GMAT Verbal : Sentence Correction

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for GMAT Verbal

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Example Questions

Example Question #5 : Correcting Other 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.

Many people consider William Shakespeare being the best English writer of all time.

Possible Answers:

William Shakespeare was the best English writer of all time.

William Shakespeare be the best English writer of all time.

William Shakespeare is the best English writer of all time.

William Shakespeare to be the best English writer of all time.

William Shakespeare are the best English writer of all time.

Correct answer:

William Shakespeare to be the best English writer of all time.

Explanation:

This sentence contains an error in verb usage. The word "to be" is being used to complete the action of "consider," so the infinitive form of this word should be used instead of "being." The correct answer is: "William Shakespeare to be the best English writer of all time."

Example Question #6 : Correcting Other 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 children saw many deers through the windows of the vehicle.

Possible Answers:

deers'

deers

does

deer's

deer

Correct answer:

deer

Explanation:

This sentence contains a pluralization error. The plural of "deer" is "deer," so the correct answer choice is "deer," as in: "The children saw many deer through the windows of the vehicle."

Example Question #7 : Correcting Other 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.

Lennard asked Carla "do you have the reports?"

Possible Answers:

asked Carla: "Do you have the reports?"

asked Carla, "do you have the reports?"

asked Carla "Do you have the reports?"

asked Carla, "Do you have the reports?"

asked Carla "do you have the reports?"

Correct answer:

asked Carla, "Do you have the reports?"

Explanation:

This sentence contains two errors. The first is a punctuation error: a comma should appear after the name "Carla," since this is where the quote begins in the sentence. This is a more appropriate choice than a colon. The second error lies in the capitalization (or lack thereof) of the word "do." The first word in a direct quote should always be capitalized. The correct answer choice is, "asked Carla, "Do you have the reports?" "

Example Question #11 : Correcting Other Errors

Which option best replaces the underlined sentence?

Some cities are now so big that we classify them as mega cities; the metro-Tokyo area - and this is amazing - has a population of over 36 million people. 

Possible Answers:

Tokyo is a mega-city with a population of over 36 million people .

Some cities are now so big that we classify them as mega cities; the metro-Tokyo area has a population of over 36 million people. 

Some cities are now so big that we classify them as mega cities; the metro-Tokyo area, and this is amazing, has a population of over 36 million people. 

Some cities are now so big that we classify them as mega cities; the metro-Tokyo area: has a population of over 36 million people. 

Some cities are now so big that we classify them as mega cities; the metro-Tokyo area - and this is amazing - has a population of over 36 million people. 

Correct answer:

Some cities are now so big that we classify them as mega cities; the metro-Tokyo area has a population of over 36 million people. 

Explanation:

While this sentence does not have anything grammatically wrong with it (the interjection is fine), it is wordy due to the inclusion of the interjection, which is somewhat unnecessary; therefore, it is best to omit it. The best choice is, "Some cities are now so big that we classify them as mega cities; the metro-Tokyo area has a population of over 36 million people."

Example Question #11 : Correcting Other 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.

Studies have found that the safer we make things, the more wreckless people act.

Possible Answers:

safer we make things, the more wreckless people act.

safer we make things, the more, wreckless people act.

safer we make things the more wreckless people act.

safer we make things the more reckless people act.

safer we make things, the more reckless people act.

Correct answer:

safer we make things, the more reckless people act.

Explanation:

This sentence contains a spelling error. "Wreckless" is not a word. It is spelled "reckless." The phrase "Studies have found that the safer we make things" is an example of an introductory phrase, explaining information necessary to the context of the sentence, but outside of the main sentence, grammatically. These types of phrases must be followed by a comma in order to separate them from the rest of the sentence, so the comma should stay where it is. The correct choice is, "safer we make things, the more reckless people act."

Example Question #12 : Correcting Other 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 worlds first University was established in Morocco.

Possible Answers:

Morocco is home to the world's oldest university.

The worlds first University was established in Morocco. 

Morocco is home to the worlds oldest university.

The world's first University was established in Morocco. 

The world's first university was established in Morocco. 

Correct answer:

Morocco is home to the world's oldest university.

Explanation:

There are three errors in this sentence:

  1. The absence of an apostrophe for "worlds"
  2. The capitalization of the word "University"
  3. The use of the passive voice in the verb "was established"

There should be an apostrophe before the "s" in "worlds" because it is possessive. Second, the word "university" should not be capitalized because the sentence is not referring to a specific university, but universities in general. Besides capitalization due to the position of a word at the beginning of a sentence, words are only capitalized when the word is a name or is referring to something specific that has already been named. Lastly, passive voice is a worse option than active voice in this case (the subject of the sentence should do the action of the sentence). The correct choice is, "Morocco is home to the world's oldest university."

Example Question #281 : 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.

Benjamin, running around his neighborhood. 

Possible Answers:

Benjamin, running around his neighborhood. 

Benjamin, ran around his neighborhood. 

Benjamin running around his neighborhood. 

Benjamin, was running around his neighborhood. 

Benjamin was running around his neighborhood. 

Correct answer:

Benjamin was running around his neighborhood. 

Explanation:

This sentence contains two errors: 

  1. "Running" is not a verb; it is a participle. Without a verb, this is not a sentence.
  2. There is no need for a comma between "Benjamin" and the "verb."

The correct choice is, "Benjamin was running around his neighborhood." 

Example Question #282 : 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.

Veronica stated, "Ralph Marston said what you do today can improve all your tomorrows."

Possible Answers:

Veronica stated, "Ralph Marston said what you do today can improve all your tomorrows."

Veronica stated, "Ralph Marston said, 'What you do today can improve all your tomorrows.' "

Veronica stated, "Ralph Marston said, "what you do today can improve all your tomorrows." "

Veronica stated, "Ralph Marston said, "What you do today can improve all your tomorrows." "

Veronica stated, "Ralph Marston said, 'What you do today can improve all your tomorrows'."

Correct answer:

Veronica stated, "Ralph Marston said, 'What you do today can improve all your tomorrows.' "

Explanation:

This sentence contains three errors:

  1. The quote "What you do today can improve all your tomorrows" is not in quotation marks.
  2. There is not a comma after "said."
  3. The word "what" is not capitalized.

Note two things: quotations inside of quotations must take single quotation marks ('), instead of the usual double quotation marks. Additionally, ending punctuation should always appear within quotation marks. The correct choice is, "Veronica stated, "Ralph Marston said, 'What you do today can improve all your tomorrows.' " "

Example Question #282 : 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.

No one clearly understood who the new marketing campaign was targeted at.

Possible Answers:

whom the new marketing campaign targeted.

who the new marketing campaign was targeted at.

who the new marketing campaign targeted.

at whom the new marketing campaign was targeted.

who the new marketing campaign is targeting.

Correct answer:

whom the new marketing campaign targeted.

Explanation:

This sentence contains two errors:

  1. The phrase "the...campaign was targeted at" is in the passive voice.
  2. The phrase "the...campaign was targeted at" contains a dangling preposition.

The verb voice error is easily fixed by changing the words "was targeted" to "targeted," but you run into another error when rewording the sentence to fix the dangling preposition. In order to fix error number two, you must reword the sentence, but then that makes "who" the object of its clause, meaning you must also change this pronoun to "whom." The correct choice is, "whom the new marketing campaign targeted."

Example Question #1850 : 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.

In the novel Death of a Salesman, Arthur Miller states when today fails to offer the justification for hope, tomorrow becomes the only grail worth pursuing.

Possible Answers:

In the novel Death of a Salesman, Arthur Miller states, when today fails to offer the justification for hope, tomorrow becomes the only grail worth pursuing.

In the novel Death of a Salesman, Arthur Miller states, "When today fails to offer the justification for hope, tomorrow becomes the only grail worth pursuing."

In the novel Death of a Salesman, Arthur Miller states, "When today fails to offer the justification for hope, tomorrow becomes the only grail worth pursuing."

In the novel Death of a Salesman, Arthur Miller states "when today fails to offer the justification for hope, tomorrow becomes the only grail worth pursuing."

In the novel Death of a Salesman, Arthur Miller states "When today fails to offer the justification for hope, tomorrow becomes the only grail worth pursuing."

Correct answer:

In the novel Death of a Salesman, Arthur Miller states, "When today fails to offer the justification for hope, tomorrow becomes the only grail worth pursuing."

Explanation:

This sentence contains four errors:

  1. The words Death of a Salesman need to be italicized since it is the title of a book.
  2. A comma should follow the word "Miller," as it separates the main clause from the following quotation.
  3. Quotation marks should be used from "When...pursuing."
  4. The word "when," which should appear in the quote, should be capitalized since it is at the beginning of the sentence.

The correct choice is, "In the novel Death of a Salesman, Arthur Miller states, "When today fails to offer the justification for hope, tomorrow becomes the only grail worth pursuing.""

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