GMAT Verbal : Sentence Correction
Study concepts, example questions & explanations for GMAT Verbal
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Example Questions
Example Question #2 : Correcting Appositive And Interrupting Phrase 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.
One such transitional figure Richard Melville, who worked in the time between Aquinas and Duns Scotus, developed several new positions that would later be incorporated into the work of later authors.
One such transitional figure Richard Melville, who worked in the time between Aquinas and Duns Scotus
One such transitional figure: Richard Melville, who worked in the time between Aquinas and Duns Scotus
One such transitional figure, Richard Melville, who worked in the time between Aquinas and Duns Scotus
One such transitional figure Richard Melville who worked in the time between Aquinas and Duns Scotus
One such transitional figure, Richard Melville who worked in the time between Aquinas and Duns Scotus
One such transitional figure, Richard Melville, who worked in the time between Aquinas and Duns Scotus
In this case, an appositive comes at the beginning of the sentence, renaming "Richard Melville" as "one such transitional figure" among many. Appositives must be set off by commas from the rest of the sentence if they contain information that is unnecessary for understanding the rest of the sentence. Since taking out the appositive phrase ("One such transitional figure, who worked . . .") yields a complete sentence, the appositive "Richard Melville" must be set apart by commas.
Example Question #6 : Correcting Appositive 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.
According to Thomas Aquinas the thirteenth-century philosopher, and theologian, God is not a being in the strict sense and thus, in a way, not a subject for metaphysical investigation.
According to Thomas Aquinas, the thirteenth-century philosopher and theologian, God
According to Thomas Aquinas the thirteenth-century philosopher, and theologian, God
According to Thomas Aquinas, the thirteenth-century philosopher and theologian God
According to Thomas Aquinas, the thirteenth-century philosopher, and theologian, God
According to Thomas Aquinas the thirteenth century philosopher and theologian God
According to Thomas Aquinas, the thirteenth-century philosopher and theologian, God
In the sentence, "the thirteenth-century philosopher and theologian" is an appositive that renames "Thomas Aquinas"; appositives are set off by commas at both ends, as in the credited response. No comma is needed between "philosopher" and "theologian," however. Because "thirteenth-century" is being used as an adjective in this case a hyphen is needed.
Example Question #7 : Correcting Appositive 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.
Jeremy Bentham an early advocate for various civil rights and liberties, wished for his body to be preserved and displayed after his death.
Jeremy Bentham, an early advocate for various civil rights and liberties, wished
Jeremy Bentham an early advocate for various civil rights and liberties, wished
Jeremy Bentham was an early advocate for various civil rights and liberties, wished
Jeremy Bentham: an early advocate for various civil rights and liberties, wished
Jeremy Bentham an early advocate for various civil rights and liberties wished
Jeremy Bentham, an early advocate for various civil rights and liberties, wished
"an early advocate..." is an appositive, further describing, renaming, or defining the subject of the sentence (in this case "Jeremy Bentham" is being classified as "an early advocate for various civil right and liberties"). Appositives such as these should be offset by two commas, one each before and after.
Example Question #8 : Correcting Appositive 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 seminar presentation, scheduled to take place at 2:00 had to be delayed until 3:30 because of severe technical difficulties.
The seminar presentation, scheduled to take place at 2:00, had to be delayed
The seminar presentation scheduled to take place at 2:00 had to be delayed
The seminar presentation scheduled to take place at 2:00, had to be delayed
The seminar presentation, was scheduled to take place at 2:00, and had to be delayed
The seminar presentation, scheduled to take place at 2:00 had to be delayed
The seminar presentation, scheduled to take place at 2:00, had to be delayed
"scheduled to take place at 2:00" is an appositive phrase, adding meaning to the subject "the seminal presentation. Appositive phrases such as these should be offset by commas at both beginning and end. Such phrases often rename the subject of a sentence.
Example Question #11 : Correcting Appositive Errors
Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English.
Napster, the music sharing service considered a threat to copyright protection was shut down in 2001 following intense legal scrutiny.
Napster, the music sharing service considered a threat to copyright protection was shut down in 2001 following intense legal scrutiny.
Napster, the music sharing service considered a threat to copyright protection was shut down in 2001, following intense legal scrutiny.
Napster, the music sharing service considered a threat to copyright protection, was shut down in 2001 following intense legal scrutiny.
Napster the music sharing service considered a threat to copyright protection was shut down in 2001 following intense legal scrutiny.
Napster the music sharing service considered a threat to copyright protection, was shut down in 2001 following intense legal scrutiny.
Napster, the music sharing service considered a threat to copyright protection, was shut down in 2001 following intense legal scrutiny.
"The music sharing service considered a threat to copyright protection" is a phrase modifying the subject noun "Napster." It is an appositive phrase and should, therefore, be offset by two commas. Appositives define or rename the subject of the sentence, in this case Napster (the subject) is being re-characterized as "the music sharing service considered a threat to copyright protection." The appositive must be offset with commas because it is outside of the fundamental grammatical structure of the sentence.
Example Question #1431 : 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.
For years he sought to get a pardon for his late father, until new evidence came out that convinced him his father was in fact guilty.
that convinced him his father was, in fact, guilty.
that convinced him his father was in fact guilty.
that convinced him, his father was in fact guilty.
that convinced him his father was in fact, guilty.
that convinced him his father was, in fact guilty.
that convinced him his father was, in fact, guilty.
In the underlined portion of the sentence, "in fact" is an interrupting phrase, a phrase that adds extra meaning to the sentence, but is not a part of the sentence's main structure. Any interrupting phrase must be set apart from the rest of the sentence by commas. The only answer choice that makes this correction is "that convinced him his father was, in fact, guilty."
Example Question #2 : Correcting Interrupting Phrase 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.
Working together, which was a process fraught with problems the two research teams were able to meet the incredibly tough deadline.
Working together, which was a process fraught with problems, the two
Working together, which was a process fraught with problems the two
Working together, which was a process, fraught with problems the two
Working together which was a process fraught with problems the two
Working together, which was a process, fraught with problems, the two
Working together, which was a process fraught with problems, the two
The phrase "which was a process fraught with problems" is an interrupting phrase, one that adds meaning to the sentence, but is not a part of the main structure of the sentence. All interrupting phrases must be set apart from the rest of the sentence by commas. "Working together, which was a process fraught with problems, the two" is the only answer choice which appropriately sets off the interrupting phrase.
Example Question #3 : Correcting Interrupting Phrase 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 volcano a massive geothermal spot in the middle of the landmass threatened the lives of most of the island's residents.
The volcano a massive geothermal spot in the middle of the landmass, threatened
The volcano, a massive geothermal spot in the middle of the landmass, threatened
The volcano a massive geothermal spot in the middle of the landmass threatened
The volcano, a massive geothermal spot, in the middle of the landmass, threatened
The volcano, a massive geothermal spot in the middle of the landmass threatened
The volcano, a massive geothermal spot in the middle of the landmass, threatened
The phrase "a massive geothermal spot in the middle of the landmass" functions in this sentence as an interrupting phrase, one which conditions the meaning of the sentence, but sits outside the core structure of the sentence. Any interrupting phrase must be set apart from the rest of the sentence by commas. "The volcano, a massive geothermal spot in the middle of the landmass, threatened" is the only answer choice which correctly deploys commas around the phrase.
Example Question #2 : Correcting Interrupting Phrase 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.
Another solution to the author's problem regards the least possible world: that is, one that is metaphysically simplest; as something that actually does exist, rather than a mental construct.
least possible world—that is, one that is metaphysically simplest—as something
least possible world-that is, one that is metaphysically simplest-as something
least possible world, that is, one that is metaphysically simplest, as something
least possible world that is, one that is metaphysically simplest as something
least possible world: that is, one that is metaphysically simplest; as something
least possible world—that is, one that is metaphysically simplest—as something
The use of dashes to set off the parenthetical phrase explaining what the least possible world is (rather than simply renaming it, as an appositive phrase set off by commas would do) is the best solution for this sentence.
Example Question #4 : Correcting Interrupting Phrase 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 Oxford Ordinatio (or what's left of it, at any rate), Scotus seems to suggest a moral psychology that anticipates Kant's by a good five hundred years.
In the Oxford Ordinatio (or what's left of it [at any rate]), Scotus
In the Oxford Ordinatio, (or what's left of it, at any rate), Scotus
In the Oxford Ordinatio (or what's left of it, at any rate), Scotus
In the Oxford Ordinatio (or what's left of it, at any rate) Scotus
In the Oxford Ordinatio or what's left of it, at any rate, Scotus
In the Oxford Ordinatio (or what's left of it, at any rate), Scotus
The parenthetical interrupting phrase "or what's left of it, at any rate" is associated with the phrase "In the Oxford Ordinatio," and should come before the comma that separates that phrase from the rest of the sentence. No other punctuation is needed to set off the parenthetical phrase from the phrase it is associated with, nor should this phrase be needlessly split into further parenthetical phrases.
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