Correcting Other Phrase, Clause, and Sentence Errors
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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. One of the answer choices reproduces the underlined portion as it is written in the sentence.
The scholarship allowed Mickey to travel all the way to France and staying in a five-star hotel.
The scholarship allowed Mickey to travel all the way to France and to stay in a five-star hotel.
The scholarship allowed Mickey to travel all the way to France and he could also stay in a five-star hotel.
The scholarship allowed Mickey to travel all the way to France and also staying in a five-star hotel.
The scholarship allowed Mickey traveling all the way to France and staying in a five-star hotel.
The scholarship allowed Mickey to travel all the way to France and staying in a five-star hotel.
Explanation
This sentence contains an error in parallelism. The verbs "travel" and "stay" must be in the same form. In the sentence as it is presented, "to travel" and "staying" do not match. The correct answer makes both of these terms infinitives: "to travel" and "to stay."
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.
Scientists have determined that the risk factors for cardiovascular disease include family history, poor diet, and having an excess of stress.
include family history, poor diet, and excessive stress.
includes family history, poor diet, and excessive stress.
tends to include family history, poor diet, and excessive stress.
include family history, poor diet, and having an excessive amount of stress.
include family history, poor diet, and having an excess of stress.
Explanation
The answer choice "include family history, poor diet, and excessive stress" is correct because it contains appropriate parallelism—in this case, a list of three noun phrases.
The original text "include family history, poor diet, and having an excess of stress" and the answer choice "include family history, poor diet, and having an excessive amount of stress" contain faulty parallelism—the last item in the list includes the verb "having" whereas the first two items in the list do not employ verbs. These answers are therefore incorrect.
Answer choices "includes family history, poor diet, and excessive stress" and "tends to include family history, poor diet, and excessive stress" are incorrect because they both use singular predicates for the plural subject, "risk factors for cardiovascular disease."
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
Explanation
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.
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
Explanation
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 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
Explanation
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. One of the answer choices reproduces the underlined portion as it is written in the sentence.
The scholarship allowed Mickey to travel all the way to France and staying in a five-star hotel.
The scholarship allowed Mickey to travel all the way to France and to stay in a five-star hotel.
The scholarship allowed Mickey to travel all the way to France and he could also stay in a five-star hotel.
The scholarship allowed Mickey to travel all the way to France and also staying in a five-star hotel.
The scholarship allowed Mickey traveling all the way to France and staying in a five-star hotel.
The scholarship allowed Mickey to travel all the way to France and staying in a five-star hotel.
Explanation
This sentence contains an error in parallelism. The verbs "travel" and "stay" must be in the same form. In the sentence as it is presented, "to travel" and "staying" do not match. The correct answer makes both of these terms infinitives: "to travel" and "to stay."
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.
Scientists have determined that the risk factors for cardiovascular disease include family history, poor diet, and having an excess of stress.
include family history, poor diet, and excessive stress.
includes family history, poor diet, and excessive stress.
tends to include family history, poor diet, and excessive stress.
include family history, poor diet, and having an excessive amount of stress.
include family history, poor diet, and having an excess of stress.
Explanation
The answer choice "include family history, poor diet, and excessive stress" is correct because it contains appropriate parallelism—in this case, a list of three noun phrases.
The original text "include family history, poor diet, and having an excess of stress" and the answer choice "include family history, poor diet, and having an excessive amount of stress" contain faulty parallelism—the last item in the list includes the verb "having" whereas the first two items in the list do not employ verbs. These answers are therefore incorrect.
Answer choices "includes family history, poor diet, and excessive stress" and "tends to include family history, poor diet, and excessive stress" are incorrect because they both use singular predicates for the plural subject, "risk factors for cardiovascular disease."
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
Explanation
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
Explanation
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.
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
Explanation
One can distinguish a from b, or distinguish between a and b. The correct answer is the only one that follows this idiomatic pattern.