GMAT Verbal : Sentence Correction

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for GMAT Verbal

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Example Questions

Example Question #1171 : 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 underlined choices repeats the answer as it is written. 

Jamie wasn't aware that Lisa didn't want to be treated like those; she preferred to get to know her friends well before she hugged them. 

Possible Answers:

be treated like that

be treated like thats

be treated like this

be treated like these

be treated like those

Correct answer:

be treated like that

Explanation:

The error in the sentence is in the use of the word "those," as the remainder of the sentence refers to a specific way Lisa prefers to be treated. Therefore, "those" should become "that" and the underlined phrase should become "be treated like that." 

Example Question #717 : 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 underlined choices repeats the answer as it is written. 

Having been alls over the world, Jeremy could confidently say that his favorite place to be is right here in his hometown.

Possible Answers:

Having been all over the world

Having been over alls the world

Having all been over the world

Having been alls over the world

Having alls over the world been

Correct answer:

Having been all over the world

Explanation:

The error in this sentence is the word "alls," which does not follow the rules of standard written English within the context of the sentence. We should change the word to "all," with the correct phrasing as "Having been all over the world."

Example Question #1172 : 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 underlined choices repeats the answer as it is written. 

Kasia was initially confused by all of the different part involved in constructing the cabinet, but she eventually came to understand how everything fit together.

Possible Answers:

all different of the part

all of the different parts

all of the different part

all the part different

all the different part

Correct answer:

all of the different parts

Explanation:

The word "part" must be pluralized in order to reflect the use of the word "all." We should therefore change the phrase to "all of the different parts."

Example Question #101 : Correcting Agreement 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.

All film directors must be thoughtful in his use of light and shadow.

Possible Answers:

All film directors must be thoughtful in their use of light and shadow.

All film directors must be thoughtful in a use of light and shadow.

All film directors must be thoughtful in someone's use of light and shadow.

All film directors must be thoughtful in her use of light and shadow.

All film directors must be thoughtful in one's use of light and shadow.

Correct answer:

All film directors must be thoughtful in their use of light and shadow.

Explanation:

"All film directors" is a plural noun in which all film directors are described as a unified group. The example sentence incorrectly shifts to a singular pronoun ("his") later in the sentence. In order for a singular pronoun to be correct in this situation, the sentence would have to be begin "Any film director" and the preferred pronoun form is gender neutral: "Any film director must be thoughtful in his or her use of light and shadow." The use of "all" means that the film directors must be treated as a unified group of many people. The correct version of the sentence reads, "All film directors must be thoughtful in their use of light and shadow."

Example Question #1173 : 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

Even after all these time, I still do not know how to swim.

Possible Answers:

Even after all those time, I still do not know how to swim.

Even after all some times, I still do not know how to swim.

Even after all time, I still do not know how to swim.

Even after all these times, I still do not know how to swim.

Even after all this time, I still do not know how to swim.

Correct answer:

Even after all this time, I still do not know how to swim.

Explanation:

The example sentence makes a modifier error. In order for the sentence to be correct, the "time" must either be treated as a unified, grammatically singular block of time (in which case "all this time" is the correct phrasing), or treated as multiple occurrences (grammatically plural) in which case "all these times" is correct. In either case, the modifier and the word modified must agree in number. Since it is the only one of these options that is included without additional errors, the correct response reads, "Even after all this time, I still do not know how to swim." 

Example Question #1174 : 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 appeal of art is largely a subjective experience that critics nonetheless take as an objective studies.

Possible Answers:

an objective study.

the study's objective.

a studies of objectivity.

the objective studies.

an objective studies.

Correct answer:

an objective study.

Explanation:

The key issue with the underlined phrase is the simultaneous use of "an" and the plural form "studies." Either the singular "an" or the plural "studies" needs to be changed to make the forms match. "An objective study" is the correct answer choice.

Example Question #1175 : 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.

Marcus enjoyed his work, civil engineers, finding that he could have a concrete impact on this community.

Possible Answers:

Marcus enjoyed his work, finding civil engineers

Marcus enjoyed his work as civil engineers finding

A civil engineer, his work made Marcus enjoy finding

Marcus, a civil engineer, enjoyed his work, finding 

Marcus enjoyed his work as a civil engineer finding

Correct answer:

Marcus, a civil engineer, enjoyed his work, finding 

Explanation:

The major issue here is not only the misplaced modifier "civil engineers" but also modifier agreement. Note that using the plural "civil engineers" is inappropriate. The correct placement of the modifier uses the phrase to modify Marcus. To convey Marcus' profession (singular), one must adjust the modifier to agree with the singular noun. The incorrect answer choices fail to resolve both of these issues and result in awkward syntax or modifier placement errors.

Example Question #1 : Correcting Noun Noun Agreement 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.

Just one of the large family's seven children became successful entrepreneurs; the rest found more conventional jobs.

Possible Answers:

Just one of the large family's seven children became a successful entrepreneur, however, the rest found more conventional jobs.

Just one of the large family's seven children became a successful entrepreneur, the rest found more conventional jobs.

Just one of the large family's seven children became successful entrepreneurs, but the rest found more conventional jobs.

Just one of the large family's seven children became a successful entrepreneur; the rest found more conventional jobs.

Just one of the large family's seven children became successful entrepreneurs, and rest found more conventional jobs.

Correct answer:

Just one of the large family's seven children became a successful entrepreneur; the rest found more conventional jobs.

Explanation:

"Just one" is singular; therefore, the verb must be conjugated to agree with a singular subject. Entrepreneurs also must change to the singular form. The second part of the sentence is correct in the question. Semicolons can link two related, independent clauses, with or without the use of a conjunction like "however" or "therefore."

Example Question #1176 : 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.

Favoring handmade suits and buying Italian leather shoes, the young man’s ability to spend on fashion items was unparalleled among his friends.

Possible Answers:

Favored handmade suits and buying Italian leather shoes

Favoring handmade suits and buying Italian leather shoes

Favoring handmade suits, buying Italian leather shoes

Favoring handmade suits and bought Italian leather shoes

Favoring handmade suits and Italian leather shoes

Correct answer:

Favoring handmade suits and Italian leather shoes

Explanation:

The use of both "favoring" and "buying" in the opening phrase is awkward and ruins the parallelism between the suits and the shoes. Tying the two items to the same verb streamlines the phrase and makes the sentence more gramatically correct. " Favoring handmade suits and Italian leather shoes" is the only answer choice that makes the appropriate correction to the sentence.

Example Question #3 : Correcting Noun Noun Agreement Errors

Both of Tim's triplets were developing quite nicely. No error

Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all. 

Possible Answers:

Tim's 

No error 

Both

were

triplets

Correct answer:

Both

Explanation:

In this question, the nouns "both" and "triplets" disagree. Triplets would suggest three things, while "both" only applies to differentiating between two options. Therefore "both" should be replaced, perhaps with a word like "all."

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