GMAT GMAT - Graduate Management Admission Verbal: Sentence Correction 3

Question 1

Which sentence correctly uses 'that' vs. 'which'?

Accepted Answer

The report that the auditor submitted contained several errors.

Answer

A restrictive relative clause (essential to identify the noun) uses 'that' without commas; a non-restrictive clause uses 'which' with commas.

Question 2

Which sentence uses the correct form of the verb after 'not only…but also'?

Accepted Answer

The CFO not only cut expenses but also increased revenue.

Answer

Correlative conjunctions like 'not only…but also' require grammatically parallel elements; both verbs must be in the same tense and form.

Question 3

Which sentence avoids the incorrect use of 'being'?

Accepted Answer

Having reviewed all proposals, the committee selected the strongest candidate.

Answer

On the GMAT, 'being' used as a causal conjunction (e.g., 'being that') is almost always incorrect; a clear participial phrase is preferred.

Question 4

Which sentence correctly expresses a past counterfactual conditional?

Accepted Answer

If the company had invested earlier, it would have captured the market.

Answer

In a past counterfactual conditional, the if-clause uses past perfect ('had invested') and the result clause uses 'would have + past participle.'

Question 5

Which sentence correctly uses a misplaced modifier: 'Exhausted after the long negotiation, the contract was finally signed by the lawyers'?

Accepted Answer

Exhausted after the long negotiation, the lawyers finally signed the contract.

Answer

The participial phrase 'Exhausted after the long negotiation' must modify 'lawyers,' so 'lawyers' must be the grammatical subject of the main clause.

GMAT Practice Test