GMAT Verbal : Correcting Word Usage Errors
Study concepts, example questions & explanations for GMAT Verbal
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Example Questions
Example Question #32 : Correcting Verb Tense 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 nineteenth century, the Transcendentalists are seeking to find solace in the wonders of nature.
sought to find
are seeking to have found
sought to found
are seeking to find
seeking to find
sought to find
The sentence describes what Transcendentalists did "In the nineteenth century." This indicates the underlined portion of the sentence needs to make use of the past tense, because that part of the sentence is describing the actions that took place "In the nineteenth century." Only "seeking" needs to be changed, as the form "to find" is an infinitive, and does not change regardless of the tense of the verb that precedes it. "Sought to find" is the correct answer choice.
Example Question #82 : 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.
The spokesperson noted that over the past year, a new wave of technological advances have increased the company’s profitability.
has increased the company’s profitability.
have increased the company’s profitability.
will have increased the company’s profitability.
increased the company’s profitability.
had increased the company’s profitability.
has increased the company’s profitability.
We know that the proper tense to describe an event that happened "over the course of past year" is the present perfect, which narrows down potentially correct answer choices to either "have increased the company's profitability" or "has increased the company's profitability."
Since the subject of the increasing event is "wave," not "advances," we should go with the answer choice that uses the singular verb—"has increased the company's profitability."
Example Question #33 : Correcting Verb Tense 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.
Previously, the candidates refuse to run any negative ads against their opponents.
refused to run
refusal to run
refuse to be running
refuse to run
refusing to run
refused to run
The underlined portion describes what happened "Previously," which indicates the verb has to be in a tense showing what happened before. The correct answer must be in the past tense, and only "refused to run" has the correct tense among the answers.
Example Question #141 : Verb Formation 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 Miguel left the store, he had gone to the gas station.
After Miguel left the store, he will have gone to the gas station.
After Miguel were to have left the store, he had gone to the gas station.
After Miguel was leaving the store, he had gone to the gas station.
After Miguel left the store, he had gone to the gas station.
After Miguel left the store, he went to the gas station.
After Miguel left the store, he went to the gas station.
The original sentence uses the pluperfect verb form ("had gone to the gas station") erroneously because the event of going to the gas station happened after Miguel left the store.
Example Question #2 : Correcting Verb Tense 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.
If I would have used the coupon, I could have saved forty dollars.
If I would have used the coupon, forty dollars could have been saved by me.
If I would have used the coupon, I could have saved forty dollars.
If I will have used the coupon, I could have saved forty dollars.
If I had used the coupon, I could have saved forty dollars.
Forty dollars could have been saved had the coupon I had used.
If I had used the coupon, I could have saved forty dollars.
One can never say “If I would have done”. One can only say “If I had done”, which is called the past perfect verb form.
Example Question #34 : Correcting Verb Tense 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.
Many parents mistakenly thinking babies should be on low-fat diets; however, fat is crucial to infants’ brain and nerve development.
Many parents mistakenly thinking babies should be on low-fat diets; on the other hand, fat is crucial to infants’ brain and nerve development.
Many parents mistakenly thinking babies should be on low-fat diets; however, fat is crucial to infants’ brain and nerve development.
Many parents mistakenly had thought babies should be on low-fat diets; however, fat is crucial to infants’ brain and nerve development.
Many parents mistake and think babies should be on low-fat diets; however, fat is crucial to infants’ brain and nerve development.
Many parents mistakenly think babies should be on low-fat diets; however, fat is crucial to infants’ brain and nerve development.
Many parents mistakenly think babies should be on low-fat diets; however, fat is crucial to infants’ brain and nerve development.
The word "thinking" is acting like a participle in the original sentence, making the first clause lack a verb. Changing "Many parents mistakenly thinking" to "Many parents mistakenly think" corrects the sentence's error.
Example Question #121 : Verb Tense 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.
When I discovered that my mom hid chocolate bars in her top drawer, I take them all and ate them.
When I discovered that my mom hid chocolate bars in her top drawer, I take them all and ate them.
When I discovered that my mom hid chocolate bars in her top drawer, I had taken them all and eaten them.
When I discovered that my mom hid chocolate bars in her top drawer, I took and ate them all.
When I was discovering that my mom hid in her top drawer chocolate bars, I took them all and ate them all.
When I made the discovery that my mom hid chocolate bars in her top drawer, I was taking them all and ate them.
When I discovered that my mom hid chocolate bars in her top drawer, I took and ate them all.
The original statement uses the wrong verb tense for the verb "take"; it should be "took". The correct answer is also more concise than the original.
Example Question #311 : 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.
Until recently, scientists were believing that squids of giant size were only a myth of the creation of sailors.
Until recently, sailors were creating a myth of giants squids, of which scientists believed.
Until recently, scientists believed that giant squids were only a myth created by sailors.
Until recently, scientists were believing that squids of giant size were only a myth of the creation of sailors.
Until recent times, it was believed by scientists that sailors created giants squids in their myths that they told.
Until most recently, scientists were of the belief that giants squids, a myth, created by sailors.
Until recently, scientists believed that giant squids were only a myth created by sailors.
The original statement erroneously uses the past progressive verb tense "were believing" instead of "believed." The correct answer is also less awkward and more concise than the original.
Example Question #5 : Correcting Verb Tense 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 students were shocked learning of their teacher's past life as a rock musician.
were shocking to learn
were shocked learning
were shocking learning
were shocking to learn
were shocked to learn
were shocked to learn
The use of the verb "learn" is essentially as a modifier of the students "shock." This means that "learning" must be turned into a form that will describe why the students were "shocked." "Were shocked to learn," using an infinitive form, is the best choice among the answers.
Example Question #123 : Verb Tense 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.
If she arrives empty handed, I was angry with her.
I was angry
I anger
I will be angry
I had been angry
I am angry
I will be angry
The sentence features a conditional statement, "If she arrives empty handed," that explains the underlined portion of the sentence. This means the verb tense in the underlined portion should be in the future, as it will only occur once another action has taken place. "I will be angry," is the correct answer choice.
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