GMAT Verbal : Correcting Word Usage Errors
Study concepts, example questions & explanations for GMAT Verbal
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Example Questions
Example Question #86 : Correcting Pronoun Errors
Suddenly, the hikers saw the mountain lion on the trail ahead of there path.
on the trail up ahead of there path.
on the trail ahead of there path.
in the trail ahead of there path.
on the trail ahead of their path.
on the trail ahead there path.
on the trail ahead of their path.
The underlined portion of the sentence needs one change to one word. "There," indicating a location, should be changed to "their," the third person plural possessive. Thus, "on the trail up ahead of their path" is the correct answer choice.
Example Question #87 : Correcting Pronoun Errors
When you are done with the book, please bring it to myself.
to myself.
unto myself.
for myself.
to I.
to me.
to me.
The use of "myself" in the sentence is incorrect, as "myself" is a referential pronoun, but has nothing in the sentence to refer to earlier in the sentence; therefore, "to me" is the correct answer choice.
Example Question #88 : Correcting Pronoun Errors
Fine tuning the book took a great deal of time due to it's massive length.
due to it's massive length.
because of it's massive length.
due to its massive length.
due to it's massive longevity.
due to it is massive length.
due to its massive length.
The use of the word "it's" is incorrect in the sentence, as "it's" is only the contraction of "it is." The possessive form is always "its," making the correct answer "due to its massive length."
Example Question #541 : Sentence Correction
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 issue was first brought to myself well over five years ago.
The issue was first brought to myself well over five years ago.
The issue was first brought to me well over five years ago.
The issue was first brought to my own self well over five years ago.
The issue being first brought to myself well over five years ago.
The issue was first bringing to myself well over five years ago.
The issue was first brought to me well over five years ago.
The use of the pronoun "myself" in the sentence is wrong, as it is the only use of a first person pronoun, and needs a previous usage to refer to; therefore, the word needs to be changed to the simple first person pronoun, "me," which makes "The issue was first brought to me well over five years ago," the correct answer choice.
Example Question #542 : Sentence Correction
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.
For no apparent reason, the boy harbors a great deal of anger toward myself.
a great deal of anger toward myself.
a great deal of angry toward myself.
a great deal of anger for myself.
a great deal of anger toward me.
a great deal of anger to myself.
a great deal of anger toward me.
The use of the reflexive pronoun in this sentence is incorrect, as there is no previous use of the first person pronoun to which it can refer. The word "myself" needs to changed to the simple first person objective pronoun, "me." Therefore, the correct answer choice is "a great deal of anger toward me."
Example Question #541 : Sentence Correction
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.
Many people do not trust them to watch their own weight.
them to watch their own weight.
themselves to watch their own weight.
themself to watch their selves own weight.
them to watch weight.
themselves to watch their selves own weight.
themselves to watch their own weight.
The use of "them" is imprecise, as it is unclear who exactly "them" is referring to in the sentence. To clear up this confusion, the use of "themselves" is the best way to indicate this usage refers to the subject of the sentence. "Themselves to watch their own weight" is the correct answer choice.
Example Question #61 : Correcting Pronoun 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 issue was brought to myself as soon as he was aware of the problem.
The issue brought to myself
The issue was brought to myself
The issue was brought to me
The issue was brought on myself
The issue was bringing to myself
The issue was brought to me
The use of the reflexive pronoun "myself" is incorrect when it has no previous first person pronoun to refer to. "Myself" must be replaced by the simple first person objective pronoun "me." As the only answer choice to make this change, "The issue was brought to me" is the correct answer.
Example Question #95 : Correcting Pronoun 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 boys all arrived together to make sure they had a numerical advantage on they're side.
unto there side.
on there side.
in they're side.
on their side.
on they're side.
on their side.
The key grammatical issue in the sentence is that two homonyms are confused, creating a mispelling in "they're." "They're" is actually the contraction for "they are," while the sentence needs the third person plural possesive form. "On their side" is the correct answer choice.
Example Question #96 : Correcting Pronoun 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 police searched for weeks for a mugger that fit the given description.
The police searched for weeks for a mugger, one that fit the given description.
The police searched for weeks for a mugger who fit the given description.
The police, searching for weeks for a mugger, which fit the given description.
The police searched for weeks for a mugger that fit the given description.
A mugger that fit the given description was searched for for weeks by the police.
The police searched for weeks for a mugger who fit the given description.
The error in the original sentence is that the word "that" cannot modify people. "Who" must be used to refer to the mugger.
Example Question #61 : Correcting Pronoun Errors: Incorrect Usage
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 had to repeat many questions to her students, which were very sleepy that day.
which
who
they
what
that
who
Because the word being chosen is referring to a group of people ("students"), you need to use "who."
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