GMAT Verbal : Correcting Punctuation Errors
Study concepts, example questions & explanations for GMAT Verbal
All GMAT Verbal Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #13 : Correcting Comma 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 girl's favorite pastime listening to music eventually lead to her career as a professional singer.
The girl's favorite pastime listening to music eventually lead to her career, as a professional singer.
The girl's favorite pastime, listening to music, eventually lead to her career as a professional singer.
The girl's favorite pastime, listening to music eventually lead to her career as a professional singer.
The girl's favorite pastime, listening to music eventually lead to her career, as a professional singer.
The girl's favorite pastime listening to music eventually lead to her career as a professional singer.
The girl's favorite pastime, listening to music, eventually lead to her career as a professional singer.
The phrase "listening to music" is 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 answer choice is "The girl's favorite pastime, listening to music, eventually lead to her career as a professional singer."
Example Question #13 : Correcting Comma 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.
They went camping in order to bond fish and test out their survival skills.
in order to, bond, fish and test out their survival skills.
in order to bond fish and test out their survival skills.
in order to bond fish and test out their survival, skills.
in order to bond, fish, and test out their survival skills.
in order to bond, fish and test out their survival skills.
in order to bond, fish, and test out their survival skills.
The phrase "to bond fish and test out their survival skills" is a list of actions. All items in any sort of list/parallel words or phrases should be separated by commas. Additionally, a comma must come before the "and" because the action "fish" and "test out their survival skills" are not necessarily related, so they should not be grouped together. The correct answer is "in order to bond, fish, and test out their survival skills."
Example Question #14 : Correcting Comma 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.
Having completed all her requirements she was ready to receive her certification.
Having completed, all her requirements, she
Having completed, all her requirements she
Having completed all her requirements, she
Having completed all her requirements she,
Having completed, all her requirements she,
Having completed all her requirements, she
The phrase "Having completed all her requirements" is an example of a 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 "Having completed all her requirements, she."
Example Question #15 : Correcting Comma 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.
Amir who was on the company's board of directors wanted to take the company in a new direction.
Amir, who was on the company's board of directors wanted
Amir, who was on the company's board of directors, wanted
Amir who was on the company's, board of directors, wanted
Amir who was on the company's board of directors, wanted
Amir who was on the company's board of directors wanted
Amir, who was on the company's board of directors, wanted
The phrase "who was on the company's board of directors" is an example of a relative clause, which gives more information about its antecedent: "Amir." Any such phrase that occurs in the middle of a sentence must be introduced and completed with a comma. The correct answer choice is "Amir, who was on the company's board of directors, wanted"
Example Question #16 : Correcting Comma 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.
Few of the new employees who were currently going through training were expected to be around the following year, but management had high hopes for ones that did remain at the company.
Few of the new, employees who were currently going through training, were expected
Few of the new, employees who were currently going through training were expected
Few of the new employees, who were currently going through training, were expected
Few of the new employees, who were currently going through training were expected
Few of the new employees who were currently going through training were expected,
Few of the new employees, who were currently going through training, were expected
The phrase "who were currently going through training" is an example of a relative clause, which gives more information about its antecedent: employees. Any such phrase that occurs in the middle of a sentence must be introduced and completed with a comma. The correct answer choice is "Few of the new employees, who were currently going through training, were expected."
Example Question #145 : Correcting Punctuation 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 man always had to explain what he did for a living yet he felt that people did not understand, even after the explanation.
The man always had to explain what he did for a living, yet he felt that people
The man always had to explain what he did for a living yet he felt that people,
The man always had to explain what he did for a living yet he, felt that people
The man always had to explain, what he did for a living yet he felt that people
The man always had to explain what he did for a living, yet he felt, that people
The man always had to explain what he did for a living, yet he felt that people
In this sentence, two independent clauses are being joined by a coordinate conjunction. When this occurs, a comma must come before the coordinate conjunction. The correct answer choice is "The man always had to explain what he did for a living, yet he felt that people"
Example Question #146 : Correcting Punctuation 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 driving his car on the highway the man happened to see a billboard with an interesting image, but was not able to tell what it was advertising.
While driving his car, on the highway the man happened to see a billboard
While driving his car on the highway, the man happened to see a billboard
While driving his car on the highway, the man happened to see a billboard,
While driving his car on the highway the man happened, to see a billboard
While driving his car, on the highway the man happened, to see a billboard
While driving his car on the highway, the man happened to see a billboard
The phrase "While driving his car on the highway" 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 "While driving his car on the highway, the man happened to see a billboard."
Example Question #17 : Correcting Comma 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.
He speaks with his family who lives in Asia every week.
He speaks with his family, who lives in Asia every week.
He speaks with his family who lives in Asia every week.
He speaks, with his family who lives in Asia every week.
He speaks with his family, who lives in Asia, every week.
He speaks with his family who lives in Asia, every week.
He speaks with his family, who lives in Asia, every week.
The phrase "who lives in Asia" is an example of a relative clause, which gives more information about its antecedent: his family. Any such phrase that occurs in the middle of a sentence must be introduced and completed with a comma. The correct answer choice is "He speaks with his family, who lives in Asia, every week."
Example Question #21 : Correcting Comma 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 camera which was necessary for John's job no longer worked.
The camera which was necessary for John's job, no longer worked.
The camera which was necessary for John's job no longer worked.
The camera, which was necessary for John's job no longer, worked.
The camera, which was necessary for John's job no longer worked.
The camera, which was necessary for John's job, no longer worked.
The camera, which was necessary for John's job, no longer worked.
The phrase "which was necessary for John's job" is an example of a relative clause, which gives more information about its antecedent: the camera. Any such phrase that occurs in the middle of a sentence, often called an interrupting phrase, must be introduced and completed with a comma. The correct answer choice is "The camera, which was necessary for John's job, no longer worked."
Example Question #149 : Correcting Punctuation 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.
He was trying as hard as he could to solve the problem for his boss had promised a bonus to the first person that could do it.
He was trying as hard as he could to solve the problem, for his boss had promised a bonus to the first person that could do it.
He was trying as hard as he could to solve the problem for his boss had promised a bonus to the first person that could do it.
He was trying as hard as he could to solve the problem for his boss had promised a bonus, to the first person that could do it.
He was trying as hard as he could to solve, the problem for his boss had promised a bonus to the first person that could do it.
He was trying as hard as he could to solve the problem for his boss had promised, a bonus to the first person that could do it.
He was trying as hard as he could to solve the problem, for his boss had promised a bonus to the first person that could do it.
In this sentence, two independent clauses are being joined by a coordinating conjunction ("for"). When this occurs, a comma must come before the coordinate conjunction. The correct answer choice is "he was trying to solve the problem, for his boss promised a bonus to the first person that could do it."
All GMAT Verbal Resources
