GMAT Verbal : Correcting Adjective and Adverb Errors

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for GMAT Verbal

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Example Questions

Example Question #1 : Correcting Adjective And Adverb 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 entire project took over three years to complete, a much longer time frame than the one that had been initially given by the building’s architect.

Possible Answers:

than the one that had being initially given by the building’s architect.

than the one that initially had been given by the building’s architect.

than the one that having been initially given by the building’s architect.

than the one that had been initially given by the building’s architect.

than the one that had been initially given by the buildings' architect.

Correct answer:

than the one that initially had been given by the building’s architect.

Explanation:

The placement of the adverb "initially" is incorrect in this sentence, as it places the modifier in the midst of the complex verb used in the second part of the sentence. It needs to be placed directly before the full verb construction. The only answer choice which does this is "than the one that initially had been given by the building’s architect."

Example Question #2 : Correcting Adjective And Adverb 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.

States have changed the way they finance education, allocating funds in extreme specified manners rather than in large chunks.

Possible Answers:

allocating funds for extreme specified manners

allocating funds in extremely specified manners

allocating funds in extremely specific manners

allocating funds in extreme specified manners

allocating funds in extreme specific manners

Correct answer:

allocating funds in extremely specific manners

Explanation:

In this sentence, both "extreme" and "specified" are incorrectly used, and need to take on their proper forms. The adjective "extreme" is used instead of the adverbial form, and the word "specified" is used where the related word "specific" is more appropriate. Therefore, as the only answer choice that correctly makes these changes, the correct answer is "allocating funds in extremely specific manners."

Example Question #3 : Correcting Adjective And Adverb 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 a painting style built on abstract shapes and Eastern techniques, she was by far the most unique student at the entire academy.

Possible Answers:

she was by far the most unique student at the entire academy.

she was unique among all of the students at the academy.

she was by far the most unique student among the entire academy.

she was by far the most unique student of the ones at the academy.

she was the most unique student by far at the entire academy.

Correct answer:

she was unique among all of the students at the academy.

Explanation:

"Unique" means one of a kind, and nothing can be more "one of a kind" than anything else. The phrase "by far the most unique" needs to be taken out of the sentence and rearranged to properly use "unique" in the sentence. The only answer choice which correctly uses "unique" is "she was unique among all of the students at the academy."

Example Question #4 : Correcting Adjective And Adverb 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 detectives were completely baffling by the series of murders, which had a series of odd connections and little physical evidence.

Possible Answers:

completely baffling to the series of murders,

completely baffling by the murder series,

completely baffled by the series of murders,

complete baffling by the series of murders,

completely baffling by the series of murders,

Correct answer:

completely baffled by the series of murders,

Explanation:

The use of the verb "baffling" in this sentence is incorrect, as the "detectives" are being affected by the "series of murders." This means that the verb, which in this case is used as a participle, should be placed into a past tense form. Only one choice, "completely baffled by the series of murders," correctly makes this change.

Example Question #153 : Other Usage 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. One of the answer choices reproduces the underlined portion as it is written in the sentence.

Intelligence is a trait that is actually quite difficult to measure, despite much different attempts to do so.

Possible Answers:

despite much different attempting to do so.

despite many different attempts to do so.

despite the much different attempts to do so.

despite much different attempts to do it.

despite much different attempts to do so.

Correct answer:

despite many different attempts to do so.

Explanation:

The use of "much" in the sentence is incorrect, as "much" indicates a great amount, but not a large count, and should be used for singular nouns. The correct choice should have the word "many" instead of "much." The only answer choice that makes this chnage is "despite many different attempts to do so."

Example Question #154 : Other Usage 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. One of the answer choices reproduces the underlined portion as it is written in the sentence.

Highway construction involves a great deal of planning, as it can be quite unpredictably.

Possible Answers:

if it can be quite unpredictable.

 as it can be quite unpredictable.

 as it can be quite unpredictably.

as it can be very unpredictably.

 if it can be quite unpredictably.

Correct answer:

 as it can be quite unpredictable.

Explanation:

The use of the adverb "unpredictably" is incorrect in the sentence, as it describes a noun and should be an adjective. Otherwise, the sentence is absolutely correct; therefore, the best answer choice is "as it can be unpredictable."

Example Question #42 : Other Adjective And Adverb Errors

Just as animals run when frightened, humans often have a strongly desire to flee when panicked.

Possible Answers:

had a strong desire

have a strong desire

have a strongly desire

have strong desire

had strongly desires

Correct answer:

have a strong desire

Explanation:

The underlined portion of the sentence problematically contains a misused adverb, "strongly." This needs to be turned into an adjective to appropriately describe "desire." "Have a strong desire" is the only answer choice that does this and is fully gramatically correct.

Example Question #3 : Correcting Other Adjective And Adverb Errors

Under normal circumstances, the family would have never driven up to the frighteningly looking motel.

Possible Answers:

to the frighteningly looking motel.

to a frighteningly looking motel.

for the frighteningly looking motel.

to the frightening looking motel.

to the frighteningly looked motel.

Correct answer:

to the frightening looking motel.

Explanation:

The use of the word "frighteningly" is absolutely incorrect, as it is an adverb being used to describe a gerund, or a verb that takes the form of a noun, in "looking." Gerunds need to be modified with an adjective. Therefore, "to the frightening looking motel" is the correct answer.

Example Question #951 : Word Usage 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.

Few people will ever remember too many detail from their early childhood.

Possible Answers:

too much detail

too many detail

many detail

much details

too much details

Correct answer:

too much detail

Explanation:

The two words "many" and "much" mean the same thing, "a lot of," but are used in two distinct ways. "Many" is used exclusively with counting nouns, while "much" is used with noncounting nouns; therefore, when used with "detail," "much" is correct, while "many" would be correct with "details."

Example Question #4 : Correcting Other Adjective And Adverb 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. 

Until you completely comprehend the message of the author’s first novel, you will not appreciate the equal poignant sequel.

Possible Answers:

you will not appreciate the equally poignant sequel.

only after fully appreciating the equally poignant sequel.

otherwise you will not appreciate the equally poignant sequel.

you will not appreciate the equal poignant sequel.

you did not appreciate the equally poignant sequel.

Correct answer:

you will not appreciate the equally poignant sequel.

Explanation:

The answer choice "otherwise you will not appreciate the equally poignant sequel" is another subordinate clause, so this answer choice is incorrect because it leaves the sentence with no independent clause.

In the answer choice "you will not appreciate the equal poignant sequel," "equal" is an adjective, but you must choose an adverb that modifies the adjective “poignant." "Equally" is the correct form, so this answer choice is incorrect.

The answer choice "only after fully appreciating the equally poignant sequel," is another subordinate clause, so this answer choice is incorrect. You must pick an independent clause.

In the answer choice "you did not appreciate the equally poignant sequel,"the past tense form of “did appreciate” does not agree with the insubordinate clause, which indicates that something will happen in the future (after you comprehend the message). The appropriate choice should indicate somethign that occurrs in the future, so this answer choice is incorrect.

The answer choice "you will not appreciate the equally poignant sequel" is a future-tense independent clause with the appropriate adverb form of "equally." It is correct!

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