GMAT Verbal : Correcting Correlative Conjunction Errors
Study concepts, example questions & explanations for GMAT Verbal
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Example Questions
Example Question #21 :Conjunction Errors
替换划下划线的部分答案曹ice 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 teacher reprimanded his class,saying that he was neither pleased with their poor work nor was he willing to accept their rowdy behavior.
saying that he was neither pleased with their poor work nor willing to accept their rowdy behavior.
saying that neither was he pleased with their poor work nor was willing to accept their rowdy behavior.
saying that he was neither pleased with their poor work or willing to accept their rowdy behavior.
saying that he was pleased neither with their poor work nor willing to accept their rowdy behavior.
saying that he was neither pleased with their poor work nor was he willing to accept their rowdy behavior.
saying that he was neither pleased with their poor work nor willing to accept their rowdy behavior.
The correlative conjunctions “neither” and “nor” belong together. In "neither . . . nor" sentences, the two options (“pleased with their poor work” and “willing to accept their rowdy behavior”) must be presented in a grammatically parallel way so that the words following “neither” and the words following “nor” are parallel phrases.
Example Question #1 :Correcting Phrase, Clause, And Sentence Errors
替换划下划线的部分答案曹ice 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.
She told her children thatshe would take them to either the toy store or to the ice cream parlorif they finished all their chores on time.
she would take them either to the toy store or to the ice cream parlor
she would either take them to the toy store or to the ice cream parlor
she would take them to either the toy store and the ice cream parlor
she would take them to either the toy store or to the ice cream parlor
she would either take them to the toy store or the ice cream parlor
she would take them either to the toy store or to the ice cream parlor
相关连接词”“和”或“paired together here. In "either . . . or" sentences, the two options being discussed (in this case, going to the toy store and going to the ice cream parlor) must be presented in a grammatically parallel way so that the words following “either” and the words following “or” are parallel phrases. In this case, “to the toy store” and “to the ice cream parlor” are the only options that are parallel; otherwise, you’re comparing apples and oranges.
Example Question #23 :Conjunction Errors
替换划下划线的部分答案曹ice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English.
In the future,not Ellen and not Marcia are allowedto go outside without asking the teacher for permission.
neither Ellen nor Marcia is allowed
not Ellen and not Marcia are allowed
not Ellen and not Marcia is allowed
neither Ellen and Marcia are allowed
neither Ellen nor Marcia are allowed
neither Ellen nor Marcia is allowed
这句话的正确形式是“既不。。. nor." In addition, "neither . . .nor" leads to use of the singular form "is"rather than "are."
Example Question #21 :Correcting Phrase, Clause, And Sentence Errors
替换划下划线的部分答案曹ice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English.
Neither the advisors' ominous projections or the board's grim outlookbothered the CEO enough to make her change her course.
Either the advisors' ominous projections nor the board's grim outlook
Neither the advisors' ominous projections or the board's grim outlook
Neither of the advisors' ominous projections or the board's grim outlook
无论是顾问的不祥的预测,也没有board's grim outlook
Neither the advisors' ominous projections nor the board's grim outlook
Neither the advisors' ominous projections nor the board's grim outlook
The correct correlative conjunction pair here is "neither/nor." No comma is needed. The other pairings listed are either mismatched or inappropriate. The correct correlative conjunction for "either" is "or."
Example Question #22 :Correcting Phrase, Clause, And Sentence Errors
替换划下划线的部分答案曹ice that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English.
The professor allowed her class to choose the assignment style for thesemester: either several small quizzes and one large final exam and one large midterm exam and one large final exam.
semester; either several small quizzes and one large final exam or one large midterm exam and one large final exam.
semester: either several small quizzes and one large final exam and one large midterm exam and one large final exam.
semester, either several small quizzes and one large final exam, or one large midterm exam and one large final exam.
semester: either several small quizzes and one large final exam or one large midterm exam and one large final exam.
semester, either several small quizzes and one large final exam, and one large midterm exam and one large final exam.
semester: either several small quizzes and one large final exam or one large midterm exam and one large final exam.
Although the constituents in the list are a bit convoluted, this can be boiled down to a simple either A or B. A and B each have an "and," which can make the sentence seem more confusing, but, when simplified, it can be easier to tell that the sentence is describing a choice BETWEEN two options (both of which include two items and an "and"), so the "and" between "quizzes" and "one" needs to be replaced with "or."
Example Question #23 :Correcting Phrase, Clause, And Sentence Errors
替换划下划线的部分答案曹ice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English.
The temperature dropped suddenly in the chamber,which will mean that the pipes passing through the manifold will be frozen by the chill.
and this will mean that the pipes passing through the manifold will be frozen by the chill.
and the resulting chill will freeze the pipes that are passing through the manifold.
因此,管道将被冻结的chill, passing through the manifold.
which will mean that the pipes passing through the manifold will be frozen by the chill.
which will mean that the chill will freeze the pipes passing through the manifold.
and the resulting chill will freeze the pipes that are passing through the manifold.
The word “which”does not have an antecedent noun, and so the construction is incorrect in the two answer choices in which it is present. Similarly, in the sentence implementing “this,” there is no noun to which it refers. The final incorrect answer leaves the modifier “passing through the manifold” dangling too far from the noun to which the modifier refers.
Example Question #24 :Correcting Phrase, Clause, And Sentence Errors
替换划下划线的部分答案曹ice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English.
Neither of my colleagues or our professor could answer the question I raised, which I found quite disconcerting.
Neither my colleagues or our professor could answer the question I raised
Neither my colleagues nor our professor could answer the question I raised
Neither of my colleagues and our professor could answer the question I raised
Neither of my colleagues and nor our professor could answer the question I raised
Neither of my colleagues, our professor could answer the question I raised
Neither my colleagues nor our professor could answer the question I raised
The central issue here is the proper implementation of the correlative conjunction "neither...nor." The use of the preposition "of" and the conjunctions "or," "and," etc., appropriately resolve the issue. If anything, these other modifications result in unidiomatic phrases or awkward syntax.
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