted to protect their right to own slaves, and Southerners worrying that soon-to-be admitted states would shift the balance of power to the north in the Congress.
including the diverging commercial interests of the North and South, the desire of Southerns to protect their right to own slaves, and Southern worry that soon-to-be admitted states would shift the balance of power in the Congress to the north.
including that commercial interests were diverging in the north and south, that many Southerners wanted to protect their right to own slaves, and that Southerners worried that soon-to-be admitted states would shift the balance of power in the Congress to the north.
including the diverging commercial interests of the North and South, the desire of Southerns to protect their right to own slaves, and Southern worry that soon-to-be admitted states would shift the balance of power to the north in the Congress.
including the diverging commercial interests of the North and South, the fact that the many Southerners wanted to protect their right to own slaves, and Southerners worrying that soon-to-be admitted states would shift the balance of power to the north in the Congress.
including the diverging commercial interests of the North and South, the fact that the many Southerners wanted to protect their right to own slaves, and Southerners worried that soon-to-be admitted states would shift the balance of power to the north in the Congress.
including the diverging commercial interests of the North and South, the desire of Southerns to protect their right to own slaves, and Southern worry that soon-to-be admitted states would shift the balance of power in the Congress to the north.
Employing correct parallel structure requires the use of the same pattern of words to show that two or more ideas have the same level of importance. This can happen at the word, phrase, or clause level. You cannot mix verb forms or parts of speech. The correct answer lists each item as a noun that is modified by a phrase; none of the other options have consistency in the way that the items in the list are formed. The right answer also resolves the ambiguity of "in the Congress" by correctly placing it next to the noun that it modifies ("power").
Example Question #4 : Correcting Other 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 new division of the company oversaw a wide range of activities inside the corporate structures, including production of machine parts, refinement of crude oil, and delivering supplies to factories.
including the production of machine parts, the refinement of crude oil, and the delivering supplies to factories.
including production of machine parts, refinement of crude oil, and delivery of supplies to factories.
including production of machine parts, refining crude oil, and delivering supplies to factories.
including production of machine parts, refinement of crude oil, and delivering supplies to factories.
including producing of machine parts, refinement of crude oil, and delivering supplies to factories.
including production of machine parts, refinement of crude oil, and delivery of supplies to factories.
The underlined portion of the sentence suffers from not having proper parallel structure, combing the nouns "production" and "refinement" with the gerund "delivering." When three things are put together into a list, as in this sentence, all three elements need to be the same part of speech. The only answer choice which features appropriate parallel structure is "including production of machine parts, refinement of crude oil, and delivery of supplies to factories."
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