GMAT Verbal : Sentence Correction
Study concepts, example questions & explanations for GMAT Verbal
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Example Questions
Example Question #81 : 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.
Expensive yoga classes tend to attract clientele who have great physical fitness, financial stability, and like to meditate.
physical fitness, financial stability and like to meditate.
physical fitness, financial stability, and like to meditate.
physical fitness, financial stability, and meditate.
physical fitness, financial stability and meditating.
physical fitness, financial stability, and a receptiveness to meditation.
physical fitness, financial stability, and a receptiveness to meditation.
It is important for a sentence to employ proper parallelism, which means that listed items should take on the same grammatical form. Here, the first two listed items are nouns ("great physical fitness" and "financial security"). Therefore, the third item should also be a noun. However, “like to meditate” is a phrase beginning with a verb, and therefore is incorrect. Changing it to a noun phrase like "receptiveness to meditation" corrects the sentence's error.
Example Question #82 : 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.
Tutoring is an effective way to learn because it forces students to focus more, spend more time preparing homework, and get better grades.
because it forces students to focus more, spend more time preparing homework, and better grades.
because it forces students to be focusing more, spend more time preparing homework, and get better grades.
because they force students to focus more, spend more time preparing homework, and get better grades.
because it forces students to focus more, more time preparing homework, and get better grades.
because it forces students to focus more, spend more time preparing homework, and get better grades.
because it forces students to focus more, spend more time preparing homework, and get better grades.
As is, the sentence is correct. All other sentence modifications introduce errors that have to do with pronouns, verb tense, or style.
Example Question #83 : 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.
The 2014 municipal elections in Turkey were so marred by violence and suspicions of fraud that both parties refused to recognize many victories.
were so marred by violence and suspicions of fraud that many victories were not recognized by both parties.
were so marred by violence and suspicions of fraud that both parties refused to recognize many victories.
were marred by violence and suspicions of fraud so that both parties refused to recognize many victories.
were so marred by violence and suspicions of fraud, both parties refusing to recognize many victories.
were marred by violence and suspicions of fraud so that many victories were not recognized by both parties.
were so marred by violence and suspicions of fraud that both parties refused to recognize many victories.
The original sentence was correct as written! The other variations either confuse the cause and effect relationship or needlessly convert the sentence to the passive voice.
Example Question #84 : 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.
While cow's milk is fatal to sloths, it is safe for them to consume goat's milk.
Cow's milk is fatal to sloths, and goat's milk is safe for them to consume.
While cow's milk is fatal to sloths, goat's milk is safe for them to consume.
While cow's milk to fatal to sloths, but goat's milk is safe for them to consume.
Cow's milk is fatal to sloths, and it is safe for them to consume goat's milk.
While cow's milk is fatal to sloths, it is safe for them to consume goat's milk.
While cow's milk is fatal to sloths, goat's milk is safe for them to consume.
The original sentence does not employ parallel structure; the first part uses "cow's milk" as its subject, and the second part has "goat's milk" as an object. Since the sentence is comparing these two types of milk, it is nice for them to be formatted similarly grammatically. The correct answer uses both milks as subjects, and it preserves the correct conjunctions for the logic of the sentence.
Example Question #85 : 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.
Even though the restaurant's promotion ended a week ago, you can get an extension if one politely inquires with the manager and asks for it to be applied.
if one inquires politely
if one can politely inquires
if one politely inquires
if you politely inquire
if politely inquiring
if you politely inquire
In order to maintain parallelism in this sentence, either "you" or "one" should be used consistently. Additionally, the use of a the verb "inquiring" is not properly constructed. Therefore, the correct answer is "if you politely inquire."
Example Question #86 : 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.
Brenda craves variety, and so she always tries to keep her exercise regimen diversified, participating in such activities as rock climbing, soccer, surfing, and she runs half marathons.
participating in such activities as rock climbing, soccer, she surfs, and she runs half marathons.
participating in such activities as rock climbing, soccer, surfing, and running half marathons.
participating in such activities as rock climbing, soccer, surfing, and she runs half marathons.
participating in such activities as rock climbing, she plays soccer, surfing, and running half marathons.
participating in such activities as rock climbing, soccer, surfing and she runs half marathons.
participating in such activities as rock climbing, soccer, surfing, and running half marathons.
The correct answer is, "participating in such activities as rock climbing, soccer, surfing, and running half marathons." This is because the word "activities" is a noun, so the activities that follow should also be presented as nouns rather than as verbs. The phrase "and she runs half marathons" uses the verb "runs," when it should actually use the noun form of "running half marathons." (The gerund, "running," though stemming from a verb, is actually functioning as a noun.)
Example Question #86 : Sentence Correction
Who should I seek advice from?
Whom should I seek advice from?
From whom should one seek advice?
(No changes needed)
From whom should I seek advice?
From who should I seek advice?
From whom should I seek advice?
We cannot end a sentence with a preposition. Also, we use the pronoun “whom” when a person is the direct or indirect object of the verb. Here, the hypothetical person who would give advice is the indirect object of the verb phrase "should seek.”
Example Question #87 : Sentence Correction
The feral Rottweiler who attacked me may have infected me with rabies.
The feral Rottweiler that attacked me may have infected me with rabies.
The feral Rottweiler whom attacked me may have infected me with rabies.
The feral Rottweiler who would have attacked me may have infected me with rabies.
The feral Rottweiler which attacked me may have infected me with rabies.
(No changes needed)
The feral Rottweiler that attacked me may have infected me with rabies.
The pronoun “who” is used for people; “that” is used for animals.
Example Question #88 : 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.
Two months ago, William protested against the school’s new policies until they were finally invited to a panel discussion with the administration.
policies until they were finally invited
policies, but then they were finally invited
policies until he was finally invited
policy until it was finally invited
policies, until they were finally invited
policies until he was finally invited
Given that the subject of the sentence is "Raul," a singular masculine noun, the pronoun "they," which is used with plural subjects, should be changed to "him." Also, the verb "were," which is used with plural subjects, should be changed to the verb "was," which is used with singular subjects. So, the correct answer is "policies until he was finally invited."
Example Question #89 : 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.
An interviewee always needs to be sure that they are dressed appropriately, well spoken, and poised.
they dress appropriately, well spoken, and poised
they are dressing appropriately, well spoken, and poised
he or she have dressed appropriately, well spoken, and poised
they are dressed appropriately, well spoken, and poised
he or she is dressed appropriately, well spoken, and poised
he or she is dressed appropriately, well spoken, and poised
In this sentence, the plural pronoun “they” does not correspond to the singular antecedent “interviewee.” The sentence is speaking about interviewees in general, which includes both men and women, so "they" should be replaced by "he or she." The correct version of this sentence would be "An interviewee always needs to be sure that he or she is dressed appropriately, well spoken, and poised."
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