GMAT Verbal : Correcting Word Usage Errors
Study concepts, example questions & explanations for GMAT Verbal
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Example Questions
Example Question #6 : Correcting Verb Voice 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.
For his service in the war, the soldier was giving the country's highest honor by the President.
the soldier was giving the country's highest honor
the soldier was giving that country's highest honor
the soldier is giving the country's highest honor
the soldier was given the country's highest honor
the soldier was given the countries highest honor
the soldier was given the country's highest honor
The soldier would have trouble "giving" an award "by the President." The use of the final prepositional phrase "by the President" indicates that the soldier is receiving the award. The only answer choice that clarifies this point is "the soldier was given the country's highest honor," making it the correct answer choice.
Example Question #231 : Correcting Word Usage Errors
Select the answer that produces the most effective sentence, one that is clear and exact, without awkwardness or ambiguity.
Hearing about the crisis in the developing country, a campaign was organized by the class president and raised $5,000.
a campaign that raised $5,000 was organized by the class president.
a campaign was organized by the class president and raised $5,000.
the class president organized a campaign raising $5000.
the class president organized a campaign, which raised $5,000.
an organized campaign by the class president raised $5,000.
the class president organized a campaign, which raised $5,000.
Figure out who is the subject of the first part of the sentence—the class president, rather than the campaign itself, heard about the crisis. Also, avoid passive voice ("the campaign was organized").
Example Question #232 : Correcting Word Usage 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.
After the novelist threw the draft into the trash, the crumpled paper was retrieved by his concerned assistant.
his concerned assistant retrieved the crumpled paper.
his concerned assistant, retrieving the crumpled paper.
retrieved by his concerned assistant, who crumpled the paper.
the crumpled paper had been retrieved by his concerned assistant.
the crumpled paper was retrieved by his concerned assistant.
his concerned assistant retrieved the crumpled paper.
Avoid the passive voice of the original ("the crumbled paper was retrieved") and choose the simplest answer that preserves the original meaning of the text.
Example Question #4 : Correcting Verb 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 new boss was eagerly anticipating by the employees, because no one in the office knew what to expect.
eagerly anticipated
was eagerly anticipating
was anticipating eagerly
was eager anticipation
was eagerly anticipated
was eagerly anticipated
The context of the underlined phrase show it is actually a use of the passive voice, with the anticipation done "by the employees," not the new boss. Thus, the correct answer must feature a passive construction. "Was eagerly anticipated" is the best choice among the answers.
Example Question #1081 : 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. One of the answer choices reproduces the underlined portion as it is written in the sentence.
The ancient texts are often confused to people who do not understand their full context.
are often confusing
often are confused
are often confused
are confused often
confusing often are
are often confusing
The sentence is written as to make the texts be "confused," when the latter part of the sentence makes clear the people reading them are "confused." The word needs to be changed to a form that properly conveys this. "Are often confusing" is the best choice among the answers.
Example Question #291 : Word Usage 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.
Under the old regime, liberties curtailed greatly.
The old regime greatly curtailed liberties.
Under the old regime, liberties being curtailed greatly.
The old regime had liberties curtailing a great amount.
Under the old regime, liberties curtailed greatly.
The old regime's liberties were greatly curtailed.
The old regime greatly curtailed liberties.
The underlined portion of the sentence contains a flaw in word order. To have the sentence make sense, the government, and not liberties, must be doing the curtailing. The only answer choice that correctly indicates that "the old regime" is the thing doing the curtailing without introducing errors into the sentence is "The old regime greatly curtailed liberties."
Example Question #1082 : 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. One of the answer choices reproduces the underlined portion as it is written in the sentence.
Tom was given the most lucrative promotion, although Mr. Jones normally only recognizes the most senior accountants.
Tom was given the most lucrative promotion after Mr. Jones normally only recognizes the most senior accountants.
Mr. Jones gave Tom the most lucrative promotion although normally only he recognizes the most senior accountants.
Tom was given the most lucrative promotion, although Mr. Jones normally only recognizes the most senior accountants.
Tom was given the most lucrative promotion, although the most senior accountants were recognized normally only by Mr. Jones.
Although Mr. Jones normally only recognizes the most senior accountants, he gave Tom the most lucrative promotion.
Although Mr. Jones normally only recognizes the most senior accountants, he gave Tom the most lucrative promotion.
The initial clause of the sentence, "Tom was given the most lucrative promotion," uses the passive voice; conventionally, altering this type of sentence to use active voice makes it clearer and more concise.
Example Question #233 : Correcting Word Usage 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.
At the turn of the century, many new advances in technology were discovered by scientists.
Many new advances in technology were discovered by scientists at the turn of the century.
At the turn of the century, scientists discovered many new advances in technology.
At the turn of the century, many new advances in technology were discovered by scientists.
At the scientist's turn of the century, they discovered many new advances in technology.
Scientists discovering many new advances in technology at the turn of the century.
At the turn of the century, scientists discovered many new advances in technology.
This example shows how the active voice is preferred over the passive voice. The active voice constructs a much stronger sentence than the passive does.
Example Question #691 : 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.
The time that was had by Jenny at the circus was good.
A time that was good was had by Jenny at the circus.
Jenny's time at the circus was good.
Jenny at the circus had a good time.
The circus was there for Jenny to have a good time at.
Jenny had a good time at the circus.
Jenny had a good time at the circus.
The voice of the verb in the example sentence is passive. In general, where possible, it is best to use active voice over passive voice. Active sentences use the subject as the agent of the main verb, and are therefore usually simpler and clearer than passive sentences. The best version of this sentence reads, "Jenny had a good time at the circus."
Example Question #1084 : 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.
Mike and Jonas were asked to spar by the boxing coach, eager to see how they would perform in a simulated match.
Mike and Jonas were asked to spar by the boxing coach, eager to see how they would perform in a simulated match.
Mike and Jonas, eager to see how the boxing coach would perform in a simulated match, asked them to spar.
The boxing coach, eagerly sees how Mike and Jonas would perform in a simulated match, asked them to spar.
Eager to see how they would perform in a simulated match, the boxing coach asked Mike and Jonas to spar.
Mike and Jonas, eager to see how they would perform in a simulated match, were asked to spar by the boxing coach.
Eager to see how they would perform in a simulated match, the boxing coach asked Mike and Jonas to spar.
The initial independent clause in the sentence, "Mike and Jonas were asked to spar by the boxing coach," uses passive voice ("were asked"); it becomes clearer when we use active voice ("the boxing coach asked Mike and Jonas . . .").
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