GMAT Verbal : Sentence Correction
Study concepts, example questions & explanations for GMAT Verbal
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Example Questions
Example Question #1191 : 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.
At the sound of the gun, all of the racers gripped their bicycle and set off for the finish line.
gripped their bicycles and setting off for the finish line
gripped their bicycles and set off for the finish line
gripped their bicycle and set off toward the finish line
gripped their bicycle and set off for the finish line
gripped their bicycle and set off towards the finish line
gripped their bicycles and set off for the finish line
Since we’re talking about multiple racers, we must assume that they have “bicycles” (plural). Otherwise, the sentence implies that they are all using the same bicycle (singular).
Example Question #1191 : 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.
Each of my three pets, which I bought with money I earned babysitting, are purebreds and comes with extensive pedigrees.
are purebreds and coming with extensive pedigrees.
is a purebred and coming with an extensive pedigree.
are purebreds and come with extensive pedigrees.
is a purebred and comes with an extensive pedigree.
are purebreds and comes with extensive pedigrees.
is a purebred and comes with an extensive pedigree.
Although there are three pets, the subject of the sentence is “each” of the pets, which is a singular noun; therefore, the singular “a purebred” is the correct noun, and the singular verb forms “is” and “comes” are the correct conjugations.
Example Question #1193 : 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.
There is a multitude of interesting company in the world.
of interesting company in the world.
of interesting companies in the world.
of interestings company in the world.
of interesting companys in the world.
of interesting company's in the world.
of interesting companies in the world.
This sentence contains a noun-noun agreement error. The word "multitude" is the antecedent of the word "company," but the former word indicates that the word that follows should be in the plural form, which "company" is not. Instead, it should be replaced with "companies." The correct choice is, "of interesting companies in the world."
Example Question #1194 : 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 mother and her daughters bravely defended herself against the accusations the clearly unstable store-clerk flung at them.
The mother and her daughters bravely defended herself and her daughters against the accusations
The mother and her daughters bravely defended themselves against the accusations
The mother and her daughters bravely defended themself against the accusations
The mother and her daughters bravely defended everybody against the accusations
The mother and her daughters bravely defended themselfs against the accusations
The mother and her daughters bravely defended themselves against the accusations
The pronoun "themselves" agrees with the compound subject "the mother and her daughters". The other answer choices are either gross errors in which the pronoun (herself) does not agree with the compound subject or words that simply don't exist (themself, themselfs).
Example Question #1195 : 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.
Burger Place's serving size has dramatically increased over the years, but so has Burger Royalty's and Female Name's.
and so has Burger Royalty's and Female Name's.
and so did Burger Royalty's and Female Name's.
but so did Burger Royalty's and Female Name's.
but so has Burger Royalty's and Female Name's.
but Burger Royalty's and Female Name's too.
but so has Burger Royalty's and Female Name's.
We need the "but" connecting the two clauses because "and" changes the meaning and strength of the sentence. The best option is the way the sentence was written originally. The options with "did" do not have tense agreement.
Example Question #1191 : 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.
He was never very happy during his school days, and his post-graduation depression was a completely different kind of problem.
his school days, and his post-graduation depression
his school days, therefore his post-graduation depression
his school days, so his post-graduation depression
his school days, but his post-graduation depression
his school days, then his post-graduation depression
his school days, but his post-graduation depression
The construction of this sentence makes it clear that the two parts of this compound sentence are contrasted with one another. This makes the use of the conjunction "and" to join the two a mistake, as the conjunction "but" is used to draw a sharp contrast between the two parts. As the only answer choice to use the correct conjunction, "his school days, but his post-graduation depression" is the correct answer choice.
Example Question #1192 : 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.
While evidence of the the growing influence of Punic identity in North Africa can be found in many of his writings, and it is most prominent in his many surviving letters.
many of his writings, though it is most prominent
many of his writings, but it is most prominent
many of his writings; and it is most prominent
many of his writings, it is most prominent
many of his writings, and it is most prominent
many of his writings, it is most prominent
In this case, no conjunction is needed between the two clauses. This is because the part of the sentence before the comma consists of a subordinate clause, not an independent clause. In other words, this part of the sentence cannot stand on its own. Commas followed by conjunctions are used to combine two independent clauses into a compound sentence, and since this sentence consists of a subordinate clause and an independent clause instead of two independent clauses, a comma is sufficient and the conjunction ("and") is not only unnecessary, but grammatically incorrect.
Example Question #2 : Correcting Phrase, Clause, And Sentence 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.
Neither she faltered nor she hesitated when questioned under oath.
Neither faltered nor hesitated when questioned under oath did she.
Nor she faltered nor hesitated when questioned under oath.
She faltered nor hesitated when questioned under oath.
She neither faltered nor hesitated when questioned under oath.
When questioned under oath neither she faltered nor hesitated.
She neither faltered nor hesitated when questioned under oath.
The example sentence begins with a negative word ("Neither") and uses the corresponding negative conjunction ("nor"); therefore, it must either be changed to begin with the subject, or changed to add a "do" verb immediately after "neither." In modern English it is considered smoother, and more common, to simply begin the sentence with the subject, and then treat the negative conjunction normally, rather than adding a "do" verb, but adding a "do" verb would also be grammatically correct. Of the options provided, the best solution to this conjunction error would be, "She neither faltered nor hesitated when questioned under oath."
Example Question #1191 : 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 last time it snowed, that was in February, my dad lost control of his car and hit a tree.
snowed, which was in February,
snows, that was in February,
was snowing, that was in February,
snowed, it was in February,
snowed, February was the month,
snowed, which was in February,
This is a case in which we need to decide whether to use the word "which" or "that" to introduce the clause set apart from the rest of the sentence by commas. "That" is used to introduce information absolutely necessary to the sentence's meaning, whereas "which" is used to introduce information that would not change the sentence's meaning if it were removed from the sentence. Information that is not crucial to the sentence's meaning is usually set apart by commas.
In this case, the sentence "The last time it snowed, my dad lost control of his car and hit a tree" still makes sense, so we know that the information included between the commas isn't absolutely necessary to the sentence's meaning. Plus, the information in question is being set apart from the rest of the sentence by commas. So, we should use "which," and not "that."
Example Question #1 : Correcting Phrase, Clause, And Sentence 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 repeats the underlined portion as it is written.
She carefully reviewed her case notes, such as not to be surprised in court.
She carefully reviewed her case notes, therefore not to be surprised in court.
She carefully reviewed her case notes, so as not to be surprised in court.
She carefully reviewed her case notes, not to be so surprised in court.
She carefully reviewed her case notes, but not to be surprised in court.
She carefully reviewed her case notes, such as not to have been surprised in court.
She carefully reviewed her case notes, so as not to be surprised in court.
The example sentence makes use of an incorrect conjunction. "Such" is used to indicate a result, whereas "so" is used (as a conjunction) to indicate purpose. Because the sentence is discussing someone's precautionary measure, the correct conjunction here is "so". "She carefully reviewed her case notes, so as not to be surprised in court."
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