GMAT Verbal : Sentence Correction
Study concepts, example questions & explanations for GMAT Verbal
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Example Questions
Example Question #21 : 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. One of the answer choices reproduces the underlined portion as it is written in the sentence.
The runner was the third person only from his home country to win a medal at the games.
the third person only from his home country
the third person from only his home country
only the third person from his home country
the third person from his home country only
the only third person from his home country
only the third person from his home country
The use of "only" in the sentence is confusing, and makes it unclear what is being modified by the adjective. The word can be better used by placing it at the front of the underlined phrase to show the subject was the third person from the country; therefore, the correct answer choice is "only the third person from his home country."
Example Question #1561 : 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.
A musician can pursue a career as a solo instrumentalist or vocalist, a music teacher, or a session player after she graduates from a conservatory with a degree in music, depending on her skill and talent.
A musician can pursue a career as a solo instrumentalist or vocalist, a music teacher, or a session player after she graduates from a conservatory with a degree in music, depending on her skill and talent.
The skill and talent of a female musician, after graduating from a conservatory with a degree in music, will determine whether she can pursue a career as a solo instrumentalist or vocalist, a music teacher, or a session player.
After graduating from a conservatory with a degree in music, a musician’s skill and talent will determine if she can pursue a career as a solo instrumentalist or vocalist, a music teacher, or a session player.
After graduating from a conservatory with a degree in music, depending on her skill and talent, a musician can pursue a career as a solo instrumentalist or vocalist, a music teacher, or a session player.
Skill and talent determines whether a musician, after graduating from a conservatory with a degree in music, can pursue a career as a solo instrumentalist or vocalist, a music teacher, or a session player.
Skill and talent determines whether a musician, after graduating from a conservatory with a degree in music, can pursue a career as a solo instrumentalist or vocalist, a music teacher, or a session player.
Eliminate the choices that incorrectly imply that the degree in music depends on the skill and talent of the musician. The modifier “depending on her skill and talent” is misplaced leading to possible confusion. Eliminate the choices that imply the talent graduates from a conservatory. The final choice will not show any modifier errors and will have no errors in syntactical logic.
Example Question #1561 : 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.
We couldn't find our tent among the thousands that lined the shoreline, with its unusual flag; someone must have taken down the flag.
We couldn't find the tent among the thousands that lined the shoreline, with its unusual flag
We couldn't find our tent, with its unusual flag, among the thousands that lined the shoreline
We couldn't find our tent among the thousands that lined the shoreline with its unusual flag
We couldn't find our tent among the thousands that lined the shoreline, ours with its unusual flag
We couldn't find our tent among the thousands that lined the shoreline, our tent with its unusual flag
We couldn't find our tent, with its unusual flag, among the thousands that lined the shoreline
The problem here comes down to a misplaced modifier. The incorrect answer choices do not place the modifying phrase next to the correct noun "our tent." It may seem like the shoreline had an "unusual flag," but the clause that follows seems to suggest otherwise. It is important to understand the sentence as a whole before attempting to resolve subtle problems.
Example Question #34 : 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.
As an English as a Foreign Language instructor, one must help students mediate between their respective cultures, at an international university, and the cultural context in which said students are immersed.
At an international university and as an English as a Foreign Language instructor, one must help students mediate between their respective cultures
As an English as a Foreign Language at an international university instructor, one must help students mediate between their respective cultures
As an English as a Foreign Language instructor at an international university, one must help students mediate between their respective cultures
At an international university but as an English as a Foreign Language instructor, one must help students mediate between their respective cultures
As an English as a Foreign Language instructor, one must help students mediate, at an international university, between their respective cultures
As an English as a Foreign Language instructor at an international university, one must help students mediate between their respective cultures
The central problem here is modifier placement. The modifier "at an international university is most appropriate when written as part of the dangling modifier at the beginning of the sentence: "As an English as a Foreign Language instructor at an international university,". The other answer choices result in a modifier which inappropriately interrupts the sentence. Note the importance of thinking about the answer choices as they relate to the sentence as a whole.
Example Question #1563 : 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.
A dedicated student can pursue a career as a technician or data manager, a teacher, or a programmer after he or she graduates from our technical institute with a degree in computer science, depending on his or her area of expertise.
Depending on his or her area of expertise, after graduating from our technical institute with a degree in computer science, a dedicated student can pursue a career as a technician, data manager, teacher, or programmer.
Depending on his or her area of expertise, a dedicated student can, after graduating from our technical institute with a degree in computer science, pursue a career as a technician, data manager, teacher, or programmer.
A dedicated student can pursue a career as a technician or data manager, a teacher, or a programmer after he or she graduates from our technical institute with a degree in computer science, depending on his or her area of expertise.
A dedicated student can pursue a career as a technician or data manager or a teacher or a programmer after he or she graduates from our technical institute with a degree in computer science, depending on his or her area of expertise.
A dedicated student can, depending on his or her area of expertise, after graduating from our technical institute with a degree in computer science, pursue a career as a technician, data manager, teacher, or programmer.
Depending on his or her area of expertise, after graduating from our technical institute with a degree in computer science, a dedicated student can pursue a career as a technician, data manager, teacher, or programmer.
Eliminate the choices that incorrectly imply that the degree in computer science depends on the student's area of expertise. The modifier “depending on his or her area of expertise” is misplaced. Eliminate the choices that contain obvious errors in parallelism, such as excessive use of the conjunction "or". The correct choice will not show any modifier errors and will have no errors in syntactical logic.
Example Question #1 : Correcting Other Errors And Recognizing Correct Sentences
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.
Mercantilism was an economic theory and practice, dominant in Europe from the sixteenth to the eighteenth century, that promoted the governmental regulation of a nation's economy in order to augment state power.
that promotes
that promoted
that had promoted
that promote
that would promote
that promoted
The correct answer is the only one that uses the correct tense (the simple past) and correctly agrees with the "number" of the subject (singular).
Example Question #1 : Correcting Other Errors And Recognizing Correct Sentences
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.
Hydraulic fracturing causes earthquakes that are usually too small to be detected at the surface, although tremors attributed to fluid injection into disposal wells have been large enough to be felt by people on numerous occasions.
that are usually too small to be detected at the surface, although tremors attributed to fluid injection into disposal wells had been large enough to be felt by people on numerous occasions
that are usually too small to be detected at the surface, although tremors attributed to fluid injection into disposal wells are large enough to be felt by people on numerous occasions
that are usually too small to be detected at the surface, although tremors attributed to fluid injection into disposal wells have been large enough to be felt by people on numerous occasions
that are usually too small to be detected at the surface, and tremors attributed to fluid injection into disposal wells have been large enough to be felt by people on numerous occasions
that are usually too small to be detected at the surface, and tremors attributed to fluid injection into disposal wells were large enough to be felt by people on numerous occasions
that are usually too small to be detected at the surface, although tremors attributed to fluid injection into disposal wells have been large enough to be felt by people on numerous occasions
The correct answer uses a comma and conjunction to separate two independent clauses. Additionally, it has the correct tense (subject-verb agreement).
Example Question #2 : Correcting Other Errors And Recognizing Correct Sentences
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 flawed analyst’s research, which overstated revenue projections by 500%, led to an investment error that cost the fund nearly $20 million.
which overstated revenue projections by 500%, led to an investment error that cost the fund nearly $20 million
an investment error costing the fund nearly $20 million, overstated revenue projections by 500%
which overstated revenue projections by 500% led to an investment error that cost the fund nearly $20 million
that overstated revenue projections by 500%, led to an investment error that cost fund nearly $20 million
costing the fund nearly $20 million, led to an investment error by overstating revenue projections by 500%
which overstated revenue projections by 500%, led to an investment error that cost the fund nearly $20 million
This sentence has no errors.
Example Question #3 : Correcting Other Errors And Recognizing Correct Sentences
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 relationship between the Earth and the moon gives rise to two effects: tidal forces, which cause the tides on Earth, and torque, which slows the rotation of Earth and increases the distance between the Earth and the moon.
two effects: tidal forces and torque, which causes the tides on the Earth and increases the distance between the Earth and the moon
two effects . . . tidal forces, which cause the tides on Earth, and torque, which slows the rotation of Earth and increases the distance between the Earth and the moon
two effects; tidal forces, which cause the tides on Earth, and torque, which slows the rotation of Earth and increases the distance between the Earth and the moon
two effects: tidal forces, which cause the tides on Earth, and torque, which slows the rotation of Earth and increases the distance between the Earth and the moon
two effects. Tidal forces, which cause the tides on Earth, and torque, which slows the rotation of Earth and increases the distance between the Earth and the moon
two effects: tidal forces, which cause the tides on Earth, and torque, which slows the rotation of Earth and increases the distance between the Earth and the moon
This sentence has no errors.
Example Question #4 : Correcting Other Errors And Recognizing Correct Sentences
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 from an assumption of increased sales, the executive was blindsided by the difficulties presented by customers’ waning interest in his products.
Working from an assumption of increased sales
Working from an assumption to increased sales
Worked from an assumption of increased sales
Working an assumption of increased sales
Working from assumption of increased sales
Working from an assumption of increased sales
The sentence is perfectly fine as it is written, and needs nothing to be changed in order to make it grammatically correct. Additionally, all of the answer choices that do make a change create a grammatical problem with the sentence. Therefore, the correct answer choice is to leave the sentence as is.
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