Gmat Sentence Correction

Front 1

To exchange X for Y

Back 1

To exchange X for Y

Front 2

Different from one another

Back 2

Different one from the other is wrong

Front 3

X is unknown, nor it is known

Back 3

C

Front 4

To ratify

Back 4

(At ratifying is incorrect) An attempt to ratify is the correct use

Front 5

Allergy to

Back 5

(Allergy of, allergy for are incorrect)

Front 6

Any Sentence construction with ‘preposition + noun + participle’ is wrong

Back 6

Any Sentence construction with ‘preposition + noun + participle’ is wrong

Front 7

Just as… So too

Back 7

Just as His Children Are Alive, So Too, He is Alive.
Just as the French like their wine, so the English like their beer.

Front 8

X is different from Y

Back 8

X is different from Y

Front 9

Same as X..as to Y

Back 9

Same as X..as to Y

Front 10

From X to Y

Back 10

Grow from 2 million to 3 billion, From X up to Y is wrong

Front 11

Estimated to be
Believe X to be Y
Acclaimed as
Distinguish between X and Y
In an attempt to
Worried about

Back 11

Acclaimed to be
Distinguish between X and Y (2 very different items, distinguished, say red and
green colors)
Some color blind people cannot distinguish between red and green
55) Distinguish X from Y (Two pretty similar items, say original paintings from fake ones)

Front 12

Both X and Y (Both X as well as Y is incorrect
Both on X or on Y is correct

Back 12

(Both X as well as Y is incorrect

Front 13

Adverb twice cannot be an object of proposition ‘by’.
‘Increase by twice’ is incorrect; ‘doubled’ is correct

Back 13

Adverb twice cannot be an object of proposition ‘by’.
‘Increase by twice’ is incorrect; ‘doubled’ is correct

Front 14

So X as to be Y

Back 14

So unreal as to be true

Front 15

x forbids y to do z
x prohibits y from doing z.

Back 15

x forbids y to do z
x prohibits y from doing z.

Front 16

Credit X with discovering Y

Back 16

Credit with doing something

Front 17

Credit X Rupees to Y’s account

Back 17

Credit X Rupees to Y’s account

Front 18

Concerned for – worried;

Back 18

concerned with – related/affliated

Front 19

At least as strong as…(At least as great as)

Back 19

At least as strong as…(At least as great as)

Front 20

Intent on

Back 20

Intent on

Front 21

Descendent of

Back 21

Descendent for is incorrect

Front 22

Adapted for

Back 22

Adapted for

Front 23

So X that Y

Back 23

So poor that they steal

Front 24

Potential for causing

Back 24

In large doses, analgesics that work in the brain as antagonists to
certain chemicals have caused psychological disturbances in
patients, which may limit their potential to relieve severe pain.
(A) which may limit their potential to relieve
(B) which may limit their potential for relieving
(C) which may limit such analgesics’ potential to relieve
(D) an effect that may limit their potential to relieve
(E) an effect that may limit the potential of such analgesics for
relieving --> R

Front 25

Aid in

Back 25

Aid for is incorrect

Front 26

When ‘consider’ means ‘regard as’, ‘as’ should not be present
with ‘consider’ in the sentence. Consider must directly be followed by the sentence without an infinitive like ‘to be’ etc.

Back 26

Some students of literary criticism consider the
theories of Blaine to be a huge advance in modern
critical thinking and question the need to study the
discounted theories of Rauthe and Wilson

a huge advance in critical thinking and
question (When consider means regard as, no need of as)

Front 27

Critics consider correction facilities to be an integral part of communal system. -
Incorrect

Back 27

Critics consider correction facilities an integral part of communal system. –
Correct

Front 28

regard as

Back 28

Critics consider correction facilities an integral part of communal system. –
Correct

Front 29

The pattern to remember is ‘one of the NOUN (this noun will always
be plural) + that/who + PLURAL VERB

Back 29

This is one of the cars that run on hydrogen

Front 30

Any of the stockholders who disapprove – is the right use

Back 30

Any of the stockholders who disapprove – is the right use

Front 31

Three cats, each eat

Back 31

Three cats, each of which eats

Front 32

A sentence like ‘X is one of the Y that are. Are is the correct use. Such a sentence
always should have a subject verb agreement with Y and not with X.

Back 32

A sentence like ‘X is one of the Y that are. Are is the correct use. Such a sentence
always should have a subject verb agreement with Y and not with X.

Front 33

With its plan to develop seven and a half acres of shore land, Cleveland is but one
of a large number of communities on the Great Lakes that is looking to its
waterfront as a way to improve the quality of urban life and attract new
businesses.
(A) is looking to its waterfront as a way to improve the quality of urban life and
attract
(B) is looking at its waterfront to improve the quality of urban life and attract
(C) are looking to their waterfronts to improve the quality of urban life and attract
(D) are looking to its waterfront as a way of improving the quality of urban life and
attracting
(E) are looking at their waterfronts as a way they can improve the quality of urban
life and attract

Back 33

C

Front 34

To be + Complement: Points to present tense

Back 34

The depletion of ozone layer is
believed to be the cause of all problems

Front 35

To have been:Points to past tense

Back 35

The impact of meteorite is believed to have caused the extinction of dinosaurs

Front 36

That parallelism

Back 36

Many agree that there is waste…and that government is
rubbish

Front 37

When the subject is plural use a plural verb.
e.g. In laws of motion, there is a condition and its converse regarding bodies at
rest and bodies in motion. – This is incorrect.

Back 37

The correct sentence would be : In laws of motion, there are a condition and its
converse regarding bodies at rest and bodies in motion.

Front 38

Use fewer to modify a plural noun

Back 38

Example: I have fewer papers to
write than last year.

Front 39

Use less to modify a singular noun.

Back 39

Example: You’ll need less paper if
you type your report.

Front 40

When drive-ins were at the
height of their popularity in the
late 50's , some 4000 existed in
the United States, but today there
are less than one-quarter that
many
B. there are fewer than one
quarter as many
c. there are fewer than one
quarter of that amount
D.the number is less than one
quarter of that amount
E. it is less than one quarter of
that amount

Back 40

Fewer is correct, as highways
are countable (4000/4) =
1000. So, C is the answer.

Front 41

Less (Also used for sums of money
as in above sentence, periods of
time and distance, or while citing
numerical or statistical data)

Back 41

It's less than twenty
miles to Dallas.
• He's less than six feet
tall.
• Your essayshould be
a thousand words or
less.

Front 42

With a total population of less
than two hundred and xfewer
breeding females than ever
before, the American
crocodile seemed a decade
ago to be in danger of
disappearing.

Back 42

(A) of less than two
hundred and fewer --> C
(B) lower than two hundred
and less
(C) lesser than two hundred
and fewer
(D) fewer than two hundred
and less
(E) of fewer than two
hundred and of fewer

Front 43

I decided that I would either take my daughter to the cinema or go by myself.
I would either take my daughter to the cinema or go by myself.
I either would take my daughter to the cinema or go by myself.
I would either take my daughter to the cinema or else I would myself go.
either I would take my daughter to the cinema or go by myself.
either I would myself go to the cinema or take my daughter.

Back 43

XXX: take my daughter to the cinema
YYY: go by myself
(This is correct - they are both clauses starting with a verb. After all, A (the original text) is
the correct answer.

Front 44

When two adjectives modify the same noun, both must have similar forms.
e.g. The topology course was both rigorous and a challenge.

Back 44

This is wrong. Adjectives rigorous and challenge both modify course, so it should be rigorous and challenging

Front 45

Compared to v/s. Compared with: To show comparison between unlike things,‘compare to’ is used. To show comparison between like things, ‘compare with’ is
used.

Back 45

He compared her to a summer day.
Scientists compare the human brain to a computer. (Unlike thing)
The police compared the forged signature with the original.

Front 46

Because v/s. In That: When ETS puts ‘because’ and ‘in that’ in a sentence, more
often than not, ‘in that’ would be correct. ‘In that qualifies’ the previous
sentence, while ‘because’ is just used to show a simple causal relationship.
Teratomas are unusual forms of cancer because they are
composed of tissues such as tooth and bone not normally found in the
organ in which the tumor appears.

Back 46

A. because they are composed of tissues such as tooth and bone
B. because they are composed of tissues like tooth and bone that are
C. because they are composed of tissues, like tooth and bone, tissues
D. in that their composition , tissues such as tooth and bone, is
E. in that they are composed of tissues such as tooth and bone, tissues
E is the correct answer.

Front 47

Agree to v/s. Agree with: Agree with is used when a person is agreeing with another person. Agree to is used when a person is agreeing to something inanimate.

Back 47

I agree to your proposal
I completely agree with you on this one

Front 48

Where is used to point to a region/area/place

Back 48

Each of the factory towns where the pollution problem is severe

Front 49

Use "a native of" when you're talking about where a person was born, for example: I am a native of Detroit.

Use "native to" when you're talking about a category, characteristic, or species, for example: Tigers are native to India

Back 49

Use "a native of" when you're talking about where a person was born, for example: I am a native of Detroit.

Use "native to" when you're talking about a category, characteristic, or species, for example: Tigers are native to India

Front 50

BECAUSE v/s. ON ACCOUNT OF
Because’ is preferred over ‘on
account of’. This is because ‘because’ can introduce an entire subordinate
clause in the sentence

Back 50

Golden crab is not fished, on account of living… - is not
correct). Golden crab is not fished, because it lives… - is correct

Front 51

Jamieson's proposal was rejected for several reasons, the chief among which was cost.
(A) the chief among which was cost
(B) among which the chief was its cost
© the main one was cost
(D) the chief reason of which was its cost
(E) the chief of which was cost

Back 51

E

Front 52

PRACTICE v/s. PRACTISE
PRACTICE --> Noun
PRACTISE --> Verb
I practise piano
is correct. Also, I had my piano practice for the day is correct

Back 52

The doctor practised for 20 years; his brother a lawyer had a 2 year practice

Front 53

EACH v/s. EVERY

Back 53

Each refers to ‘2 times’, every refers to ‘More than 2 times’

Front 54

Economic v/s. Economical:

Back 54

Economic means "having to do with the economy or the study of
economics."
Economical means "careful or prudent in managing finances, moneysaving."

Front 55

Due to: If used correctly means ‘Attributable to’ and not ‘because’

Back 55

Due to: If used correctly means ‘Attributable to’ and not ‘because’

Front 56

Avoiding redundant words: EX-

Back 56

free gift, surrounded on all sides, the same exact thing, try to attempt, whether or not, the reason why

Front 57

Use of subjunctive verb

Back 57

To express a demand or a request, THAT always
comes after the verb, the second verb is always in simple present tense.

Front 58

Incorrect: If I was you, I would run.
Correct: If I were you, I would run.

Back 58

Incorrect: I wish he was able to type faster.
Correct: I wish he were able to type faster.

Front 59

List of verbs normally followed by Infinitives
afford | agree | appear | arrange | ask | attempt | care | choose |
claim | come | consent
dare | decide | demand | deserve | determine | elect | endeavour |
expect | fail | get | guarentee
hate | help | hesitate | hope | hurry | incline | intend | learn | long |
manage | mean | need
offer | plan | prepare | pretend | promise | refuse | resolve | say |
seem | tend | threaten | want | wish

Back 59

List of verbs that can only have gerunds after them
acknowledge | admit | adore | anticipate | appreciate | avoid |
celebrate | confess | contemplate
delay | deny | describe | detest | discuss | dislike | dread | endure |
enjoy
fancy | finish | imagine | involve | keep | justify | mention | mind | miss
| omit | postpone | practise
quit | recall | recommend | regret | report | resent | resume | risk |
suggest | tolerate | understand

Front 60

e.g. anticipate implementing is correct (Anticipate to implement is
wrong).

Back 60

Even though she didn't anticipate <to implement it, the advertising
manager agreed with the personal> manager's proposal to strengthen
her department.
A) to implement it, the advertising manager agreed with the
personal
B) implementing it, the advertising manager agreed with the personal
C) implementing it, the advertising manager agreed with the personnel
D) to implement it, the advertising manager agreed with the personnel
E) implementing it, the advertising manager agreed to the personnel
(E) NOTE: all answer choices are indeed different here. 'Personal' deals
with a person's own special things; 'Personnel' deals with a lot of people.
Verbs like 'anticipate' must be followed by a gerund, the verb form in '-
ing'. The correct idiom usage should read: a person 'agrees with' another
person, not with an inanimate thing such as a proposal. Therefore, she
agrees 'to the proposal.' (E) is correct.

Front 61

When I paid her one-dollar, she answered my question.
When clauses are very important, because they happen first
when both clauses are in simple past tense

Back 61

When he had run for mayor of Cleveland in 1968, Carl Stokes won the
election, proving that an African American candidate can be elected in
a city in which African Americans constitute a minority of the population.
(A) When he had run for mayor of Cleveland in 1968,
(B) He ran for mayor of Cleveland in 1968, and
(C) Running, in 1968, for mayor of Cleveland,
(D) When he ran for mayor of Cleveland in 1968,
(E) In 1968 he had run for mayor of Cleveland, and
Choice (D)
Step 1: Look at the verb tenses. Is "had run" correct? No; "ran" would be better. Therefore
eliminate choices (A) and (E).
Step 2: Is "ran" better than "running"? Yes, so eliminate choice (C). Finally, choice (B)
doesn't fit with the rest of the sentence.
Step 3: Choice (D) remains.
Step 4: When he ran for mayor of Cleveland in 1968, Carl Stokes won the election,
proving that an African American candidate can be elected in a city in which African
Americans constitute a minority of the population. Yes.

Front 62

Have Been

Back 62

For some birds the sense of smell appears to play a role in navigation,
since pigeons with surgically removed olfactory nerves were found to
have increased difficulties in homing.
(A) were found to have increased difficulties
(B) have been found to have increased difficulty --> Correct
(C) were found to have increasing difficulty
(D) had been found to have increased difficulties
(E) have been found to have increasing difficulties

Front 63

1) For many travelers, charter vacations often turn out to cost considerably more than they originally seemed.
a. they originally seemed
b. they originally seem to
c. they seemingly would cost originally
d. it seemed originally
e. it originally seemed they would.

SPOILER: - E

Back 63

2) Researchers are finding out that plastics are taking more time to deteriorate than they originally seemed.
A) They originally seemed.
B) they seemed originally
C) it seemed that they would originally
D) it originally seemed
E) it originally seemed they would
SPOILER: - E

Front 64

This Acura is a lot better than I thought it would be.
is better than
• This Acura is a lot better than I thought it was.

Back 64

In the first example, we are saying that something turned out to be true. In the second
example, we are saying that we were not aware of a fact that was true at that time.

Front 65

WHO v/s. THAT v/s. WHICH
Who refers to people. That and which refer to groups or thing(team, army etc. are
referred to by that or which).

Back 65

WHO v/s. THAT v/s. WHICH
Who refers to people. That and which refer to groups or thing(team, army etc. are
referred to by that or which).

Front 66

A consequence of

Back 66

4. A common disability in test pilots is hearing impairment, a consequence of sitting too close to large jet engines for long periods of time.

Front 67

debate about is wrong in GMAT, Debate over and debate weather are correct idioms

Back 67

12. A little under a million years ago, the briny waters of the Baltic Sea began flooding into the cold North Atlantic: geologists are still debating whether the flood was gradual or created a cataclysm.
(A) whether the flood was gradual or created a cataclysm
(B) if the flood was gradual or created a cataclysm
(C) about whether the flood was gradual or cataclysmic
(D) whether the flood was gradual or cataclysmic --> Right
(E) whether the flood was gradual or it created a cataclysm

Front 68

IF clause - present tense => THEN clause "Will + Base Verb" e.g. If I you study, you will score highly.
IF clause - past tense => THEN clause "would/could + Base Verb" e.g. If you studied, your would score highly.
IF clause - past perfect tense => THEN clause "would/could + have + Past Participle" e.g. If you had studied, your would have scored highly

Back 68

Repeat

Front 69

Whether X or Y

Back 69

According to a panel of health officials, there has been a great deal of confusion in the medical profession about whether obesity is a biological disorder posing serious health risks or a condition more related to appearance than to health.

(A) about whether obesity is a biological disorder posing serious health risks or a condition more related to appearance than to
(B) with respect to obesity being a biological disorder posing serious health risks or if it is related more to appearance than
(C) over whether or not obesity is a biological disorder posing serious health risks or it is a condition more related to appearance than to
(D) about obesity and if it is a biological disorder posing serious health risks or a condition related to appearance more than to
(E) concerning whether obesity is a biological disorder posing serious health risks or it is a condition related to appearance more than

A is right

Front 70

X as prominently as Y. X and Y has to be parallel
X= highest price
Y = lowest price.

Back 70

X as prominently as Y. X and Y has to be parallel
X= highest price
Y = lowest price.

Front 71

helpful in demonstrating is the right idiom

Back 71

(D) that shoots dead chickens at airplanes proves itself helpful to demonstrate
(E) that shoots dead chickens at airplanes has proved helpful in demonstrating

E-> right

Front 72

Dispose of is the correct idiom

Back 72

Dispose of is the correct idiom

Front 73

(e.g., the 1960’s, the 1990’s). The tip is: DO NOT use an apostrophe when referring to this sort of date. The reference is not possessive nor a contraction and should be simply written as “the 1960s” or “the 1990s.” The only time an apostrophe comes into play is when you are writing using the abbreviation for the decade as in the ’60s or the ’90s.

Back 73

The second tip is about the use of “myriad.” Originally the word meant “ten thousand;” however, over time. it has come to mean “innumerable, countless, many, etc.” It is acceptable to use the word as a noun: “a myriad of soldiers” or an adjective: “myriad soldiers.” Either is correct. Its use as an adjective is more common these days. (Check the dates of the quotes below where it is used as a noun.) When used as a noun, standard usage is that it takes a plural verb. For example, “A myriad of soldiers are going to town.”

Front 74

lay” requires a direct object, and “lie” cannot take a direct object. Fairly straightforward.

Back 74

“I will lay the coat on the bed.”
past tense of lay is laid, lie is lay

Front 75

Something cannot be “very unique” or “more unique” or “less unique” or “most unique” or “least unique.”

Back 75

The grant proposal, which is being submitted to NIMH, focuses on mindfulness meditation as a means of relaxation.“which is being submitted to NIMH,” is not essential to the meaning

The article that I wrote last fall is being published in JAMA. that I wrote last fall,” is essential for understanding the meaning of the sentence [restrictive]­it tells the reader which article the writer is talking about; thus, it calls for the use of “that.”)

Front 76

Compound adjectives are usually hyphenated when they add clarity and modify a noun (e.g., “the little-understanding patients” (meaning the patients who do not understand much) versus “the little understanding patients,” which is more ambiguous (meaning the patients who do not understand much OR or the short patients who understand).

Back 76

Compound adverbs ending in “ly” are rarely hyphenated (e.g., the highly respected physician, the poorly thought of treatment plan); however, compound adverbs that do not end in “ly” are often hyphenated (e.g., the most-effective treatment, a much-loved chief).
When a compound word is used as an adjective, hyphens are generally used; when used as a noun, they are not.

Front 77

X is depicted as Y in films (depict X as Y)

Back 77

X is depicted as Y in films (depict X as Y)

Front 78

These studies provide strong, empiric evidence that this therapy is well-received and effective.

Back 78

These studies provide strong, empirical evidence that this therapy is well-received and effective

So there you have it: other than empiric therapy, empiric refers to a quack, and empirical refers to data-driven findings.

Front 79

Efficacious: capable of producing the desired result. If something is efficacious, it can, given the right conditions, work. In medicine, a drug or therapy is efficacious if it is proven to work in a clinical trial. However, the conditions required for using the drug/therapy may be overly complex for routine clinical practice; thus, the drug/therapy is efficacious but not effective.

Back 79

Effectual:If something is effectual, it works decisively. The difference between effective and effectual is in the quality of the outcome. The outcome is the same but the quality is more pronounced; it feels more definitive.

Effective and efficient can apply to people or things. Efficacious only applies to things (a person cannot be efficacious). Effectual almost always applies to things, which is screwy since ineffectual almost always applies to people, but that’s English for you.

Front 80

However, when you are talking about more than two things, and the things are individual things or there is a one-to-one relationship, you must still use between.

T

Back 80

he distance between the bus stop, the hospital, and the office is not that great. RIGHT

The distance among the bus stop, the hospital, and the office is not that great. WRONG

Front 81

Can not Vs cannot
Let me restate that: Almost all of the time, cannot is the correct word choice.

Back 81

The only time that it is legitimate to use can not, is when you are putting special emphasis or stress on the not in can not.

I can not believe she betrayed me like that! (I can NOT believe she betrayed me like that!)

Front 82

regard vs regrads

In regards to the sample size, we have determined…

We contacted a number of individuals with regards to the concern about creating bias.

As regards to the implementation of this project, we will…

Back 82

Get rid of the s in regards. Then you are left with:
In regard to the sample size, we have determined…

We contacted a number of individuals with regard to the concern about creating bias.

and these examples are now correct.

While we are at it, a few other phrases to avoid are: in terms of, in relation to, with respect to, and on the basis of. They add nothing to your writing.

Front 83

Anyone or any one

Anyone refers to any person. Any one refers to individuals or any one of a group.

Back 83

Everyone who applied for an administrative supplement was awarded one.

I want every one of you to know how pleased I am with the outcome of the experiment.

Front 84

Traditionally, lend is the verb; loan is the noun. Loan is frequently misused as a verb.

Back 84

You can use both lend and loan as verbs when you are talking about a physical thing:

f you are talking about something figurative rather than physical, you can only use lend as a verb.

The music lent an air of mystery to the performance. The baby crying lends a touch of sadness to the proceeding. The laughter lent a sense of silliness to the normally serious lecture.

Front 85

To conduct the experiment, she ran on the treadmill for a while.

To conduct the experiment, she ran on the treadmill awhile.

Back 85

‘Awhile’ is an adverb and means ‘for a period of time.’ Note that the word ‘for’ is built into the meaning. ‘A while’ is a noun phrase that is often used as the object of the preposition, and it means ‘a period of time.’ The rules for usage are these:

If the word ‘for’ is stated explicitly, then you must use ‘a while.’ If not the object of a preposition, you will to use ‘awhile.’

Front 86

collective nouns can be singular or plural , mostly singular though. But if they are working collectively should be used as sigular or as a individual it usage is plural.

Back 86

The jury is at an impasse.
The jury were debating the merits of the case.

Front 87

She … retains an inexhaustible work ethic, excellent self-direction and a positive attitude that will compliment any team of researchers

Back 87

She … retains an inexhaustible work ethic, excellent self-direction and a positive attitude that will compliment any team of researchers

Front 88

Used as a verb as in the above example, ‘compliment’ means to praise, while ‘complement’ means to make whole or complete.

Back 88

C

Front 89

So while we prepare our application for submittal to NIH, the application itself is the submission.

Back 89

submittal Vs submission

Front 90

lose is a verb and loose is an adjective

Back 90

Be careful not to lose your temper, no matter how annoying the reviewer’s comments are.
Subjects lose significant weight when adhering to the study protocol.
I don’t want to be watching when you lose the race.
What size is that dress? It’s really loose on you.
Close the fence before the dogs get loose.
She has tight jeans and loose morals.

Front 91

Allude, elude, or refer

The name of the author to whom you are alluding, eludes me.
Allude means to refer to someone or something indirectly, with no specific identifying information.
Elude means to escape or to avoid or to fail to understand.

Back 91

When I alluded to my best friend just now, you know, of course, that I was referring to you.
Refer means to make reference to or to make mention of someone or something directly.

Front 92

disinterested Vs uninterested

Imply means to hint or state indirectly. Infer means to deduce or draw a conclusion

Back 92

A good judge will be disinterested as to a trial’s outcome but not uninterested in the trial itself.

Are you inferring that my lectures are boring? WRONG

Are you implying that my lectures are boring? RIGHT

Front 93

because of in active voice , due to in passive voice

Back 93

“Different from” is standard English; “different than” is not.

Front 94

In contrast” vs. “by contrast”

The difference lies in the way the words are used. “In contrast” is usually followed by “to” or “with” and requires a noun to follow it. “By contrast” is usually followed or preceded by the subject of the sentence.

Back 94

By contrast, the Picasso is more vibrant and full of life.
In contrast to the diligent bee, the butterfly flies hither and yon with no apparent purpose.

Front 95

“Prepositions cannot come at the end of a sentence or clause.

Do not write:

The idea I am thinking of is particularly good.

Instead write:
The idea of which I am thinking is particularly good.

Back 95

Do not write:

That is behavior I simply cannot deal with.

Instead write:
That is behavior with which I simply cannot deal.”