GMAT Verbal : Sentence Correction

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for GMAT Verbal

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Example Questions

Example Question #66 : Recognizing Sentences That Contain No Errors

The music out in the street carried all the way up to the highest parts of the hotel building.

Possible Answers:

The music out in the street carried all the way on to the highest parts of the hotel building.

The music out in the street carried all the way up to highest parts of the hotel building.

The music out in the street carried all way up to the highest parts of the hotel building.

The music out for the street carried all the way up to the highest parts of the hotel building.

The music out in the street carried all the way up to the highest parts of the hotel building.

Correct answer:

The music out in the street carried all the way up to the highest parts of the hotel building.

Explanation:

The sentence has every grammatical and usage element correct, and does not need to be improved. The changes that are made make the sentence gramatically incorrect, confusing, or problematic in some way. The best answer choice is to leave the sentence as it is written.

Example Question #67 : Recognizing Sentences That Contain No 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.

No one had ever challenged the professor so directly, which made the student's brashness quite remarkable.

Possible Answers:

No one had ever challenged the professor so directly, which made the student's brashness, quite remarkable.

No one had ever, challenged the professor so directly, which made the student's brashness quite remarkable.

No one had ever challenged the professor so directly, which made the student's brashness quite remarkable.

No one had ever challenged the professor so directly which made the student's brashness quite remarkable.

No one had ever challenged the professor so directly; which made the student's brashness quite remarkable.

Correct answer:

No one had ever challenged the professor so directly, which made the student's brashness quite remarkable.

Explanation:

The sentence is perfectly correct as written, and needs no changes made to it in order to improve it. The answer choices that do make a change to the sentence make the sentence grammatically incorrect. The best choice is to leave the sentence alone, with no changes being made.

Example Question #68 : Recognizing Sentences That Contain No 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 young boy never stood a chance against his older classmates, but he still gave a full effort on the field.

Possible Answers:

The young boy never stood a chance against his older classmates, but he still giving a full effort on the field.

The young boy never stood a chance against his older classmates, and he still gave a full effort on the field.

The young boy never stands a chance against his older classmates, but he still gave a full effort on the field.

The young boy never stood a chance against his older classmates, but he still gave a full effort on the field.

The young boy never standing a chance against his older classmates, but he still gave a full effort on the field.

Correct answer:

The young boy never stood a chance against his older classmates, but he still gave a full effort on the field.

Explanation:

The sentence has no grammatical issues or usage problems, and needs no improvements made to it. The answer choices that do make a change to the sentence make it grammatically incorrect or create a usage issue. The best answer choice is to leave the sentence alone.

Example Question #61 : Recognizing Sentences That Contain No 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 crowd had never quite seen anything like the magician's trick, causing the sustained ovation at the end of the show.

Possible Answers:

causing the sustaining ovation at the end of the show.

causing the sustained ovation at the end the show.

causing the sustained ovation at the end of the show.

caused the sustained ovation at the end of the show.

causing the sustained ovation under the end of the show.

Correct answer:

causing the sustained ovation at the end of the show.

Explanation:

The underlined phrase has no issues, and needs nothing done to it. The answer choices that make changes actually create a problem in the sentence. The correct answer choice is to leave the sentence as it is written.

Example Question #70 : Recognizing Sentences That Contain No 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 woman was never satisfied with her husband's gifts, usually returning them within a few days of receiving them.

Possible Answers:

The woman was never satisfied with her husband's gifts, usually returning them within a few days in receiving them.

The woman was never satisfied with her husband's gifts, usual returning them within a few days of receiving them.

The woman was never satisfied on her husband's gifts, usually returning them within a few days of receiving them.

The woman was never satisfying with her husband's gifts, usually returning them within a few days of receiving them.

The woman was never satisfied with her husband's gifts, usually returning them within a few days of receiving them.

Correct answer:

The woman was never satisfied with her husband's gifts, usually returning them within a few days of receiving them.

Explanation:

The sentence is perfectly correct as it is presented in the question, and needs no improvements made to it. Additionally, the answer choices that do make a change turn the sentence into a grammatically incorrect one. The correct answer is to leave the sentence as it is written.

Example Question #61 : Recognizing Sentences That Contain No 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.

Confusingly, the novel tried to tell two separate stories at the same time, resulting in bewilderment for its readers.

Possible Answers:

Confusingly the novel tried to tell two separate stories at the same time resulting in bewilderment for its readers.

Confusingly, the novel tried to tell two separate stories at the same time resulting in bewilderment for its readers.

Confusingly, the novel tried to tell two separate stories at the same time, resulting in bewilderment for it's readers.

Confusingly the novel tried to tell two separate stories at the same time, resulting bewilderment for its readers.

Confusingly, the novel tried to tell two separate stories at the same time, resulting in bewilderment for its readers.

Correct answer:

Confusingly, the novel tried to tell two separate stories at the same time, resulting in bewilderment for its readers.

Explanation:

There are no improvements that need to be made to the sentence, as it is perfectly grammatically correct as written. All of the answer choices that do make a change actually create a grammatical issue in the sentence. The correct answer choice is to leave the sentence as it is written.

Example Question #71 : Recognizing Sentences That Contain No 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 hard as an intern, the college student was hoping to earn a full time job from the company.

Possible Answers:

The college student was hoping to earn a full time job from the company that was working hard as an intern.

Working hard as an intern, the college student was hoping to earn a full time job from the company.

Working hard as an intern for the company hoping for a full time job was the college student.

Working hard as an intern, the company hoping the college student earning a full time job.

Working hard as an intern, the full time job was hoped by the college student from the company.

Correct answer:

Working hard as an intern, the college student was hoping to earn a full time job from the company.

Explanation:

The sentence is perfectly correct as written, with no grammatical, usage, or reasoning problems. In fact, all of the answer choices that do make a change introduce some error into the sentence. The best answer choice is to leave the sentence as it is written.

Example Question #72 : Recognizing Sentences That Contain No 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 of the information, including interviews and recordings, was kept away from the investigators, in the hopes of stalling their work.

Possible Answers:

All of the information, including interviews and recordings, was kept away from the investigators, in the hopes of stalling their work.

All of the information, including interviews and recordings was kept away from the investigators, in the hopes of stalling their work.

All of the information, including interviews and recordings, was kept away, from the investigators, in the hopes of stalling their work.

All of the information, including interviews and recordings, was kept away from the investigators, in the hopes, of stalling their work.

All of the information including interviews and recordings was kept away from the investigators, in the hopes of stalling their work.

Correct answer:

All of the information, including interviews and recordings, was kept away from the investigators, in the hopes of stalling their work.

Explanation:

The sentence is perfectly corrrect as written. All of the answer choices that change the punctuation in the sentence create a punctuation error. The correct answer choice is to leave the sentence as it is written.

Example Question #63 : Recognizing Sentences That Contain No 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.

Mongol invasions greatly reshaped the entire history of the Asian continent, transforming the boundaries and nations being invaded.

Possible Answers:

Mongol invasions greatly reshaped the entire history of the Asian continent; transforming the boundaries and nations being invaded.

Mongol invasions greatly reshaped the entire history of the Asian continent, transforming the boundaries and nations being invaded.

Mongol invasions greatly reshaped the entire history of the Asian continent and transforming the boundaries and nations being invaded.

Mongol invasions greatly reshaped the entire history of the Asian continent transforming the boundaries and nations being invaded.

Mongol invasions greatly reshaped the entire history of the Asian continent, and transforming the boundaries and nations being invaded.

Correct answer:

Mongol invasions greatly reshaped the entire history of the Asian continent, transforming the boundaries and nations being invaded.

Explanation:

The sentence is perfectly correct as written, with a comma separating a dependent clause from the main body of the sentence. All of the answer choices that treat the sentence like a compound sentence make the sentence grammatically incorrect. The best answer choice is to leave the sentence as it is written.

Example Question #1631 : 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 always a hard worker, but his new job made him stay at work for even longer hours.

Possible Answers:

He was always a hard worker, but his new job made him stay at work for even longer hours.

He was always a harder worker, but his new job made him stay at work for even longer hours.

He was always a hard worker, but his new job made him stay at work on even longer hours.

He was always a hard worker, but his new job making him stay at work for even longer hours.

He was always a hard worker, but his new job made him staying at work for even longer hours.

Correct answer:

He was always a hard worker, but his new job made him stay at work for even longer hours.

Explanation:

The sentence is perfectly correct as written and needs no changes made to improve it. The answer choices that do make some change actually create a grammar or usage issue. The best choice is to leave the sentence completely alone.

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