Sentence Correction - GMAT Verbal

The words "large" and "sculptured" are coordinate adjectives: adjectives that modify the same noun separately, but are not separated with a conjunction. Coordinate adjectives need to be separated with a comma. The correct answer choice is, "Dubai has a series of large, sculptured islands."

This sentence does not contain punctuation where it is necessary. The phrase "While cement and steel are already strong materials" is an example of an introductory phrase, explaining information necessary to the context of the sentence, but outside of the main sentence, grammatically. These types of phrases must be followed by a comma in order to separate them from the rest of the sentence. The correct answer choice is, "cement and steel are already strong materials, they are especially strong."

This sentence misuses a comma. The phrase "due to the industrial revolution and the increase of opportunities" is just that - one phrase. All of these words are part of one clause, so there is no reason for a comma before the word "and." Commas only appear before conjunctions when the conjunction is used to combine two independent clauses. The best choice is, "due to the industrial revolution and the increase of opportunities in cities."

This sentence misuses a comma. Commas only appear before conjunctions when the conjunction is used to combine two independent clauses. The words on both sides of "and," however, are part of the same clause. No additional punctuation is necessary. The correct choice is, "because of his low fees and amazing customer service."

This sentence misuses a comma. There is no need for a comma before the word "that" since it is not separating one clause from another, combining clauses with a conjunction, separating items in a list, or any other reason for which a comma should be used. The correct choice is to omit the comma as in the option: "Many individuals believe that driverless cars will fill our roads."

This sentence misuses a comma. The sentence combines two related independent clauses without the use of a coordinate conjunction; when this is the case, a semicolon should be placed between those clauses. A semicolon should come after the word "lifespan."

The phrase "for many computers" is an example of an introductory phrase, explaining information necessary to the context of the sentence, but outside of the main sentence, grammatically. These types of phrases must be followed by a comma in order to separate them from the rest of the sentence.

While one choice uses a period, which could be correct, the following word, "for," is not capitalized, so it cannot be correct. The correct choice is, "Computers have a short lifespan; for many computers,"

The phrase "which were essential for the company's records" is an example of a relative clause, which gives more information about its antecedent: the documents. Any such phrase that occurs in the middle of a sentence must be introduced and completed with a comma. You would not use hyphens to separate these clauses; usually, hyphens are more common between clauses when adding an interjection. The correct answer choice, which corrects the error without changing the meaning of the sentence, is "the documents, which were essential for the company's records, meant Fatima would."

This sentence does not contain a comma where one is necessary. The phrase "a well known composer" is an example of a parenthetical expression: a phrase that explains more about a particular word or phrase in the sentence, but is not introduced by a relative pronoun. These phrases must be introduced and completed with a comma in order to separate them from the main clause of the sentence. The correct answer choice is, "Bach, a well known composer, wrote many."

This sentence misuses a comma. The phrase "Because of farming and herding" is an introductory phrase, explaining information necessary to the context of the sentence, but outside of the main sentence, grammatically. These types of phrases must be followed by a comma in order to separate them from the rest of the sentence. A comma is not necessary, however, before the "and," because the phrase "farming and herding" is not a list (a list contains three or more items), and it is not combining independent clauses. The correct choice is, "Because of farming and herding, humans are able."

This sentence does not contain commas where necessary. The phrase "one of the top schools in the United States" is an example of a relative clause, which gives more information about its antecedent: Harvard. Any such phrase that occurs in the middle of a sentence must be introduced and completed with a comma. The correct choice is, "Harvard, one of the top schools in the United States, has an endowment worth billions of dollars."

This sentence contains an error in the placement of the comma. There is no need for a comma to come after the word "during," since it is not the end of the phrase. The phrase "During his flight" is an introductory phrase, explaining information necessary to the context of the sentence, but outside of the main sentence, grammatically. These types of phrases must be followed by a comma in order to separate them from the rest of the sentence. The correct answer choice is, "During his flight, Hector was able to catch."

This sentence misuses a comma. The phrase "Otto and his brother" is part of the same clause: it is not a list (3+ items), two clauses, or anything else that would reason the use of a comma. This is a simple sentence, so no punctuation is necessary. The correct choice is, "Otto and his brother went to the park every Saturday."

This sentence misuses a comma. There is no need for a comma before the word "or" because it is not joining two independent clauses together. This is the only time you see a comma before a conjunction. The correct choice is, "whether he should pay his bills now or later."

This sentence does not contain commas where necessary. The phrase "which was to run her own bakery" is a relative clause, which gives more information about its antecedent: dream. Any such phrase that occurs in the middle of a sentence must be introduced and completed with a comma. The correct answer choice is, "Cassandra's dream, which was to run her own bakery, seemed like."

This sentence misuses a comma. The sentence combines two independent clauses without the use of a conjunction. When this occurs, a semicolon is the appropriate punctuation mark: a semicolon should appear after the word "perfectionist." The correct choice is, "Jake was a perfectionist; it always bothered him when others." Note that the choice with the period is incorrect because "it" is not capitalized.

This sentence omits commas where necessary. The phrase "the low overhead costs, exposure to many markets, and its ease to set up" is a list. All items in any sort of list/parallel words or phrases should be separated by commas. Additionally, a comma must come before the "and" because exposure to markets is not related to ease in setting something up, besides being another one of Dante's reasons. The correct answer is, "e-business because of the low overhead costs, exposure to many markets, and its ease to set up."

This sentence does not contain a comma where necessary. The phrase "books, maps, and other study materials" are all a part of the list, so a comma should appear after each item. Note that the comma before the "and" cannot be omitted because "maps" is not necessarily related to "other study materials." The correct choice is, "was filled with books, maps, and other study materials."

This sentence contains a comma where one is not necessary. Commas should only come before conjunctions when the conjunction joins two independent clauses. While "Sandra did not like beef" is an independent clause, "loved chicken" is not. The comma should be omitted. The answer is, "did not like beef but loved chicken."

This sentence misuses the commas in this sentence. When the word "that" is used, what would be a relative clause becomes part of the main clause, therefore making commas inappropriate, as it no longer separates anything. "Which" would be an appropriate choice, but only if both commas are there: none of the options offer this choice. The best choice is, "inventions that we use every day had their start."