Correcting Agreement Errors
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GMAT Verbal › Correcting Agreement 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.
The new bylaws of the organization was ratified by a unanimous vote yesterday.
The new bylaws of the organization were
The new bylaws of the organization was
The new bylaws for the organization was
The new bylaws from the organization was
The newer bylaws of the organization was
Explanation
While the singular verb "was" is next to the singular noun "organization," the subject of the sentence is the plural noun "bylaws." This means that the verb "was" needs to be changed to a plural form; therefore, "The new bylaws of the organization were" is the correct answer choice.
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.
Due to the elliptical shape of celestial orbits, the distance between the sun and the planets vary over time.
the distance between the sun and the planets varies over time.
the distance between the sun with the planets vary over time.
the distance of the sun to the planets vary over time.
the distance between the sun and the planets have varied over time.
the distance between the sun and the planets vary over time.
Explanation
The answer choice "the distance between the sun and the planets varies over time" is correct. It correctly uses a singular verb—"varies"—to match the singular subject, "distance."
All of the other answer choices are incorrect because they contain a subject-verb number agreement error. They use plural verb forms when they should use singular verb forms instead.
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 new bylaws of the organization was ratified by a unanimous vote yesterday.
The new bylaws of the organization were
The new bylaws of the organization was
The new bylaws for the organization was
The new bylaws from the organization was
The newer bylaws of the organization was
Explanation
While the singular verb "was" is next to the singular noun "organization," the subject of the sentence is the plural noun "bylaws." This means that the verb "was" needs to be changed to a plural form; therefore, "The new bylaws of the organization were" is the correct answer choice.
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.
Due to the elliptical shape of celestial orbits, the distance between the sun and the planets vary over time.
the distance between the sun and the planets varies over time.
the distance between the sun with the planets vary over time.
the distance of the sun to the planets vary over time.
the distance between the sun and the planets have varied over time.
the distance between the sun and the planets vary over time.
Explanation
The answer choice "the distance between the sun and the planets varies over time" is correct. It correctly uses a singular verb—"varies"—to match the singular subject, "distance."
All of the other answer choices are incorrect because they contain a subject-verb number agreement error. They use plural verb forms when they should use singular verb forms instead.
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 recent photographs of the giant squid are remarkable because they show these enormous living creatures as moving around in their natural environment, whereas previous pictures have been of only dead animals.
in that they show this enormous living creature moving around in its
because they show these living creatures as moving around in their
in that they show this most enormous of living creatures moving around in its
because these enormous living creatures are shown to be moving around in their
because they show this enormous living creature moving around in a
Explanation
Do not make the mistake of deciding to eliminate either ‘because’ or ‘in that’ – both are more or less the same, and they are not what is being tested. The main problem with the sentence is that suddenly the single squid has become a multitude. Thus you can immediately eliminate those containing "these creatures". You can also eliminate the phrase which changes the meaning and makes the squid one of the most enormous of all living creatures. Finally, we are talking about the creature in its natural environment and so the vague ‘a natural environment’ is not appropriate.
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.
Like supermarkets across the country, the grocery chain was seeking to offer their clientele more local and organic products to meet new consumer demands.
the grocery chain was seeking to offer its clientele more local and organic products to meet new consumer demands.
the grocery chain was seeking to offer their clientele more local and organic products to meet new consumer demands.
the grocery chain was seeking to offer their clients more local and organic products to meet new consumer demands.
the grocery chain was seeking to offer their clientele more local or organic products to meet new consumer demands.
the grocery chain was seeking to offer their clientele more local and organic products, to meet new consumer demands.
Explanation
In the underlined portion of the sentence, "the grocery chain" is singular, but the chain's "clientele" is referred to with a plural pronoun, "their." The pronoun must be changed to the possesive singular pronoun, "its." As the only answer choice that makes this correction, "the grocery chain was seeking to offer its clientele more local and organic products to meet new consumer demands" is the correct answer choice.
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.
Each of the seven gems in the Queen's crown were mined from each of the seven continents on Earth, making it representative of the Queen's desire for a worldwide empire.
was mined from each of the seven continents on Earth
were mined from each of the seven continents on Earth
were mines from each of the seven continents on Earth
were mining from each of the seven continents on Earth
was mining from each of the seven continents on Earth
Explanation
Although there are seven gems, the subject of the sentence is "Each" of the gems, which is a singular noun. Therefore, the correct phrase uses the singular past verb form—"was mined from each of the seven continents on Earth."
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.
Like supermarkets across the country, the grocery chain was seeking to offer their clientele more local and organic products to meet new consumer demands.
the grocery chain was seeking to offer its clientele more local and organic products to meet new consumer demands.
the grocery chain was seeking to offer their clientele more local and organic products to meet new consumer demands.
the grocery chain was seeking to offer their clients more local and organic products to meet new consumer demands.
the grocery chain was seeking to offer their clientele more local or organic products to meet new consumer demands.
the grocery chain was seeking to offer their clientele more local and organic products, to meet new consumer demands.
Explanation
In the underlined portion of the sentence, "the grocery chain" is singular, but the chain's "clientele" is referred to with a plural pronoun, "their." The pronoun must be changed to the possesive singular pronoun, "its." As the only answer choice that makes this correction, "the grocery chain was seeking to offer its clientele more local and organic products to meet new consumer demands" is the correct answer choice.
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 recent photographs of the giant squid are remarkable because they show these enormous living creatures as moving around in their natural environment, whereas previous pictures have been of only dead animals.
in that they show this enormous living creature moving around in its
because they show these living creatures as moving around in their
in that they show this most enormous of living creatures moving around in its
because these enormous living creatures are shown to be moving around in their
because they show this enormous living creature moving around in a
Explanation
Do not make the mistake of deciding to eliminate either ‘because’ or ‘in that’ – both are more or less the same, and they are not what is being tested. The main problem with the sentence is that suddenly the single squid has become a multitude. Thus you can immediately eliminate those containing "these creatures". You can also eliminate the phrase which changes the meaning and makes the squid one of the most enormous of all living creatures. Finally, we are talking about the creature in its natural environment and so the vague ‘a natural environment’ is not appropriate.
No one question the desire to succeed among most students in a competitive school environment.
No one questions
No one question
No question
Nobody question
No questions
Explanation
The underlined part of the sentence contains a flaw in subject verb agreement. "No one" is properly used as a singular form. Therefore, "no one questions" is the correct answer choice.