GMAT Verbal : Correcting Word Usage Errors
Study concepts, example questions & explanations for GMAT Verbal
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Example Questions
Example Question #72 : 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.
He test drives cars for a living; he loved his job.
He test drived cars for a living
He test drives cars for a living
He test droven cars for a living
He test drove cars for a living
He test drive cars for a living
He test drove cars for a living
This sentence contains a tense error. The second half of the sentence is in the past (simple) tense. It is necessary for the sake of parallelism that the rest of the sentence matches in tense. The correct form would be "drove (note: 'drived' is not a word)." The correct choice is, "He test drove cars for a living."
Example Question #73 : 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.
The protest seeming to be a serious political manifestation, Larkin Reed, father of two well-behaved young men, thought nothing of allowing his boys to attend the gathering at the capitol building.
In that the protest seemed
Because the protest seemed to be
As the protest was
The protest seeming to be
Since the protest was
Because the protest seemed to be
The use of "seeming" the question sentence is incorrect. "Thought" later in the non-underlined portion of the sentence places the sentence in the past tense. "Seemed" is necessary. The use of "was" changes the meaning. The use of ‘in that’ is not as good as the use of "because". "Because" establishes the reason something happened.
Example Question #121 : 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.
Since 1986 there are three times the number of cases of malaria diagnosed; nevertheless, there has been great progress in the search for a vaccine.
The diagnosis of cases of malaria was only one-third in 1990
The number of diagnosed cases of malaria has tripled since 1986
Tripling since 1986, there are now three times as many cases of malaria diagnosed
Since 1986 there are three times as many cases of malaria diagnosed
The diagnosis of cases of malaria increased three times since 1986 on
The number of diagnosed cases of malaria has tripled since 1986
Note that the original sentence uses "since" and the simple present tense "are" when the present perfect is, in fact, necessary; consider for example, "since 1990 there have been many cases...". Moreover, note that the correct subject of the sentence is "the number of diagnoses", not "the diagnosis of cases". "Tripling" would be incorrect. Again the present perfect would have to be used to describe an action which started in the past and has continued up to the present. The correct answer shows this use of the present perfect and uses the appropriate subject: "The number...has tripled." This also happens to be the most efficient way of articulating the sentence.
Example Question #121 : 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.
Included among the many reasons for his electoral defeat were his recent cynicism toward his constituents whom he suggested are incapable of understanding the economic crisis.
were his recent cynicism toward his constituents whom he suggested are incapable of understanding the economic crisis.
were his recent cynicism that his constituents was whom he suggested were incapable of understanding the economical crises.
was his recent cynicism toward his constituents whom he suggested are incapable of understanding the economic crisis.
was the recent cynicism that his constituents was incapable of understanding the economic crisis.
were his recent cynicism that his constituents would be incapable of understanding the economics of crisis.
was his recent cynicism toward his constituents whom he suggested are incapable of understanding the economic crisis.
The one reason was his “recent cynicism.” Since this one item does not constitute a compound subject, the verb should be singular ("was," not "were"). The word “economical” is also incorrect. Many of the other answers contain subject-verb agreement errors.
Example Question #121 : 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 organization seeming to be a serious recreational sports group, Margaret Monty, mother of two brilliant young women, thought nothing of allowing her girls to participate in the activities.
The organization seeming to be
In that the organization seemed
Since the organization was
Because the organization seemed to be
As the organization was
Because the organization seemed to be
The use of "seeming" is incorrect. "Thought" later in the sentence places the sentence in the past tense. "Seemed" is necessary. The use of "was" changes the meaning. The use of ‘in that’ is not as good as the use of "because". "Because" establishes the reason something happened. This is the correct answer.
Example Question #124 : 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.
Since 1985 there are four times the number of cases of diagnosed dengue diagnosed; nevertheless, there has been great progress in the search for a vaccine.
The diagnosis of cases of dengue increased four times since 1985 on
Since 1985 there are four times as many cases of dengue diagnosed
The number of diagnosed cases of dengue has quadrupled since 1985;
The diagnosis of cases of dengue was only one-fourth in 1985
quadrupling since 1985, there are now four times as many cases of dengue diagnosed
The number of diagnosed cases of dengue has quadrupled since 1985;
Note that the original sentence uses "since" and the simple present tense "are" when the present perfect is, in fact, necessary; consider for example, "since 1990 there have been many cases...". Moreover, note that the correct subject of the sentence is "the number of diagnoses," not "the diagnosis of cases". "Quadrupling" would be incorrect. Again the present perfect would have to be used to describe an action that started in the past and has continued up to the present. The correct answer shows this use of the present perfect and uses the appropriate subject: "The number...has quadrupled." This also happens to be the most efficient way of articulating the sentence as no redundancies are present.
Example Question #122 : Correcting Verb Errors
Choose the best version of the underlined phrase. One option will remain unchanged.
Crude oil reserves, experts believe, may be depleted in our lifetime.
Crude oil reserves, experts believe, would be depleted in our lifetime.
Crude oil reserves, experts believe, may be depleted in our lifetime.
Crude oil reserves, experts believe, should be depleted in our lifetime.
Crude oil reserves which, some experts believe, may be depleted in our lifetime.
Crude oil reserves, experts believe will be depleted in our lifetime.
Crude oil reserves, experts believe, may be depleted in our lifetime.
The key to this sentence is to recognize the tense and agreement necessary. This is a hypothetical statement. Therefore, we need a future tense verb in our sentence. The sentence is correct as originally stated. All of the other options change the meaning of the sentence.
Example Question #123 : 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.
Before the act was passed, there was much debate in Congress over the appropriate way to deal with conflicts on the American frontier.
should have been
has been
had been
could be
was
had been
The sentence presents two actions, the passing of the act and the debating of the best way to deal with conflicts. Since the two actions are both completed and since they are presented out of the order in which they actually happened, the past perfect, "had been" is necessary.
Example Question #124 : 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.
Take these papers to the processing department immediately, and you wait for them to be completely finished before returning.
and wait for them to be completely finished before returning.
and you wait for them to be completely finished before returning.
and you wait for them being completely finished before returning.
and you wait for them to be complete finished before returning.
and you wait for them to be completely finished before return.
and wait for them to be completely finished before returning.
Sticking "you" in this sentence is unnecessary with the phrase's imperative mood and the implied subject of "you" in the first part of the sentence, which creates a lack of parallel structure. "You" should be taken out of the underlined portion of the sentence to fix these problems. As only one answer choice makes this change, the correct answer is "and wait for them to be completely finished before returning."
Example Question #125 : 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.
If I was a betting man, I would put my money down on the continued health and strength of the market for imports.
If I were to be a betting man
Whether I was a betting man
If I were a betting man
If I was a betting person
If I was a betting man
If I were a betting man
This sentence is a rare use of the subjunctive mood, a verb mood that is used to indicate a hypothetical state or a statement contrary to reality. The subjunctive verb does not use the otherwise more appropriate verb tense "was," as it is indicating a desire of something not real and should use "were." "If I were a betting man" is the only answer choice that uses the correct verb form.
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