GMAT Verbal › Correcting Comparative and Superlative 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.
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.
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.
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.
Between my younger sister, my older sister, and me, my older sister walks most fast.
most quickly
most fast
faster
more quickly
more quick
In the sentence as it is written, "fast," an adjective, is being used to modify "walks." This is incorrect; only adverbs can modify verbs. So, we need to pick out an answer choice which uses the adverbial form of "fast," which is "quickly." This lets us eliminate the answer choice "most fast." "Faster" cannot be correct because more than two subjects are being compared in the sentence, and "faster" is a comparative adjective that is used to compare two subjects. "More quick," "more fast," and "more quickly" can each be eliminated for this same reason, in addition to the fact that "more quick" isn't grammatically correct at all—one would say "quicker," not "more quick." This leaves us with the correct answer, "most quickly."
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 all the new players to the varsity team, he was by far the better of the five.
by far the best of the five.
by far the better of the five.
by far the better among the five.
far and away the better of the five.
by far the better of the five of them.
When a comparison is made, "better" should only be used for a comparison of two individuals, while "best" is the appropriate superlative for comparisons involving three or more individuals. This means that in this sentence, "better" should be changed to "best." The correct answer is the only answer choice that makes this change: "by far the best of the five."
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 aimed to build the most tallest building in the country.
tallest
most tallest
taller
more taller
most taller
This sentence contains an error in the usage of the superlative. Specifically, superlatives are formed either by adding -est to the end of an adjective, or adding the word most before it; both options cannot be used together. The correct choice is, "tallest."
Among my two brothers, Elliot is the tallest.
Which option best replaces the underlined sentence?
Between my two brothers, Elliot is the taller.
Among my two brothers, Elliot is the tallest.
Among my two brothers, Elliot is the taller.
Between my two brothers, Elliot is the tallest.
Among my two brothers, Elliot is tall.
The original sentence uses the superlative "tallest" when the comparative "taller" is correct. One can only be "tallest" among a group of three or more. Furthermore, the size of the group determines whether "between" or "among" is correct. "Between" is appropriate for a small group of specific objects. Compare "between New York and Pennsylvania" and "among the states of the union."
Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English.
Out of all of the potential outcomes of the deal, bankruptcy was certainly worse.
bankruptcy was certainly the worst.
bankruptcy was certainly bad.
bankruptcy certainly was worse.
bankruptcy was worse.
the worse was bankruptcy.
In this sentence "Out of all the possible outcomes" sets up the use of the superlative by suggesting that there are more than two possible outcomes, and that bankruptcy was the single worst of these many options. The correct answer is thus, "Of all the possible outcomes, bankruptcy was certainly the worst."
Unless it is explicitly stated that there were only two possible outcomes, it is incorrect to use "worse," which is a comparative adjective and would only be used if it was specifically stated that the comparison was being made between two outcomes.
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.
Hank became gratefuller after his friends helped him move.
more grateful
gratefuller
gratefully
more gratefully
gratefulled
This sentence uses the wrong form of "grateful." The correct comparative form of "grateful" is "more grateful. "Gratefulled" is not a word and "gratefully" is an adverb, meaning it describes adjectives and verbs, not nouns (i.e. Hank). The correct choice is "more grateful."
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 boys believed this actress was more cuter than all of the others.
this actress was more cute than all of the others.
this actress was more cuter than all of the others.
this actress was most cuter than all of the others.
this actress was more cutest than all of the others.
this actress was more cutely than all of the others.
This sentence contains an error in the form of the comparative adjective. When forming the comparative form of an adjective, use either the "more + adjective (i.e. more cute)" form or "adjective + -er (i.e. cuter)" form. You cannot mix the two and cannot use any words that indicate a superlative (i.e. most). The correct choice is, "this actress was more cute than all of the others."
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.
During his lifetime, few people knew about the fuller extent of his condition.
about the full extent of his condition.
about the fuller extent of his condition.
about the fuller extent for his condition.
around the fuller extent of his condition.
about the fuller extents of his condition.
The use of "fuller" is incorrect in this sentence, as "fuller" implies a comparison, but is not comparing anything in the sentence. The use of the simple adjective "full" is perfectly appropriate in the sentence, making the correct answer choice "about the full extent of his condition."
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.
Between the fraternal twins, the boy was the best athlete, while the girl was the best artist.
the boy was the better athlete, while the girl was the better artist.
the boy was the best athlete, while the girl was the best artist.
the boy was the best athlete, although the girl was the best artist.
a boy was the best athlete, while a girl was the best artist.
the boy is the best athlete, while the girl is the best artist.
When comparing only two different people or things, as happens in this sentence between "the twins," the appropriate adjective is "better." In this sentence, both instances of "best" should be changed to "better." Therefore, the correct answer choice is "the boy was the better athlete, while the girl was the better artist."