GMAT Verbal : Sentence Correction
Study concepts, example questions & explanations for GMAT Verbal
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Example Questions
Example Question #96 : Recognizing Sentences That Contain No Errors
Bethany simply could not believe it when she was asked to join the city council; she had been waiting for an opportunity like this for years.
when she was asked to join the city consul;
when she was asked to join the city council;
when she was asking to join the city council;
when she was asked to join the city counsel;
when she was being asked to join the city council;
when she was asked to join the city council;
The sentence is best in its original form. This is a question testing your ability to make the right word choice. "Council" means committee.
Example Question #91 : 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. One of the answer choices reproduces the underlined portion as it is written in the sentence.
While some people find crossword puzzles to be tedious, others claim they can provide helpful mental stimulation.
tedious; others claim it can provide
tedious; others claim they can provide
tedious, others claim it can provide
tedious, others claim that being provided by them is
tedious, others claim they can provide
tedious, others claim they can provide
There is no error in the sentence, so its original wording is the best choice. The subject of the sentence is the plural "puzzles," so changing the pronoun to the singular "it" would be a mistake. A semicolon would create a sentence structure problem, and the last possible answer choice, "tedious, others claim that being provided by them is," unnecessarily replaces the active voice with the passive voice, making the second part of the sentence awkward and wordy.
Example Question #98 : 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 law prevented both active wiretapping and snooping.
active, wiretapping, and snooping.
active wiretapping, snooping.
active wiretapping and snooping.
active wiretapping snooping.
active wiretapping, and snooping.
active wiretapping and snooping.
The key word in the sentence is "both." This indicates that the underlined portion holds two items, "active wiretapping" and "snooping." Thus, the use of "and" appropriately separates the two items, and no punctuation is necessary.
Example Question #99 : 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.
You and I will be the ones to go into the room first.
You, I
Me and you
I and you
You and me
You and I
You and I
The appropriate use of the pronouns "you" and "I" together as the subject of the sentence is in the sentence as it is written. The correct answer is to leave it as "You and I."
Example Question #4 : Correcting Other Errors And Recognizing No Errors
The magician, known as the Magnificent Interrupter, was notable for stopping his tricks to explain them to the audience.
The magician was known as the Magnificent Interrupter, was
The magician known as the Magnificent Interrupter, was
The magician, known as the Magnificent Interrupter was
The magician known as the Magnificent Interrupter was
The magician, known as the Magnificent Interrupter, was
The magician, known as the Magnificent Interrupter, was
The phrase "known as the Magnificent Interrupter" is an interrupting phrase, a phrase that provides information, but is not necessary to the structure of the sentence. Such clauses need to be set apart from the sentence by commas, so the correct answer is to leave the sentence as it is written.
Example Question #643 : Improving Sentences
For myself, I have no further reason to disbelieve what the committee says.
For mine,
From myself,
To myself,
For me,
For myself,
For myself,
The underlined phrase perfectly fits the sentence. The preposition "for" refers appropriately to the condition of the sentence. The use of the reflexive pronoun "myself" is also correct as the subject of the sentence is the first person pronoun "I," and "myself" can refer to the subject of the sentence when used in an introductory phrase.
Example Question #1661 : Sentence Correction
Among other critiques, Martin Luther attacked the Catholic Church for the sale of indulgences, the practice of allowing congregants to purchase expiation for their sins.
indulgences, whereupon the practice of
indulgences, the practice of
indulgences being the practice of
indulgences when
indulgences; the practice of
indulgences, the practice of
The original sentence, which contains an appositive noun phrase, is best. The other options lead to illogical statements or sentence fragments.
Example Question #101 : 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. One of the answer choices repeats the underlined portion as it is written.
Working on his car was the single activity that gave the man the most pleasure in his life.
Working on his car was the single activity that giving the man the most pleasure in his life.
Working on his car was the single activity that gave the man of the most pleasure in his life.
Working on his car was the single activity that gave the man the most pleasure on his life.
Working on his car was the single activity that gave the man the most pleasure in his life.
Working on his car was a single activity that gave the man the most pleasure in his life.
Working on his car was the single activity that gave the man the most pleasure in his life.
The sentence is perfectly correct as written; nothing needs to be done to it to make it grammatically correct. In fact, all of the answer choices that do make a change create some grammatical or usage issue. The correct answer choice is to leave the sentence as it is written.
Example Question #101 : 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. One of the answer choices repeats the underlined portion as it is written.
Teenagers are given new rights and responsibilities under the law with each passing birthday.
Teenagers are given new rights and responsibilities under the law with each passing birthday.
Teenagers are given new right's and responsibility's under the law with each passing birthday.
Teenagers are given new rights and responsibilities, under the law with each passing birthday.
Teenagers are giving new rights and responsibilities under the law with each passing birthday.
Teenagers given new rights and responsibilities under the law with each passing birthday.
Teenagers are given new rights and responsibilities under the law with each passing birthday.
The sentence, although strangely worded, has no grammatical errors. Every answer choice that does change something actually makes the sentence grammatically incorrect. Therefore, the correct answer choice is to leave the sentence as it is written.
Example Question #102 : 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. One of the answer choices repeats the underlined portion as it is written.
Using a variety of skills he picked up, the scout was able to survive in the woods for the days.
Skills being used he had picked up
Using skilled variety that he picked up
Using a variety of skills picking up
Skills he used and picked up
Using a variety of skills he picked up
Using a variety of skills he picked up
The sentence is perfectly correct as written, and all the other answer choices that do make a change are either confusing or grammatically incorrect. The best answer choice is to leave the sentence as it is written.
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