GMAT Verbal : Sentence Correction
Study concepts, example questions & explanations for GMAT Verbal
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Example Questions
Example Question #421 : Correcting Word 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. One of the answer choices reproduces the underlined portion as it is written in the sentence.
The young girl was surprisingly involving in the decisions her parents made.
was surprising involved
was surprisingly involving
was surprisingly involved
was surprised involving
was surprising involving
was surprisingly involved
The underlined portion of the sentence has an odd verb usage in the word "involving." The sentence actually needs a past tense verb to make appropriate sense. "Was surprisingly involved" is the best choice among the answers.
Example Question #172 : Correcting Word 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. One of the answer choices reproduces the underlined portion as it is written in the sentence.
Having eaten little food while lost at sea, the sailors attacking their meal upon arrival on dry land.
the sailors attacking their own meal
the sailor's attacking their meal
the sailors attacking their meal
the sailors attacked their meal
the sailors' attacking their meal
the sailors attacked their meal
The use of the word "attacking" is actually not a verb in the sentence, but a gerund, that is a verb form that can be used as a noun. The word needs to be turned into the appropriate verb form. "The sailors attacked their meal" is the correct answer choice.
Example Question #171 : Correcting Word 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. One of the answer choices reproduces the underlined portion as it is written in the sentence.
The many problems accruing in the project seeming to get worse over time.
have been seemed to get worse over time.
seeming to getting worse over time.
seeming to get worse over time.
seemed to get worse over time.
have seeming to get worse over time.
seemed to get worse over time.
The use of the verb "seeming" in the sentence makes the sentence incomplete. As "seeming" is a gerund, or a verb form that functions as a noun, there is actually no verb in the sentence. The correct answer is "seemed to get worse over time."
Example Question #431 : 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. One of the answer choices reproduces the underlined portion as it is written in the sentence.
Having seen many natural wonders in his life, the general was still astonishing at the massive waterfall.
also astonishing at the massive waterfall.
still astonishing in the massive waterfall.
still astonishing to the massive waterfall.
still astonishing at the massive waterfall.
still astonished at the massive waterfall.
still astonished at the massive waterfall.
The "waterfall" makes the "general" have a feeling of astonishment. The sentence as written makes this quite confusing. To make it correct grammatically, the form of the word needs to be something the general does. "Still astonished at the massive waterfall" is the correct answer choice.
Example Question #211 : 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. One of the answer choices reproduces the underlined portion as it is written in the sentence.
Unlike his contemporaries, the painter sticking closely to shapes that could exist in reality.
a painter sticking closely
the painter sticking close
the painter sticking closer
the painter stuck closely
the painter sticking closely
the painter stuck closely
The use of the verb form "sticking," a past participle," makes the action of the sentence unclear, as such forms usually need an extra verb to clarify the action. The verb form should be change to an active tense. Thus, "the painter stuck closely" is the correct answer choice.
Example Question #62 : 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. One of the answer choices reproduces the underlined portion as it is written in the sentence.
The girls having a party commemorating the end of the school year.
The girls having a party
The girls having the party
The girls having some party
The girls are having a party
The girls having party
The girls are having a party
The sentence as constructed does not actually contain a verb. "Having" in this sentence is the present participle, which always needs a form of the verb "to be." In this sentence, the appropriate form is "are," the plural form, making "The girls are having a party" the correct answer.
Example Question #211 : 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
Gordon, having already gave several commencement speeches over the past decade, took little time and effort to prepare for his upcoming address.
Gordon, who has already given several commencement speeches
Gordon, having already gave several commencement speeches
Gordon having already given several commencement speeches
Gordon, having already given several commencement speeches
Gordon having already gave several commencement speeches
Gordon, having already given several commencement speeches
The participle of "give" is "given," not "gave." Since the verb "took" is in past tense, "having already given" is the appropriate selection here. A comma is necessary after "Gordon" to indicate the modifying appositive phrase.
Example Question #1092 : Gmat Verbal
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.
Technology leads to great changes; things that is once expensive is now cheap.
things that were once expensive is now cheap.
things that was once expensive is now cheap.
things that were once expensive are now cheap.
things that is once expensive is now cheap.
things that are once expensive are now cheap.
things that were once expensive are now cheap.
This sentence contains 3 verb errors:
- The tense of the first "is" is incorrect.
- The number of the first "is" is incorrect.
- The number of the second "is" is incorrect.
The word "once" and context indicates that the "things" were expensive in the past. They cannot be both expensive and cheap at this very moment, which is what the present tense indicates. Furthermore, "is" is singular, when "things" is plural, so the number needs to be changed from singular to plural in order for these words to agree; the correct choice here would be "were" (was is singular). Lastly, the word "is," as stated before, is singular when it needs to be plural in order to properly modify the word "things." The correct word would be "are." The correct choice is, "things that were once expensive are now cheap."
Example Question #212 : 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.
On the Call for Proposals, the Internal Revenue Service clearly indicates that these reports should be completed and submitted before the end of the fiscal year.
that these reports be completed and submitted
these forms completion and submission
these forms should be completed and submitted
that these reports should be completed and submitted
for these reports to be completed and submitted
that these reports be completed and submitted
Subjunctive constructions do not need “should.” “Indicates for” is an incorrect idiomatic usage. “These reports completion” requires “reports” to be in the possessive; regardless, it is awkwardly worded.
Example Question #213 : 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.
It ought to be him to whom you divulge your secrets, not her.
him to whom you divulge your secrets, not her.
he to whom you share your secrets, not her.
he to whom you share your secrets, not her.
him with whom you share your secrets, not she.
he with whom you share your secrets, not she.
him to whom you divulge your secrets, not her.
After the auxiliary forms of the verb "to be," we use subject forms of pronouns, except after the infinitive where we use the object form. “Divulge with” is unidiomatic.
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