GMAT Verbal › Correcting Other 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 me with whom you share the story with, not her.
me with whom you share the story, not her.
me with who you share the story with, not her.
me with who you share the story with, not she.
I with whom you share the story with, not her.
me with whom you share the story with, not she.
The verb "to be" means that we would use the subject forms of pronouns, except after the infinitive where we would use the object form. This sentence, however, contains an unnecessary and extraneous "with."
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.
Sania asked her friends to bring desserts to the potluck such as like cookies, cupcakes, and cake.
to the potluck like cookies, cupcakes, and cake
to the potluck such as also cookies, cupcakes, and cake
to the potluck like also cookies, cupcakes, and cake
to the potluck like such as cookies, cupcakes, and cake
to the potluck like including cookies, cupcakes, and cake
"Such as" and "like" are similar words and therefore having both next to each other in the sentence is redundant. It makes the most sense to keep only "like" in the sentence.
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 team was praised by management for their great contributions to the company.
Management praised the team for its great contributions to the company.
Management praised the team for their great contributions to the company.
The team was to be praised by management for their great contributions to the company.
The managers of the company praised the team for its great contributions to the company.
The team was praised by management for their great contributions to the company.
There are two errors in the sentence above. First, the main verb of the sentence, "praised," is in passive voice. While the passive voice is not necessarily grammatically incorrect, in this case the subject should always be doing the action of the verb, not having the action done to it for clarity's sake. Second, the word "team" is an example of a collective noun. Even though it refers to many different individuals, it is grammatically singular, so the correct modifier for it in this sentence is "its." The most clear and concise choice is, "Management praised the team for its great contributions to the company."
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.
Studies have found that the safer we make things, the more wreckless people act.
safer we make things, the more reckless people act.
safer we make things, the more wreckless people act.
safer we make things the more wreckless people act.
safer we make things the more reckless people act.
safer we make things, the more, wreckless people act.
This sentence contains a spelling error. "Wreckless" is not a word. It is spelled "reckless." The phrase "Studies have found that the safer we make things" is an example of an introductory phrase, explaining information necessary to the context of the sentence, but outside of the main sentence, grammatically. These types of phrases must be followed by a comma in order to separate them from the rest of the sentence, so the comma should stay where it is. The correct choice is, "safer we make things, the more reckless people act."
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 worlds first University was established in Morocco.
Morocco is home to the world's oldest university.
The worlds first University was established in Morocco.
The world's first University was established in Morocco.
The world's first university was established in Morocco.
Morocco is home to the worlds oldest university.
There are three errors in this sentence:
There should be an apostrophe before the "s" in "worlds" because it is possessive. Second, the word "university" should not be capitalized because the sentence is not referring to a specific university, but universities in general. Besides capitalization due to the position of a word at the beginning of a sentence, words are only capitalized when the word is a name or is referring to something specific that has already been named. Lastly, passive voice is a worse option than active voice in this case (the subject of the sentence should do the action of the sentence). The correct choice is, "Morocco is home to the world's oldest university."
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.
Veronica stated, "Ralph Marston said what you do today can improve all your tomorrows."
Veronica stated, "Ralph Marston said, 'What you do today can improve all your tomorrows.' "
Veronica stated, "Ralph Marston said what you do today can improve all your tomorrows."
Veronica stated, "Ralph Marston said, "what you do today can improve all your tomorrows." "
Veronica stated, "Ralph Marston said, "What you do today can improve all your tomorrows." "
Veronica stated, "Ralph Marston said, 'What you do today can improve all your tomorrows'."
This sentence contains three errors:
Note two things: quotations inside of quotations must take single quotation marks ('), instead of the usual double quotation marks. Additionally, ending punctuation should always appear within quotation marks. The correct choice is, "Veronica stated, "Ralph Marston said, 'What you do today can improve all your tomorrows.' " "
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.
Many people consider William Shakespeare being the best English writer of all time.
William Shakespeare to be the best English writer of all time.
William Shakespeare be the best English writer of all time.
William Shakespeare is the best English writer of all time.
William Shakespeare are the best English writer of all time.
William Shakespeare was the best English writer of all time.
This sentence contains an error in verb usage. The word "to be" is being used to complete the action of "consider," so the infinitive form of this word should be used instead of "being." The correct answer is: "William Shakespeare to be the best English writer of all time."
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 thought that it was was the duty of everyone, men, women, and children, to be involved in the various stages of political process.
He thought that everyone should be involved in politics.
He thought that it was was the duty of everyone, men, women, and children, to be involved in the various stages of political process.
He thought that it was was the duty of everyone to be involved in the various stages of political process.
He thought that it was was the duty of every man, woman, and child to be involved in the various stages of political process.
He thought that men, women, and children should be involved in the various stages of political process.
All of the above choices are grammatically correct, but all but the correct option are obviously wordy. "He thought that everyone should be involved in politics" is the correct choice because it concisely states the same idea of all the other choices. None of the other choices add any substance to this sentiment (correct answer is always the most concise).
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.
In the novel Death of a Salesman, Arthur Miller states when today fails to offer the justification for hope, tomorrow becomes the only grail worth pursuing.
In the novel Death of a Salesman, Arthur Miller states, "When today fails to offer the justification for hope, tomorrow becomes the only grail worth pursuing."
In the novel Death of a Salesman, Arthur Miller states, when today fails to offer the justification for hope, tomorrow becomes the only grail worth pursuing.
In the novel Death of a Salesman, Arthur Miller states, "When today fails to offer the justification for hope, tomorrow becomes the only grail worth pursuing."
In the novel Death of a Salesman, Arthur Miller states "When today fails to offer the justification for hope, tomorrow becomes the only grail worth pursuing."
In the novel Death of a Salesman, Arthur Miller states "when today fails to offer the justification for hope, tomorrow becomes the only grail worth pursuing."
This sentence contains four errors:
The correct choice is, "In the novel Death of a Salesman, Arthur Miller states, "When today fails to offer the justification for hope, tomorrow becomes the only grail worth pursuing.""
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.
Though it was written over 50 years ago, many regard the book The Intelligent Investor as the best book on investing.
many regard the book The Intelligent Investor as the best book on investing.
many regard the book The Intelligent Investor as the best book on investing.
many regard the book "The Intelligent Investor" as the best book on investing.
many regard the book 'The Intelligent Investor' as the best book on investing.
many regard the book "The Intelligent Investor" as the best book on investing.
As stated in the sentence, the word "The Intelligent Investor" is the title of a book. Book titles should always be underlined or italicized. The correct choice is, "many regard the book The Intelligent Investor as the best book on investing."