GMAT Verbal : Sentence Correction
Study concepts, example questions & explanations for GMAT Verbal
All GMAT Verbal Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #5 : Correcting Misplaced Or Interrupting Modifier Errors
One associates nominalism most commonly with William of Ockham, but a more careful review of the available evidence seems to suggest that it dates at least to the era of Thomas Aquinas.
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 associates nominalism most commonly with William of Ockham, but
Nominalism is most commonly associated with William of Ockham, but
William of Ockham is most associated with nominalism commonly, but
Most commonly, one associates nominalism with William of Ockham, but
With William of Ockham is nominalism most commonly associated with, but
Nominalism is most commonly associated with William of Ockham, but
The credited response shows with the greatest clarity what is being modified by "most commonly" by placing it within the verb phrase "is associated." The response also omits the unnecessary use of the pronoun "one," which makes the sentence clearer, especially later on when the pronoun "it" refers back to "nominalism" as the subject of the adjusted sentence.
Example Question #2 : Correcting Misplaced Or Interrupting Modifier Errors
The bloody Donatist crisis only came to a belated conclusion after the tireless efforts of many officials and a distant emperor.
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 belated Donatist crisis came to a bloody conclusion after only the tireless efforts of distant officials and many an emperor.
The bloody Donatist crisis only came to a belated conclusion after the efforts of many tireless officials and a distant emperor.
The Donatist bloody crisis only came to a conclusion belated after the tireless efforts of many officials and a distant emperor.
The bloody Donatist crisis only came to a conclusion belated after the efforts of many tireless officials and a distant emperor.
The bloody Donatist crisis only came to a belated conclusion after the tireless efforts of many officials and a distant emperor.
The bloody Donatist crisis only came to a belated conclusion after the efforts of many tireless officials and a distant emperor.
The credited response is the only one in which every modifier is clearly paired with its object. In this instance, "Donatist crisis" is treated as a singular object modified by "bloody," rather than "Donatist" and "crisis" treated as equally important (and interchangeable) modifiers of "crisis," as "bloody" refers not to a crisis that happened to be "Donatist," but to a specific incident in history. "Belated" modifies "conclusion"; placing it after "conclusion" implies that the efforts delayed the conclusion, rather than that the belated conclusion was reached due to the efforts. While it is common to speak of "tireless efforts," properly speaking, it would be the officials who do not tire, rather than their inanimate efforts.
Example Question #6 : Correcting Misplaced Or Interrupting Modifier Errors
Despite the injunction of the forceful Western Emperor and the mainstream influence of diminished Donatists, the Circumcellions soon took their more radical place.
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.
Despite the forceful injunction of the Western Emperor and the diminished influence of mainstream Donatists, the more radical Circumcellions soon took their place.
Despite the forceful injunction of the Western Emperor and the diminished mainstream influence of the Donatists, the more radical Circumcellions soon took their place.
Despite the forceful injunction of the Western Emperor and the mainstream diminished influence of Donatists, the more radical Circumcellions soon took their place.
Despite the injunction of the Western, forceful Emperor, and the influence diminished of mainstream Donatists, the more radical Circumcellions soon took their place.
Despite the injunction of the forceful Western Emperor and the diminished mainstream influence of the Donatists, the Circumcellions soon took their more radical place.
Despite the forceful injunction of the Western Emperor and the diminished influence of mainstream Donatists, the more radical Circumcellions soon took their place.
The credited response is the only one that correctly matches each modifier with the person, idea, or group that it modifies. "Forceful" is not usually used to describe people, for instance, and so must be paired with "injunction" rather than "the Western Emperor." "Diminished" is paired with "influence," and "mainstream" with "Donatists"; it was the influence of the most usual sort of Donatism that declined, not this more usual sort itself nor the Donatists (the individual people) themselves. Finally, "more radical" modifies "Circumcellions," as the Circumcellions were more radical than the Donatists, rather than the Circumcellions taking some predetermined place set aside for the "more radical."
Example Question #5 : Misplaced Or Interrupting Modifier Errors
Ascertaining the meaning of ancient writing is often beyond the reach of even the most learning scholars.
even the most learning of scholars.
the most learning scholars.
even scholars most learning.
even the most learned scholars.
even the most learning scholars.
even the most learned scholars.
The underlined phrase has a problem with the phrase "most learning." The phrase is describing the word "scholars." While the scholars might have "the most learning," this would make them "the most learned." The correct answer is "even the most learned of scholars."
Example Question #3 : Misplaced Or Interrupting Modifier Errors
Studies that have shown pets can help people with problems such as depression and anxiety.
Studies have shown pets that can help people with problems such as depression and anxiety.
Studies that have shown pets can help people with problems as such as depression and anxiety.
Studies that have shown pets can help people with problems such as depression and anxiety.
Studies have shown that pets can help people with problems such as depression and anxiety.
Studies that have shown pets can help people with problems such as depression or anxiety.
Studies have shown that pets can help people with problems such as depression and anxiety.
The insertion of "that" between "studies" and "have" makes the sentence unclear and strangely incomplete, as the sentence essentially becomes a dependent clause. By placing "that" after "shown," the sentence becomes much more clear and appropriately makes the dependent clause after the main body of the sentence. The correct answer choice is "Studies have shown that pets can help people with problems such as depression and anxiety."
Example Question #111 : Modifier Placement 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.
Only the time that will work for everyone is in the evenings.
Only the time that will work
Only the time that will be working
The only time that will work
Only the time which will work
Only the timing that will work
The only time that will work
The insertion of "only" at the beginning of the sentence creates confusion as to exactly what it is modifying. The word should be moved to make it clear it is modifying "time," which is the way the sentence makes the most sense. Therefore, the correct answer choice is "The only time that will work."
Example Question #7 : Misplaced Or Interrupting Modifier 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.
His manner of speech was like exactly his grandfather's.
His manner of speech was exactly like his grandfather's.
His manner of speech was like exactly his grandfather's.
His manner of speech was like exactly his grandfathers.
His manner of speech was like exactly that of his grandfather's.
His manner in speech was like exactly his grandfather's.
His manner of speech was exactly like his grandfather's.
The placement of "exactly" in the sentence is confusing, as placing it after "like" makes it seem as though the manner was almost exactly or kind of exactly. By placing "exactly" after "was," the comparison between the two manners of speech is more clear, making the correct answer "His manner of speech was exactly like his grandfather's."
Example Question #3 : Correcting Misplaced Or Interrupting Modifier 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 new information confused the merely investigative team working on the case.
The new information confused the investigative team merely working on the case.
The new information confused merely the investigative team working on the case.
The new merely information confused the investigative team working on the case.
The new information merely confused the investigative team working on the case.
The new information confused the merely investigative team working on the case.
The new information merely confused the investigative team working on the case.
The word "merely" is dangling in the middle of the sentence, seemingly modifying nothing and making little sense in the sentence. The word should be moved to indicate a clearer usage of the adverb. The place where the word makes most sense is between "information" and "confused," so it is clear that it is modifying the verb "confused."
Example Question #4 : Correcting Misplaced Or Interrupting Modifier 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 barely pushed the stone five yards, making him the contestant in last place after the round.
He barely pushed the stone five yards,
He barely pushed the stone five yards barely,
He pushed the stone barely five yards,
He pushed the barely stone five yards,
Barely he pushed the stone five yards,
He pushed the stone barely five yards,
The placement of "barely" in the sentence is extremely odd, as it seems to imply that the subject only lightly pushed, but still got the stone "five yards." The word "barely" needs to be moved to clarify that the stone "barely" made the distance. Thus, "He pushed the stone barely five yards," is the correct answer choice.
Example Question #5 : Correcting Misplaced Or Interrupting Modifier 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.
Only the issue that mattered was the territorial rights of each nation.
Only the issue that mattered
Only the issue that matters
The only issue that mattered
Only that issue that mattered
Only the issue that is mattering
The only issue that mattered
The use of "Only" at the beginning of the sentence is strange and confusing, making it unclear what it is modifying. The construction of the rest of the sentence means the word should modify "issue" directly. "The only issue that mattered" is the answer choice that correctly deploys the adjective.
All GMAT Verbal Resources
