Correcting Usage Errors

Help Questions

GMAT Verbal › Correcting Usage Errors

Questions 1 - 10
1

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.

Apple revolutionized the phone industry with the introduction of it's iPhone.

with the introduction of its iPhone.

with the introduction of it's iPhone.

with the introduction of its, iPhone.

with the introduction of its' iPhone.

with the introduction of it's, iPhone.

Explanation

This sentence misuses the word "it's." It's is a contraction for "it is," but it is clear from the context of the sentence that what is needed here is the possessive form of the word: its. The possessive form of "it" does not include an apostrophe before the s. Furthermore, the form " its' " is not an actual form of "it" - it is not a word - and no comma is necessary in this sentence. The best choice is, "with the introduction of its iPhone."

2

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.

Of the eight colleges in the League, Bale considers its athletic programs to be the better.

best.

better

more competitive.

better option for student athletes.

greater.

Explanation

Since there are eight schools in the Ivy League, the superlative comparison "best" is necessary in this sentence. "Best" would only be correct if Bale were being compared to one other school.

3

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.

seemed to get worse over time.

seeming to get worse over time.

have seeming to get worse over time.

have been seemed to get worse over time.

seeming to getting worse over time.

Explanation

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."

4

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.

Recent historians have begun to reevaluate the career of General William Tecumseh Sherman, paint him as a war criminal and a monstrous villain.

painting him as a war criminal and a monstrous villain.

paint him as a war criminal and a monstrous villain.

paint him as the war criminal and the monstrous villain.

paints him as a war criminal and a monstrous villain.

paint him for a war criminal and a monstrous villain.

Explanation

The use of the verb "paint" as the first word in the final phrase is incorrect, as it needs to be a present progressive verb, "painting," to correctly describe the action continuing after the present perfect "have begun." The only answer choice that uses the correct verb form is "painting him as a war criminal and a monstrous villain," making it the correct answer.

5

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.

Janine only had one priority on Wednesday night: studied physics before her final exam the next morning.

Janine only had one priority on Wednesday night: studying physics before her final exam the next morning.

Janine only had one priority on Wednesday night; studying physics before her final exam the next morning.

Janine only had one priority on Wednesday night, and studying physics before her final exam the next morning.

Janine only had one priority on Wednesday night: and that was studying physics before her final exam the next morning.

Janine only had one priority on Wednesday night: studied physics before her final exam the next morning.

Explanation

This sentence is structured as an independent clause about a priority and then a clarification of what that priority is.

The only appropriate punctuation here is a colon, which will provide that correct structural division and allow the second part of the sentence ("studying physics before her final exam the next morning") to act as an explanation of the noun "priority."

INCORRECT EXPLANATIONS:

A semicolon connects two separate independent clauses, so that is incorrect.

Janine's priority is "studying," which is a gerund, so the past tense "studied" is incorrect.

The option that uses a comma is incorrect because the second clause is dependent and is lacking a subject.

The option that uses a colon unnecessarily includes the connector "and that was." These superfluous words cloud the sentence's meaning and make the sentence grammatically incorrect.

6

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 spokesperson noted that over the past year, a new wave of technological advances have increased the company’s profitability.

has increased the company’s profitability.

increased the company’s profitability.

will have increased the company’s profitability.

had increased the company’s profitability.

have increased the company’s profitability.

Explanation

We know that the proper tense to describe an event that happened "over the course of past year" is the present perfect, which narrows down potentially correct answer choices to either "have increased the company's profitability" or "has increased the company's profitability."

Since the subject of the increasing event is "wave," not "advances," we should go with the answer choice that uses the singular verb—"has increased the company's profitability."

7

Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English.

Boswell described his conversations with Dr. Johnson and writes that Johnson's wit was unparalleled.

Dr. Johnson and wrote that

Dr. Johnson and says that

Dr. Johnson and asserts that

Dr. Johnson and has written

Dr. Johnson: claiming that

Explanation

The example sentence features a verb tense error. Since "described" is in the past tense and the writing Boswell did about Johnson contains descriptions of Johnson, the verb "writing" should agree with the tense of "described." Replacing the underlined section with "and wrote that" is the correct answer.

While "asserts" and "says" are both potentially correct verbs to insert, those options were in the present tense, and thus would be incorrect in this context.

The phrase "and has written" would need to be a separate clause, and would require a comma preceding it to be correct.

8

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 students were shocked learning of their teacher's past life as a rock musician.

were shocked to learn

were shocked learning

were shocking to learn

were shocking learning

were shocking to learn

Explanation

The use of the verb "learn" is essentially as a modifier of the students "shock." This means that "learning" must be turned into a form that will describe why the students were "shocked." "Were shocked to learn," using an infinitive form, is the best choice among the answers.

9

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.

Problematically, the soldier had backs himself into a corner from which he could not escape.

had backed himself

had backs himself

had backed him

had back him

backed him

Explanation

The sentence describes what the soldier had already done to his own body. The use of "himself" is correct and necessary to show who the action was done to, but the action occurred in the past, meaning the appropriate verb form is "backed." The correct answer choice is "had backed himself."

10

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.

Various theories were proposed, but none prove satisfactory to the investigators.

none proved satisfactory

none prove satisfactory

none proving satisfactory

nothing prove satisfactory

nothing proving satisfactory

Explanation

The verb in the underlined portion of the sentence is in the present tense, while the verb in the first part of the sentence is in the past tense. The two verbs need to match their tenses due to the construction of the sentence. The correct answer choice is " none proved satisfactory."

Page 1 of 100