All GMAT Verbal Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #112 : Correcting Comma 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.
She enjoyed the gentle calming breeze flowing through the park.
She enjoyed the gentle, calming, breeze
She enjoyed, the gentle calming breeze
She enjoyed the gentle, calming breeze
She enjoyed: the gentle calming breeze
She enjoyed: the gentle, calming breeze
She enjoyed the gentle, calming breeze
The words "gentle" and "calming" are coordinate adjectives: adjectives that modify the same noun separately, but are not separated with a conjunction. Coordinate adjectives need to be separated with a comma. The correct answer choice is, "She enjoyed the gentle, calming breeze."
Example Question #113 : Correcting Comma 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 child's mother, brother, and, stepbrothers all played important roles in his linguistic development.
The childs' stepbrothers, mother, brother, and all played important roles in his linguistic development.
The child's mother, brother, and, stepbrother's all played important roles in his linguistic development.
The child's mother, brother, and stepbrothers all played important roles in his linguistic development.
The child's mother, brother, and, not to mention both of her stepbrothers, all played important roles in his linguistic development.
The childs mother, brother, and stepbrothers, all played important roles in his linguistic development.
The child's mother, brother, and stepbrothers all played important roles in his linguistic development.
In a parallelism with three objects, it is generally correct to use a comma after the first two objects. All of the other answer choices contain comma splice errors or errors with the use of possessive apostrophes.
Example Question #114 : Correcting Comma 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.
However, compelling the argument, one cannot simply take a claim like that for granted.
However, compelling the argument, one cannot
However compelling the argument, one cannot
However compelling the argument one, can not
However; compelling the argument, one cannot
However compelling, the argument, one cannot
However compelling the argument, one cannot
First, "can not" and "cannot" are both considered correct in modern English. Second, the word however may be used after a semicolon to join two independent clauses. In this case the word however is being used simply as an adverb modifying the word "compelling". The incorrect answer choices create comma splice errors or use the semicolon incorrectly. The correct answer choice simply omits the comma after however and places it at the end of the dangling modifier "However...argument".
Example Question #115 : Correcting Comma 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.
A California native the producer moved to Nashville in October enthusiastic to work in Music City!
A California native the producer moved to Nashville back in October
A California native the producer moved out to Nashville in October
A California native, the producer moved to Nashville in October,
A California native, the producer, moved to Nashville in October
A California native the producer moved over and out to Nashville in October,
A California native, the producer moved to Nashville in October,
The problem here is not one of modifying the verb; rather, it is a matter of correctly using a comma to set off the dangling modifier "A California native." The correct syntax is Dangling Modifier / Comma/ Modified Noun. Eliminate the answer choices that create comma splice errors and think of the answer choices as they relate to the sentence as a whole.
Example Question #116 : Correcting Comma 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.
Therefore the president can select rates that are in the upper range of acceptable amounts from ACC 301 at Southwestern Michigan College.
Therefore the president can select rates, that are
Therefore the president, can select rates, that are
Therefore, the president can select rates that are
Therefore; the president can select rates, that are
Therefore the president can select rates that are
Therefore, the president can select rates that are
When using the conjunctive adverb "therefore" at the beginning of a sentence, it is appropriate to use a comma to set it off. All of the other answer choices demonstrate incorrect comma usage and comma splice errors.
Example Question #117 : Correcting Comma 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.
Today, diabetes, takes more lives than AIDS and breast cancer combined
Today, diabetes takes more lives than AIDS, and
Today diabetes takes more lives than AIDS, and
Today, diabetes takes more lives than AIDS but
Today, diabetes takes more lives than AIDS and
Today diabetes takes more lives than AIDS and
Today, diabetes takes more lives than AIDS and
Placing a comma after "and" results in a comma splice, separating a compound object. A comma is appropriate after the adverb "today." No other comma is needed in the sentence. In fact, using other commas results in gross mechanical errors, changing the conjunction "and" to "but" also incorrectly modifies the compound object "AIDS and breast cancer".
Example Question #118 : Correcting Comma 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 sleek modern building was a marvel for all to see.
The sleek modern building; was a marvel
The sleek modern building, was a marvel
The sleek modern building was a marvel
The sleek modern, building was a marvel
The sleek, modern building was a marvel
The sleek, modern building was a marvel
This sentence does not contain a comma where necessary. The words "sleek" and "modern" are coordinate adjectives: adjectives that modify the same noun separately, but are not separated with a conjunction. Coordinate adjectives need to be separated with a comma. The correct answer choice is, "The sleek, modern building was a marvel."
Example Question #121 : Correcting Comma 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 statue of the great, courageous, hero stood in the center of the park.
The statue of the: great, courageous, hero stood
The statue of the great, courageous, hero stood
The statue of the great, courageous hero stood
The statue of the, great, courageous, hero stood
The statue of the great courageous, hero stood
The statue of the great, courageous hero stood
This sentence contains a comma where one is not necessary. While the words "great" and "courageous" are coordinate adjectives, and, as such, should be separated by a comma after the word "great," there is no need whatsoever for a comma after the word "courageous." The second comma should be omitted. The correct choice is, "The statue of the great, courageous hero stood."
Example Question #122 : Correcting Comma 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 equipment, which the company ordered seemed to have many defects.
equipment; which the company ordered; seemed to have
equipment, which the company ordered seemed to have
equipment which the company ordered seemed to have
equipment, which the company ordered, seemed to have
equipment; which the company ordered seemed to have
equipment, which the company ordered, seemed to have
This sentence does not contain a comma where necessary. The phrase "which the company ordered is an example of a relative clause, which gives more information about its antecedent: equipment. Any such phrase that occurs in the middle of a sentence must be introduced and completed with a comma. The correct answer choice is, "equipment, which the company ordered, seemed to have."
Example Question #123 : Correcting Comma 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.
She moved to the mountains, in order to enjoy the cleaner air.
She moved to the mountains in order,
She moved to: the mountains, in order
She moved to: the mountains in order
She moved to the mountains, in order
She moved to the mountains in order
She moved to the mountains in order
This sentence misuses a comma. Commas are not used to separate prepositional phrases from a sentence unless the phrase acts as a parenthetical expression (a phrase that explains more about a particular word in the sentence). The comma should be omitted. No additional punctuation is necessary (colons do not divide up a clause). The correct choice is, "She moved to the mountains in order."