GMAT Verbal : Sentence Correction
Study concepts, example questions & explanations for GMAT Verbal
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Example Questions
Example Question #221 : Usage 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.
Were you to have chosen that restaurant, we would have to dress up.
Were you to chose
Were you to have chosen
Was you to choose
Were you to choose
Was you to chose
Were you to choose
This sentence is an example of the present subjunctive, which is most commonly used in English to express hypothetical situations, wishes, and desires. The correct long form of the sentence is “if you were to choose that restaurant,” and “were you to choose that restaurant” is simply an inversion and shortening of the long form. (“Were you to have chosen that restaurant” is the past subjunctive, which doesn’t match the future conditional form of the second half of the sentence.)
Example Question #11 : Correcting Verb Mood 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.
Touching on subjects like greed and corruption in Chilean politics and delivering a scathing condemnation of neo-liberalism, the novel will tell of one bureaucrat ’s attempts to take down Chile’s dictatorial regime.
the novel shall tell
there will be a novel telling
it is a novel that tells
it will be a novel that tells
the novel will tell
the novel will tell
The choices that include the pronoun "it" are clearly wrong because there is no noun preceding the word "it" that can be referenced. This question involves a dangling modifier. What is touching on those subjects? The novel. The novel should therefore come after the comma. Eliminate answers that do not have this structure. "Shall" is not usually used in the third person. It is usually used in the first person. It is used to make suggestions or to give offers of help. For example, "shall we go the beach" and "shall I help you with those bags". The sentence is correct as written.
Example Question #12 : Correcting Verb Mood 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 con artist evaded detection for years by conducting himself as though he were a registered clinical practitioner.
as if he was a clinical practitioner with registration.
like as if he was a registered clinical practitioner.
like he was a registered clinical practitioner.
as though he were a registered clinical practitioner.
as though he was a registered clinical practitioner.
as though he were a registered clinical practitioner.
The sentence is correct because we change "was" to "were" following a noun in situations in which the statement communicates something contrary to fact or highly unlikely.
Example Question #13 : Correcting Verb Mood 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.
Touching on subjects like corruption in Brazilian politics and delivering a scathing condemnation of globalization and liberalism, the book must tell of one politician’s failed attempt to take down a corrupt system.
it is a book that tells
the book shall tell
there will be a book telling
it will be a book that tells
the book will tell
the book will tell
The choices that include the pronoun "it" are clearly wrong because there is no noun preceding the word "it" that can be referenced. This question involves a dangling modifier. What is touching on those subjects? The book. The book should therefore come after the comma. Eliminate answers that do not have this structure. "Must" is clearly awkward. "Shall" is not usually used in the third person. It is usually used in the first person. It is used to make suggestions or to give offers of help, for example, "shall we go to the beach" and "shall I help you with those bags". The correct choice implements the simple structure "the book will tell".
Example Question #363 : Correcting Usage 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.
Initially the measure was only seen as an emergency maneuver, with the original legislation giving proscribed limits under certain circumstances.
with the original legislation giving proscribed limits under certain circumstances.
and the original legislation giving proscribed limits under certain circumstances.
with the original legislation giving proscribed limits to be used under certain circumstances.
with the original legislation having given proscribed limits under certain circumstances.
with the original legislation gave proscribed limits under certain circumstances.
with the original legislation giving proscribed limits to be used under certain circumstances.
The sentence as originally written attempts to be concise in its language, but does so at the expense of clarity and understanding. Simply adding in a small phrase to more adequately explain the full meaning of the phrase will greatly improve the sentence. The answer choice which best accomplishes this task is "with the original legislation giving proscribed limits to be used under certain circumstances."
Example Question #1 : Correcting Other Verb 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.
Historians having long noted the sharp discrepancy between the general’s own commentary about his war experience and those of the troops under his command
Historians have long noted the sharp discrepancy
Historians having long noted the sharp discrepancy
Historians having long noted the sharp discrepancies
Historians having long noting the sharp discrepancy
Historians having long noted a sharp discrepancy
Historians have long noted the sharp discrepancy
The use of the present participle "having" makes the sentence not actually contain a verb, as a participle links to other verbs to create present action. The word needs to be changed to the present active verb form to make the sentence gramatically correct. "Historians have long noted the sharp discrepancy" is the only answer choice which appropriately makes the correct change.
Example Question #142 : Correcting Verb 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.
Making up for the lack of appropriate shoes, the group all deciding to wear extra layers of socks to battle the unexpected cold snap.
the group all deciding to wear an extra layer
the group all deciding to wear extra layers
the group all decided to wear extra layers
the group's all deciding to wear extra layers
the group deciding to wear extra layers
the group all decided to wear extra layers
The use of the present participle "deciding" in this sentence is inappropriate, as the action is in the past. Therefore, the word should be changed to the past participle form. The only answer choice which makes this change is "the group all decided to wear extra layers," making it the correct answer choice.
Example Question #143 : Correcting Verb 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.
He was unpopular among his subordinates, largely because he never sought to be well liked by anyone who is working for him.
by anyone who is working under him.
by anyone who is working with him.
by anyone who is working for him.
by anyone who was working for him.
for anyone who is working for him.
by anyone who was working for him.
The underlined portion of the sentence has an inappropriate verb form, with the present tense "is" clashing with the previous use of "was." The verb needs to be changed to match the previous verb in the first part of the sentence. The only answer choice that correctly makes this change is "by anyone who was working for him."
Example Question #144 : Correcting Verb 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.
Looking back at his childhood, the old man thought fondly of close friends he had not been spoken to in decades.
he having not been speaking to in decades.
he had never been speaking to in decades.
he had not spoken to in decades.
he had not been speaking to for decades.
he had not been speaking in decades.
he had not spoken to in decades.
The use of "had not been spoken to" in this sentence is incorrect. The man had not spoken to his close friends, so his friends "had not been spoken to," by the man. The sentence incorrectly makes the man the object of this phrase. The correct answer fixes this by making the man the subject of the phrase and not the object: "he had not spoken to in decades."
Example Question #2 : Correcting Other Verb 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.
Had been immersed in the literature since childhood, he maintained an appreciation for it as an adult.
Having been immersed
Had been immersed
Immersion happening
He who had been immersed
Immersion having happened
Having been immersed
The sentence's introductory clause seems to intend to describe the subject "he," but it begins with a verb that doesn't clearly connect to the rest of the sentence and is grammatically incorrect. Introductory clauses can begin with participles, which would make much more sense in this sentence by allowing the start of the sentence to connect clearly to the subject. Of the potential answer choices, only "Having been immersed" omits the incorrect verb and replaces it with a grammatically correct participle. The other answer choices don't make sense: "Immersion having happened" and "Immersion happening" don't clearly connect the first phrase to the subject, and "He who had been immersed" introduces a grammatical error by making the sentence contain two disconnected subjects, "He who had been immersed in the literature since childhood" and "he." The corrected sentence reads, "Having been immersed in the literature since childhood, he maintained an appreciation for it as an adult."
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