GMAT Verbal : Sentence Correction
Study concepts, example questions & explanations for GMAT Verbal
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Example Questions
Example Question #32 : Correcting Quotation Mark 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.
Quoting one of his favorite people, he said, 'When love and skill work together, expect a masterpiece.'
he said 'When love and skill work together, expect a masterpiece.'
he said, "When love and skill work together, expect a masterpiece."
he said, When love and skill work together, expect a masterpiece.
he said, 'When love and skill work together, expect a masterpiece.'
he said when love and skill work together, expect a masterpiece.
he said, "When love and skill work together, expect a masterpiece."
This sentence does not contain the right type of quotation marks. Single quotation marks should only appear when a quote appears within another quotation. No other changes are necessary. The correct choice is, "he said, "When love and skill work together, expect a masterpiece." "
Example Question #33 : Correcting Quotation Mark 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.
Pablo Picasso once said, 'Action is the foundational key to all success.'
once said action is the foundational key to all success.
once said, "Action is the foundational key to all success."
once said, 'Action is the foundational key to all success.'
once said 'Action is the foundational key to all success.'
once said, action is the foundational key to all success.
once said, "Action is the foundational key to all success."
This sentence uses the wrong type of quotation marks. Single quotation marks should only be used when the thing being quoted appears within another quotation. Since this is a regular quotation, double quotation marks should be used. The correct choice is, "once said, "Action is the foundational key to all success." "
Example Question #34 : Correcting Quotation Mark 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.
My friend said that the country singer said, "Once you replace negative thoughts with positive ones, you'll start having positive results."
My friend said that Willie Nelson said once you replace negative
My friend said, that Willie Nelson said, 'Once you replace negative
My friend said that Willie Nelson said, "Once you replace negative
My friend said, "That Willie Nelson said, 'Once you replace negative
My friend said that Willie Nelson said "Once you replace negative
My friend said that Willie Nelson said, "Once you replace negative
This sentence contains no errors. The first part of the sentence, "My friend said that," begins an indirect statement, so neither quotation marks nor a comma are necessary because it is not a direct quotation. After the words "Willie Nelson said," however, a direct quotation starts, so a comma is necessary after that "said" and double quotation marks should surround the quote. The correct choice is, "My friend said that Willie Nelson said, "Once you replace negative. "
Example Question #35 : Correcting Quotation Mark 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.
Mark said, "Confucius said, "When it is obvious that the goals cannot be reached, don't adjust the goals, adjust the action steps." "
"Confucius said, 'When it is obvious that the goals cannot be reached, don't adjust the goals, adjust the action steps.' "
Confucius said, "When it is obvious that the goals cannot be reached, don't adjust the goals, adjust the action steps."
Confucius said, When it is obvious that the goals cannot be reached, don't adjust the goals, adjust the action steps.
'Confucius said, "When it is obvious that the goals cannot be reached, don't adjust the goals, adjust the action steps." '
"Confucius said, "When it is obvious that the goals cannot be reached, don't adjust the goals, adjust the action steps." "
"Confucius said, 'When it is obvious that the goals cannot be reached, don't adjust the goals, adjust the action steps.' "
This sentence misuses quotation marks. What we have is a quotation within another direct quote. Quotation marks should surround both "Confucius...steps" and "When...steps." The difference, however, is that, since "When...steps" is within the quotation "Confucius...steps," single quotation marks should be used for this quote. Note that single quotation marks only appear within another quotation. The correct choice is, " "Confucius said, 'When it is obvious that the goals cannot be reached, don't adjust the goals, adjust the action steps.' " "
Example Question #335 : Correcting Punctuation 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.
James liked to 'study' for tests by watching movies.
" 'study' " for tests
"study" for tests
'study' for tests
(study) for tests
study for tests
"study" for tests
This sentence misuses quotation marks. Single quotation marks are only used when a quotation appears within another quotation. In this case, a "special use" of a word, regular quotation marks should be used. The correct choice is, ""study" for tests."
Example Question #431 : Sentence Correction
In introductory histories of Scholastic thought, three figures: Thomas Aquinas, John Duns Scotus, and William of Ockham are generally considered paradigmatic.
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.
three figures—Thomas Aquinas, John Duns Scotus, and William of Ockham—are generally considered
three figures: Thomas Aquinas, John Duns Scotus, and William of Ockham, are generally considered
three figures: Thomas Aquinas; John Duns Scotus; and William of Ockham are generally considered
three figures: Thomas Aquinas, John Duns Scotus, and William of Ockham are generally considered
three figures: Thomas Aquinas, John Duns Scotus, and William of Ockham; are generally considered
three figures—Thomas Aquinas, John Duns Scotus, and William of Ockham—are generally considered
While a colon can be used to introduce a list at the end of an independent clause, the list of three figures is, in this case, a parenthetical aside explaining who the sentence is talking about. As such, it should be set off like other interrupting parenthetical clauses—as in the credited response, which uses em-dashes.
Example Question #1 : Correcting Other Punctuation 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.
Who will take care of my dog, who needs a lot of care and attention, when I go on vacation next week
Who will take care of my dog, who needs a lot of care and attention, when I go on vacation next week?
Who will take care of my dog, who needs a lot of care and attention, when I go on vacation next week;
Who will take care of my dog, who needs a lot of care and attention, when I go on vacation next week!
Who will take care of my dog, who needs a lot of care and attention, when I go on vacation next week.
Who will take care of my dog, who needs a lot of care and attention, when I go on vacation next week,
Who will take care of my dog, who needs a lot of care and attention, when I go on vacation next week?
Because the sentence starts with the word "who," it should be obvious that it is a question and thus has to end with a question mark. Don't get confused by the extra phrase that describes the dog.
Example Question #1 : Correcting Other Punctuation 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.
Marcia was overjoyed that the dog, at long last, would have a house of it's own.
Marcia was overjoyed the dog, at long last, would have a house of it's own.
Marcia was overjoyed that the dog, at long last, to have a house of its own.
Marcia was overjoyed that the dog, at long last, would have a house of it's own to have.
Marcia was overjoyed that the dog, at long last, would have a house of its own.
Marcia was overjoyed that the dog, at long last, would have a house of it's own.
Marcia was overjoyed that the dog, at long last, would have a house of its own.
"It's" is a contraction of "it is," while "its" is the possessive form of "it." We can see now how the in the first sentence, the contraction does not make sense, and should be replaced with the possessive.
Example Question #1 : Correcting Other Punctuation 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
Jeremy flew to Europe last week: He said he wanted to be alone for awhile.
Jeremy flew to Europe last week he said; he wanted to be alone for awhile.
Jeremy flew to Europe last week; He said he wanted to be alone for awhile.
Jeremy flew to Europe last week, he said he wanted to be alone for awhile.
Jeremy flew to Europe last week; he said he wanted to be alone for awhile.
Jeremy flew to Europe last week he said he wanted to be alone for awhile.
Jeremy flew to Europe last week; he said he wanted to be alone for awhile.
The example sentence uses a colon where a semicolon would be more appropriate. While a colon requires an independent clause before it, when trying to separate two independent clauses it is best to use a semicolon. Also, in the example sentence, the first letter of the second clause is incorrectly capitalized. The best version of the sentence reads, "Jeremy flew to Europe last week; he said he wanted to be alone for awhile."
Example Question #437 : 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. One of the answer choices reproduces the underlined portion as it is written in the sentence.
Josh couldn't wait for spring break to begin, he and his girlfriend had bought tickets to Costa Rica several months in advance.
Josh couldn't wait for spring break to begin, he and his girlfriend had bought tickets to Costa Rica several months in advance.
Josh couldn't wait for spring break to begin... he and his girlfriend had bought tickets to Costa Rica several months in advance.
Josh couldn't wait for spring break to begin? he and his girlfriend had bought tickets to Costa Rica several months in advance.
Josh couldn't wait for spring break to begin: he and his girlfriend had bought tickets to Costa Rica several months in advance.
Josh couldn't wait for spring break to begin; he and his girlfriend had bought tickets to Costa Rica several months in advance.
Josh couldn't wait for spring break to begin; he and his girlfriend had bought tickets to Costa Rica several months in advance.
The sample sentence uses a comma where a semicolon would be more appropriate. The semicolon properly separates two independent clauses in the sentence.
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