GMAT Verbal : Sentence Correction

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for GMAT Verbal

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Example Questions

Example Question #701 : 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.

After the storm hit, many new buildings were built instead of reconstructing the old ones.

Possible Answers:

the town built many new buildings instead of reconstructing the old ones.

the town built many new buildings instead of: reconstructing the old ones.

the town built: buildings instead of reconstructing the old ones.

many new buildings were built instead of reconstructing the old ones.

many new buildings were built instead of: reconstructing the old ones.

Correct answer:

the town built many new buildings instead of reconstructing the old ones.

Explanation:

This sentence contains an error in verb voice. The phrase "buildings were built" is passive voice; the correct choice should be in the active voice (The subject of the clause should do the action). No additional changes are necessary. The choice that fixes this error is, "the town built many new buildings instead of reconstructing the old ones."

Example Question #702 : 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.

Strategy games were preferred by her and her friends.

Possible Answers:

Strategy games were preferred by her and her friends.

Strategy games were preferred by her, and her friends.

Strategy games were preferred, by her and her friends.

She and her friends preferred strategy games.

She, and her friends preferred strategy games.

Correct answer:

She and her friends preferred strategy games.

Explanation:

This sentence contains an error in verb voice. The phrase "Strategy games were preferred" is in the passive voice; the correct choice in the active voice (The subject of the clause should do the action). The issue here is the friend's choice, not the strategy games themselves. It is confusing and unnecessary to make the receiver of the action the grammatical subject here. The choice that fixes this issue is, "She and her friends preferred strategy games."

Example Question #1842 : Sat Writing

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.

Horses were domesticating by humans thousands of years ago.

Possible Answers:

were domesticating

were domesticated

domesticated taking place

domestication

domesticating

Correct answer:

were domesticated

Explanation:

The sentence describes what humans did to horses in the past, a fact that needs to be reflected in the verb's tense and transitivity. The correct answer must indicate that the domesticating being discussed took place in the past and was done by humans to horses, leading to "were domesticated" as the only possible answer choice.

Example Question #24 : Correcting Verb Voice 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.

His pictures were hung on the wall in order to show off the beautiful places he traveled.

Possible Answers:

His pictures were hung on the wall, in order to show off

His pictures, being hung on the wall, in order to show off

He hung his pictures on the wall in order to show off

He hung his pictures, on the wall, in order to show off

His pictures were hung on the wall in order to show off

Correct answer:

He hung his pictures on the wall in order to show off

Explanation:

This sentence contains an error in verb voice. The phrase "His pictures were hung" is in the passive voice. The correct choice should always be in the active voice (i.e. the subject of the sentence should be doing the action of the main verb). No other changes are necessary. The correct choice is "He hung his pictures on the wall in order to show off."

Example Question #31 : Correcting Verb Voice 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.

Kim was praised by her teammates for scoring the winning goal at the last second.

Possible Answers:

Kim's teammates praised for scoring the winning goal at the last second.

Kim, praised by her teammates for scoring the winning goal at the last second.

Kim was praised by her teammates for scoring the winning goal at the last second.

Kim's teammates praised her for scoring the winning goal at the last second.

Kim praised her teammates for scoring the winning goal at the last second.

Correct answer:

Kim's teammates praised her for scoring the winning goal at the last second.

Explanation:

This sentence contains an error in verb voice. The phrase "Kim was praised" is in the passive voice. The correct choice should always be in the active voice (the subject of the sentence should do the action of the sentence). The correct choice is, "Kim's teammates praised her for scoring the winning goal at the last second."

Example Question #32 : Correcting Verb Voice Errors

Which option best replaces the underlined sentence?

The video games are played by the programmers daily to test for bugs in the system.

Possible Answers:

The video games, played by the programmers, daily to test for bugs in the system.

The video games played by the programmers are daily to test for bugs in the system.

The video games are played by the programmers daily to test for bugs in the system.

The programmers play the video games daily, to test for bugs in the system.

The programmers play the video games daily to test for bugs in the system.

Correct answer:

The programmers play the video games daily to test for bugs in the system.

Explanation:

This sentence contains an error in verb voice. The phrase "The video games are played" is in the passive voice. The correct choice should always be in the active voice (the subject of the sentence should do the action of the sentence). The correct choice is, "The programmers play the video games daily to test for bugs in the system."

Example Question #33 : Correcting Verb Voice 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 band's music was acclaimed by many as innovative and thrilling.

Possible Answers:

The band's music was acclaimed by many as innovative and thrilling.

Many people thought the band's music was innovative and thrilling.

The band's music, acclaimed by many as innovative and thrilling, was written about in many magazines.

Many people thought the band's music was innovative, and thrilling.

Many people thought the music of the band was very innovative, and thrilling.

Correct answer:

Many people thought the band's music was innovative and thrilling.

Explanation:

This sentence contains an error in verb voice. The phrase "The band's music was acclaimed" is in the passive voice. The correct choice should always be in the active voice (i.e. the subject of the sentence should be doing the action of the main verb). No other changes are necessary. The correct choice is, "Many people thought the band's music was innovative and thrilling."

Example Question #34 : Correcting Verb Voice 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 held much influence in her field since her work was considered to be the best.

Possible Answers:

influence in her field, since people considered her work the best.

influence in her field, since her work was considered to be the best.

influence in her field since people considered her work the best.

influence in her field since her work was considered to be: the best.

influence in her field since her work was considered to be the best.

Correct answer:

influence in her field since people considered her work the best.

Explanation:

This sentence contains an error in verb voice. The phrase "her work was considered to be the best" is in the passive voice. The correct answer should be in the active voice (i.e. the subject of the clause should always be doing the action of the main verb). No other changes are necessary. The choice that fixes this issue is, "influence in her field since people considered her work the best."

Example Question #35 : Correcting Verb Voice 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.

Roger was asked to come into the office; little did he know, it was for a promotion.

Possible Answers:

Roger asked to come into the office

They asked: Roger to come into the office

Roger, asked to come into the office,

They asked Roger to come into the office

Roger was asked to come into the office

Correct answer:

They asked Roger to come into the office

Explanation:

This sentence contains an error in verb voice. The phrase "Roger was asked" is in the passive voice. The correct choice will usually be in the active voice (i.e. the subject of the clause should be doing the action of the main verb). No other changes are necessary. The correct choice is, "They asked Roger to come into the office."

Example Question #36 : Correcting Verb Voice 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 was excited because a new book from her favorite author was being published later this year. 

Possible Answers:

a new book from her favorite author was being published later this year. 

a new book from her favorite author was being: published later this year. 

a new book from her favorite author being published later this year. 

her favorite author publishing a new book later this year.

her favorite author was publishing a new book later this year.

Correct answer:

her favorite author was publishing a new book later this year.

Explanation:

This sentence contains an error in verb voice. The phrase "a new book from her favorite author was being published later this year" is in the passive voice. The correct choice will always be in the active voice, so this sentence needs to be rephrased. The correct choice is, "her favorite author was publishing a new book later this year."

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