GMAT Verbal › Correcting Other Phrase, Clause, and Sentence 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.
With just a few quick swings of his ax, the debris was cleared away by forester, allowing his vehicle to pass without obstruction.
the forester cleared away the debris, allowing his vehicle to pass without obstruction
the debris was cleared away by the forester, allowing his vehicle to pass without obstruction
the forester allowing his vehicle to pass without obstruction cleared away the debris
the forester allowing his vehicle to pass without obstruction is clearing away the debris
the debris was cleared away, the forester allowing his vehicle to pass without obstruction
Eliminate the answer choices that include the passive voice. This question also has to do with order of relevance. Consider that the initial prepositional phrase describes the forester's most relevant action. What is the most important thing the forester did? He cleared away the debris. That should be mentioned in the active voice before the fact that his action allowed his vehicle to pass. Choose the answer that most efficiently describes the primary action (in the active voice) and sets up the clauses about the consequence of his action. If the subject of the first clause is the forester "swinging" his axe, he must be the subject of the second clause to avoid a dangling modifier error.
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.
With just a few quick swings of the machete, the debris was cleared away by the guide, allowing his group to follow his path without obstruction.
the guide cleared away the debris, allowing his group to follow his path without obstruction
the debris was cleared away by the guide, allowing his group to follow his path without obstruction
the guide allowing his group to follow his path without obstruction cleared away the debris
the guide allowing his group to follow his path without obstruction is clearing away the debris
the debris was cleared away, the guide allowing his group to follow his path without obstruction
Eliminate the answer choices which include the passive voice. This question also has to do with order of relevance. Consider that the initial prepositional phrase describes the guide's most relevant action. What is the most important thing the guide did? He cleared away the debris. That should be mentioned in the active voice before the fact that he allowed his group to follow his path. Choose the answer that most efficiently describes the primary action (in the active voice) and sets up the clauses about the consequences of his action.
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.
Since her husband began playing the guitar, Martha has become far more expert a distinguisher of a tuned instrument and an out of tune instrument, a classical guitar and an electric guitar.
far more expert in distinguishing a tuned instrument from an out of tune one, a classical guitar from
far more expert a distinguisher of a tuned instrument and an out of tune one, a classical guitar and
much more expert when it comes to distinguishing a tuned instrument and an out of tune one, a classical guitar from
far more expert in distinguishing a tuned one and an out of tune one, a classical guitar or
far more the expert as far as distinguishing between a tuned instrument, an out of tune one, a classical guitar, and
One can distinguish a from b, or distinguish between a and b. The correct answer is the only one that follows this idiomatic pattern.
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.
There is no other specialized term for those who study tsunamis than "seismologist," as the study of tsunamis is but a subspecialty of those who study the Earth's movements in general.
There is no specialized term for those who study tsunamis other than
Because there is no specialized term for those who study tsunamis except
Since there is no specialized term for those who study tsunamis but for
Without a specialized term for those who study tsunamis other than as
There is no other specialized term for those who study tsunamis than
The "as" at the beginning of the sentence’s final clause, "as the study of…" makes that clause dependent—it can’t stand on its own. Thus, the underlined clause must remain independent, or else the sentence will become a fragment.
The word "seismologist" must be linked to noun phrase that begins "no specialized term…" with a word that makes sense in context and is idiomatically correct.
"Other than" makes perfect sense in context, and adding a conjunction to the beginning of the sentence would leave us with two dependent clauses.
Their dog will always be loved by them.
What sentence best replaces the underlined sentence above?
They will always love their dog.
Their always going to love their dog.
They're dog will always be loved by them.
Their dog will always be loved by them.
Their dog will always be loved (by them).
Sentences should almost always be written in the active voice, rather than the passive voice. There is no need for parentheses, and "their" is correct, not "they're." So "They will always love their dog" is the best answer.
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.
After the school vandalism incident, the principal ordered the teachers to make a list of students who were most likely to have committed the offence.
to make a list of students most likely to have committed the offence.
to make a list of students who was most likely to commit the offence.
to make a list of students who would most likely to commit the offence.
to make a list of students who were most likely to commit the offence.
to make a list of students who most likely to commit the offence.
We need to choose the best version of the sentence. In this case, the simplest version is the best! We also can eliminate any sentences that are not grammatically correct, or that change the meaning of the sentence, or are not in the correct tense. That eliminates all of the other options.
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.
Mr. and Mrs. Jeffries are nervous about finding out where they will be accepted to graduate school, as where they are accepted may force them to have a long-distance relationship and they have never had that before.
may force them to have a long-distance relationship, which they have never had before.
may force them to have a long-distance relationship and they have never had that before.
may be forcing them to have a long-distance relationship, which they have never had that before.
may be forcing them to have a long-distance relationship, and that is something they have never had that before.
may force them to have a long-distance relationship, and they have not had a long-distance relationship before.
The correct answer is: "may force them to have a long-distance relationship, which they have never had before," because it is the most efficiently phrased and is grammatically correct.
The answer choice "may force them to have a long-distance relationship, and they have not had a long-distance relationship before" is incorrect because the phrase "and they have not" is unnecessarily wordy compared to the correct answer.
The answer choice "may be forcing them to have a long-distance relationship, and that is something they have never had that before" is incorrect because "may be forcing" refers to present action, and Mr. and Mrs. Jeffries have not yet found out where they have been accepted to graduate school.
The answer choice "may be forcing them to have a long-distance relationship, which they have never had that before" is wrong because "which they have never had that before" is grammatically improper.
The answer choice "may force them to have a long-distance relationship and they have never had that before" is somewhat of a run-on sentence, and the correct answer is more succinctly phrased.
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.
If animals are not sufficiently played with and fed before bed, they can become agitated, bored, and perhaps even threatening their human owners.
and may even threaten their human owners.
and perhaps even threatening their human owners.
and may even threat their human owners.
and perhaps threat their human owners.
and possibly even threatening their human owners.
The best option is the simplest one. "Perhaps even threatening" is not grammatically correct, and the best replacement is "and may even threaten." We need the underlined portion is be grammatically correct and in the correct tense. The only option that does that is "may even threaten."
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 Great Gatsby examined the cultural excesses of America in the 1920's.
examines the cultural excesses
examined the cultural excesses
did examine the cultural excesses
examined the cultural excesses
has examined the cultural excesses
Present tense is always preferable when referring to existing works. The book was written in the past but still exists in the present.
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.
Unlike that of burgers made from various meats, those of vegetable origin are not only nutritious, but also wholesome.
Unlike
Unlike that of
Unlike those of
Dissimilar to
Similar to
The simplest version is the best version. "Unlike that of" is very wordy with not adding anything significant. Reducing this to just "unlike" is the best option. Other options change the meaning of the sentence ("similar"), or are not the best option.