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Ch2. Grammer Meaning Concision
I. Choose your word
"cousin" words and expressions, with distinct meanings.
aggravate (worsen) vs. aggravating (irritating)
known as (named) vs. known to be (acknowledged as)
loss of(no longer in possession of) vs. loss in (decline in value)
mandate (command) vs. have a mandate (have authority from voters)
native of(person from) vs. native to (species that originated in)
range of(variety of) vs. ranging (varying)
rate of(speed or frequency of) vs. rates for (prices for)
rise (general increase) vs. raise (a bet or a salary increase)
try to do (seek to accomplish) vs. try doing (experiment with)
Absolutely Necessary: The court ruled that the plaintiff MUST pay full damages.(right)
Morally Obliged: The court ruled that the plaintiff SHOULD pay full damages.
Actual: If Chris and Jad met, they DISCUSSED mathematics.
Hypothetical: If Chris and Jad met, they WOULD DISCUSS mathematics.
The first sentence could be said by someone who is unsure whether Chris and Jad have actually met: "If this did indeed happen, then that is the consequence." The second sentence predicts the consequences of a hypothetical meeting of the two men: "If this were to happen, then that would be the consequence."
II. Place your word
If a word changes its position in the answer choices, you must consider whether the change has an impact on the meaning. Look out especially for short words (such as only and all) that quantify nouns or otherwise restrict meaning.
At a larger level, you need to pay attention to overall word order.
Ambiguity: The council granted the right to make legal petitions TO CITY OFFICIALS.
Correct: The council granted CITY OFFICIALS the right to make legal petitions.
OR The right to make legal petitions TO CITY OFFICIALS was granted by the council.
Concision: Avoid Redundancy
Wordy: The three prices SUM to a TOTAL of $11.56
Better: The three prices SUM to $11.56. Or: The three prices TOTAL $11.56.
Pay attention to expressions of time. Do not sneak two synonymous and redundant time expressions into an answer choice
Advanced (Ch11): Concision
1.V-A-N = Verb > Adjective (or Adverb) > Noun
2. V-A-N Pattern 2: Prefer a That-Clause (with Verbs) to a Series of Phrases (with Nouns)
Wordy: The hypothesis ABOUT the COMPOSITION OF the universe AS largely dark energy seems strange.
Better: The hypothesis THAT the universe IS largely COMPOSED OF dark energy seems strange.
"Idea" nouns, such as hypothesis, idea, suggestion, belief, discovery, evidence, indication, and report lend themselves particularly well to this pattern.
3. V-A-N Pattern 5: Prefer an Adverb to a Prepositional Phrase
Wordy: Oil prices have fallen, but prices at the gasoline pump have not fallen TO
A COMPARABLE EXTENT.
Better: Oil prices have fallen, but prices at the gasoline pump have not fallen
COMPARABLLY
4. Concision: Prefer an Adjective to an Adjective Clause with Be
Wordy: Marcos is a professor WHO IS ADMIRABLE.
Better: Marcos is an ADMIRABLE professor.
This principle works similarly with nouns that identify or describe other nouns:
Wordy: Joan, WHO IS a FIREFIGHTER, works in Yosemite Park.
Better: Joan, a FIREFIGHTER, works in Yosemite Park.
5. Concision Pattern 7: Remove IT IS... THAT. .. GMAT avoids such constructions in correct answers.
Wordy: IT IS without fear THAT children should play
Better: Children should play without fear.
None of these Concision patterns expresses a rule but rather a preference. Words or phrases such as being or the fact that do not automatically indicate that an answer choice is wrong.
6."Too Short" Pattern 1: Keep the Prepositional Phrase if You Need To (or, confusing)
Too Short: I talked to the BOSTON SOlDIER.
Better: I talked to the SOLDIER FROM BOSTON.
Notice that places or locations rarely work well as Noun-Adjectives, unless the prepositional of Right: A wall OF stone OR Stone Wall
Moreover, whenever you have a time period, quantity or other measurement as the first word, keep the prepositional phrase with of. Never modify a measurement using a Noun-Adjective. Avoid using a possessive (s or s') to modify a measurement.
Too Short Better
Memorial Day week OR Memorial Day's week Week of Memorial Day
the merger year the year OF the merger
the oxygen amount the amount OF oxygen
the honeybee population density the density OF the honeybee population
7. "Too Short" Pattern 2: Keep That Of or Those Of if You Need To
GMAT sometimes inserts an unnecessary that of or those of, which has to be removed.
Wordy: The fields I most enjoy studying are (THOSE OF) physics and chemistry
8. "Too Short" Pattern 3: Keep That after reporting words:
Agree Claim Contend Declare Find Indicate Reveal Rule Show, announce, assert, believe, confess, demonstrate, doubt, expect, hold, know, mention, observe, proclaim, reason, recognize, repeat, state, think, and warn,( be convinced, be certain, be assured)
“Say” is an exception
Ch3. Subject-Verb Agreement (P43 summary)
Use structure to decide
The tidal forces to which an object falling into a black hole is/are subjected is/are sufficient to tear the object apart.
And vs. Additive Phrases
Unlike and, additive phrases function as modifiers and therefore cannot change the number of the subject. along with , in addition to, accompanied by, together with, as well as, includIng
Mathematjcs. in addition to history and science, IS a required subject.
Note, incidentally, that Mathematics is singular, although it ends in an -s; the same other school subjects, as well as of some activities (e.g., aerobics) and diseases (e.g., diabetes).
Or, Either •••Or, &Neither •••Nor
Agree with noun nearest verb
Note that when the words either or neither are in a sentence alone (without or or nor), they are considered singular and take only singular verbs.
Collective Nouns: Almost Always Singular
People: agency, army, audience, class, committee, crowd, orchestra, team
Items: baggage, citrus (kind of orange), equipment, fleet (team of cars), fruit, furniture
Indefinite Pronouns: Usually Singular
all the pronouns that end in -one, -body, or -thing fall into this category.
Any, some, no, every +one, anybody, anything
Each, every (aspronouns) Whatever, whoever
Either, neither (may require a plural verb If paired with or/nor)
There are, however, 5 indefinite pronouns that can be either singular or plural
THE SANAM PRONOUNS: Some, Any, None, All, More/Most
Some of the money WAS stolen from my wallet. (money is singular)
Some of the documents WERE stolen from the bank. (documents is plural)
(Technically, none of + plural noun can take either a singular or a plural verb form. But not one is always singular: Not one of my friends IS here this weekend.)
Each and Every: Singular Sensations
Right: Every dog and cat HAS paws. Each of these shirts .IS. pretty. (pronoun)
They each ARE great tennis players. (here it is adj, not pronoun)
Quantity Words and Phrases
Treat quantity phrases in the same way as SANAM pronouns: singular or plural.
Half of the pie.IS. blueberry, and half of the SLICES AREalready gone.
majority, minority, and plurality
If you want to indicate the totality itself then use a singular verb form.
The majority of the stydents in this class ARE hard workers.
In the Senate, the majorjty HAS coalesced into a unified voting block.
Flip it!
Wrong: Near those buildings SIT a lonely house, inhabited by squatters.
Flip it! A lonely b.Qyg, inhabited by squatters, ~ near those buildings.
Right: Near those buildings SITS a lonely b.Qyg, inhabited by squatters.
in subordinate clauses:
Uncertain: Pong is a classic game from which have/has descended many current
computer pastimes.
Flip it! Pong is a classic game from which many current computer pastimes
HAVE descended.
Right: Pong is a classic game from which HAVE descended many current computer
pastimes.
Ch4. Parallelism
Rather than; from…to
They wanted TO increase awareness, spark interest, AND motivate purchases.
Ralph likes BOTH THOSE WHO are popular AND THOSE WHO are not.
List with And
If itmes: X, Y, and Z (more than 3, comma+and)
If clause: X, and Y
Right: She argues THAT the agency acts WITH reckless abandon AND WITH disregard for hyman life AND property. AND THAT it should therefore be shutdown.
Idioms with Built-In Parallel Structure
X Acts As Y, Distinguish X From Y, X is the Same As Y As X, So Y
Estimate X To Be Y X is good, and So Too is Y Between X And Y
X Instead Of Y X, Such As Y (example) Compared To X, Y
X is Known To Be Y Think Of X As Consider X Y
X is Less Than Y X is Thought To Be Y In Contrast To X, Y
Make X Y View X As Y Declare X Y
Mistake X For Y Whether X Or Y X-Develops Into Y
Not Only X But Also Y X Differs From Y Regard X As Y
Do not assume that all verbs and verbal forms in a sentence must be parallel.
Sal applied himself in his new job, arriving early every day, skipping lunch regularly, AND leaving late every night.
-Ing phrases provide additional information about how Sal applied himself
Watch Out for Linking Verbs
Other Linking Verbs: appear seem become smell feel sound grow stay look taste remain turn represent resemble
Wrong: The bouquet of flowers WAS a giving of love.
Right: The bouquet of flowers WAS a gift of love.
Wrong: Upon being nominated, this politician REPRESENTS a step forward in
urban-rural relations in this country.
Right: The nomination of this politician REPRESENTSa step forward in urbanrural
relations in this country.
Advanced (Ch11): Parallelism
To maintain logical parallelism, avoid making concrete nouns (flower) and action nouns (giving …) parallel.
Wrong: 'The bouquet of flowers WAS a giving of love.
Simple gerund phrases are NEVER PARALLEL to complex gerund phrases
Wrong: I enjoyed drinking the water(simple) AND the wine tasting (complex).
Only complex ones can be parallel to action nouns.
Right: reductions in overall troop levels, THE raising OF the rebel flag on holidays
Also, if an action noun for a particular verb already exists in English, avoid creating a complex gerund phrase.
Right: It is critical to suspend activities, notify investors AND say nothing.
Right: It is critical to suspend activities, to notify investors AND to say nothing.
Adjectives, Past Participles, and Present Participles (used as adjectives)
A mastodon carcass, thawed only once AND still fresh, is on display.
Ch5. Pronouns (so frequent that must check every time)
The antecedent to refer must exist in the seatence and be functioning as a noun. (not adj)
Right: Although the term "supercomputer" may sound fanciful or exaggerated,
IT simply REFERSTO an extreme
Wrong: Researchers claim to have developed new "nano-papers" incorporating tiny cellulose fibers, which THEY allege give THEM the strength of cast iron.
The Antecedent & Pronoun Must Agree in Number, Case
Nouns in the possessive case (with i or s') are often poor antecedents.
Wrong: The board is investigating several executives' compensation packages
in order to determine how much may have been improperly awarded
to THEM.
The Deadly Five: It, Its, They, Them, Their—whenever u c, check ascendants
If it can be omitted or not
The money spent by her parents is less than THAT spent by her children.
Note that the two pots of money are NOT the same. One pot of money is spent by the parents; another pot of money, spent by the children, is the New Copy.
any "New Copy" that or those agree in number with the previous version. If you must change number, repeat the noun.
Wrong: Her company is outperforming THOSE OF her competitors.
Right: Her company is outperforming THE COMPANIES OF her competitors.
do not use this or these, that or those in place of nouns (unless you modify that or those). Use it, they, or them instead.
Wrong: Her products are unusual; many consider THESE unique.
Right: Her products are unusual; many consider THEM unique.
Advanced (Ch12): Pronouns
There
Wrong: At current prices, Antarctic oil may be worth drilling for, if wells can be
dug THERE.
Right: At current prices, oil in Antarctica may be worth drilling for, if wells can
be dug THERE.
One another & themselves
Reciprocal Pronouns one another and each other are used to indicate interaction
between parties.
Wrong: The ~ at the party interacted with THEMSElVES.
Right: The ~ at the party interacted with ONE ANOTHER.
Do So versus Do It
So: entire action, including a verb, its objects, and its modifiers.
It: must refer to an actual noun antecedent.
IT in front: to postpone “to…”, clause
GMAT-like-to use a generic synonym for the antecedent than to repeat the noun exactly.. more general than the antecedent, refers to an example of the generic synonym.
Right: New "nano-papers" incorporate fibers that give THESE MATERIALS strength.
Ch6. Modifier
Two modifier for one noun: position depends on meaning
Right: James Joyce is Max's SUPPOSED Irish ancestor. (“Supposed” modifies ancestor, whether James is ancestor is the question)
Right: Max's grandmother is his SUPPOSEDLY Irish ancestor. (“Supposedly” modifies irish, where grandma is irish is the question)
Be sure not to miss this difference (-ly): corresponding, frequent; independent, rare, recent, seeming, separate, significant, supposed, and usual
Appositive. (empharsis)
Before noun: A LOVER of mice, my cat hunts night and day.
After noun: The cat, a TABBY raised on a farm, took a nap.
Right: TIRED from chasing mice. the cat took a nap.
Position of Noun Modifiers
A NOUN and its MODIFIER should TOUCH each other.
Wrong: Jim biked along an old dirt road to get to his house, which cut through
the woods.
Right: To get to his house, Jim biked along an old dirt road. which cut throygb the woods.
Also noun modifier n should touch:
Wrong: Using thg latest technology. the prpblem was identified.
Wrong: The problem was identified, using the latest tgchnplogy.
Verb modifier does not have to touch, must make sense
Avoid long sequences of modifiers that modify the same noun. Putting two long modifiers in a row before or after a noun can lead to awkward or incorrect phrasings.
Wrong: George Carlin, both shocking and entertaining audiences across the nation, who also struggled publicly with drug abuse, influenced and inspired a generation of comedians.
The misplaced modifier who also struggled publicly with drug abuse should be next to GeorgeCarlin, not nation.
Watch Out For Possessive
Wrong: Unskilled in complex math. Bill's ~. on the exam was poor.
Clauses led by that cannot modify people; whose can modify either people or things
Wrong: The scientists THAT made the discovery were rewarded.
Which or whom can follow prepositions: the canal through which water flows
That or whom can be dropped when modified noun is the object of the clause.
The movie THAT we watched last Friday was scary.
Where cannot modify condition, situation, case, circumstances, or arrangement. use in which. Where can be replace by in which sometimes.
Essential vs. Non -essential Noun Modifiers
Essential: The… that Non-essential: This… , which
Essential: The mansion PAINTED RED is owned by the lees.
Non Essential: This mansion, RECENTLY PAINTED RED, is owned by the lees.
E.g., when Which is used with a preposition (THAT can not be used): obey the comma rule: use commas with non-essential uses of Which, but not with essential uses of Which. Who can be used in both essential and non, but obey comma rule
Non-essential: This mansion, FOR WHICH I YEARN. is owned by the Lees.
Essential: The mansion FOR WHICH I YEARN is owned by the lees.
Verb Modifier (adv)
Adv because, although, if, unless, while, so that, etc. cannot stand alone as sentences, but
rather are attached to main clauses.
Some verb modifiers may apply to both the verb and the verb's subject. make sure the subject makes sense with the modifier.
Wrong:· The weight was lifted by concentrating. (I concentrate, not weight)
Wrong: The weight was lifted to free my leg.
Verb modifiers don’t have to touch the modified verb. Place a verb modifier so that it modifies the right verb, without ambiguity
Wrong: The symphony was at last performed, decades after it was composed, yesterday.
Right: The symphony was at last performed yesterday. decades after it was composed.
Which vs Ving
Wrong: Crime has recently decreased in our neighborhood, WHICH has led to a rise in property values.
Whenever you use which, you must be referring to a noun just before the which.
Use WHICH only to refer to the noun immediately preceding it-never to an entire clause.
The -Ing form can modify nouns directly (e.g., the changing seasons). It can modify verbs and their subjects (e.g., llifted the weight, whistling). It can even modify an entire clause, as long as the entire clause converted into a noun phrase could function as the subject of the verb that is now in -Ing form. we can also say “Crime has recently decreased... leading to a rise”. This use of the -Ing form express the result of the main clause.
Advanced (Ch12): Modifiers
Exceptions to the Touch Rule
the Touch Rule.
1) A "mission-critical" modifier falls between. This modifier is often an Of phrase that
defines the noun.
Right: He had a way OF DODGING OPPONENTS that impressed the scouts.
It helps that the relative pronoun that cannot refer to human opponents. Moreover, the reversed order is nonsensical:
Wrong: He had a way that impressed the scouts OF DODGING OPPONENTS.
Best: His way OF DODGING OPPONENTS impressed the scouts.
Right: An ice sheet covers 80 percent OF THE SURFACE OF GREENLAND, an area roughly the size of Alaska
2) A very short predicate falls between, shifting a very long modifier back.
Right: A new CEO has been hired who will transform the company by ….
3) A short non-essential phrase intervenes and is set off by commas.
Right: Our system of Presidential elections favors states. such as Delaware. that by population are over-represented in the Electoral College.
Possessive Nuances: xxx of yyy, not xxx of yyy’s, not the only rule, may exist in right answer
Subgroup Modifiers
Right: This model explains all known subatomic particles, SOME OF WHICH WERE only recently discovered./SOME OFTHEM only recently discovered.
Wrong: This model explains all known subatomic particles, OF WHICH SOME WERE only recently discovered.
(A) The rate of language extinction is accelerating, a tendency ultimately culminating in the survival of just a few languages. (WRONG! Ultimately means in the future, can’t use culminating)
(B) The rate of language extinction is accelerating, a tendency that will ultimately culminate in the survival of just a few languages.
Same as---Wrong: I SEE the man CLEANING the steps yesterday.
Absolute Phrases
composed of a noun plus a noun modifler. they modify the main clause. we can easily move the modifier to the end of the sentence; we cannot do so with normal noun modifiers.
Right: His head held high, Owen walked out of the store.
Right: Scientists have found high levels of iridium in certain geological formations around the world, results that suggest/suggesting the cataclvsmic impact of a meteor millions years ago.
Wrong: Scientists have found high levels of iridium in certain geological formations around the world, which suggests/and this suggests the cataclysmic impact ofa meteor millions of years ago.
(which only modify a noun, not clause; this should follow a noun to specify)
Ch7 Verb Tense, Mode&Voice
Do not use the be ving to indicate future actions. Use will.
Wrong: Quentin IS MEETING Harvey for lunch tomorrow.
Verbs that express general states. do not take progressive forms. Eg: know or signify.
Wrong: This inscription ISSIGNIFYING the emperor's birth.
Right: This inscription SIGNIFIESthe emperor's birth.
Can omit: will walk to …and run…
Can use the Past Progressive to describe a background event, while you use Simple Past to describe a more important event in the foreground.
Right: She WAS PLAYING with her friends when the babysitter ARRIVED.
In the previous example, the action was playing (in the Past Progressive) takes place in the
background. Arrived (in the Simple Past) is the interrupting foreground event.
Right: She PLAYED with her friends when the babysitter ARRIVED.
In this case, the action played took place after the babysitter arrived. Both actions are in the
Simple Past and express equal levels of importance.
Present Perfect: Still In Effect•••
Right: The child DREW a square in the sand, but the ocean ERASED it.
Right: The child DREW a square in the sand, but the ocean HAS ERASED it.
Awkward: The child HAS DRAWN a square in the sand, but the ocean HAS ERASED it.
Note that the act of erasing could be in either Simple Past or Present Perfect. In the first example above {with erased}, the current state of the sand is not known; in the second example (with has erased), the current state of the sand is square-free, since the Present Perfect has erased indicates that this action's effect is still true.
To summarize, the Present Perfect indicates either continued action or continued effect of a completed action.
Since, within (by): must use the Present Perfect to indicate continued action or effect
Finally, the idea of completed action can be used simply to place a Present Perfect action
earlier than another action in -Ing forms, infinitives or subordinate clauses.
Right: She WILL PAY you when you ASK her.
(the time of will pay = the time of [will) ask; note that the future will is often dropped in subordinate clauses)
Right: She WILL PAY you when you HAVE TAKEN out the garbage.
(the time of will pay is LATER than the future time of have taken)
Past Perfect: The Earlier Action: use only when need to emphasis the sequence things happened
Right: The band U2 WAS just one of many new groups on the rock music scene in the early 1980's, but less than ten years later, U2 HAD fully ECLIPSED its early rivals in the pantheon of popular music.
Subjunctive Mood(unreal conditions)
Hypothetical Subjunctive
Always use WERE.
Right: To overcome my fear of germs, I will think about disease as though it WERE harmless.
If ••• Then Constructions
Sentences that use the word if do not always use the Hypothetical Subjunctive.
Unlikely Case (in the future)
IF Sophie ATE pizza tomorrow, THEN she WOULD BECOME ill.
IF Hypothetical Subjunctive, THEN Conditional. Sophie is unlikely to eat pizza tomorrow. The Conditional Tense (would) shows the hypothetical result of an unlikely or untrue condition. In place of would, the form could can be used to indicate improbability as well.
Case that Never Happened (in the past)
IF Sophie HAD EATEN pizza yesterday, THEN she WOULD HAVE BECOME ill.
IF Past Perfect, THEN Conditional Perfect.
The helping verbs would and should should NEVER go in the if part of the sentence!
Command Subjunctive
The agency REQUIRED that Gary BE ready before noon.
We PROPOSE that the school board DISBAND.
Bossy Verb + THAT + subject + Command Subjunctive
Wrong: We PROPOSE the school board DISBAND. (That is not optional.)
Wrong: We PROPOSE THAT the school board DISBANDS.
Wrong: We PROPOSE THAT the school board IS TO DISBAND.
Wrong: We PROPOSE THAT the school board WILL DISBAND.
Wrong: We PROPOSE THAT the school board SHOULD DISBAND.
Bare Form of the verb: the infinitive (to be, to disband) without the to. The bare form is like the Simple Present, with two important exceptions: (1) there is no -S on the end for third person singular (that the school board DISBAND, not DISBANDS), and f2) the form of the verb to be is always just be, not is, are, or am.
Not every Bossy Verb uses the Command Subjunctive. with some of the most common Bossy Verbs, such as want, you cannot use the Command Subjunctive, but rather an infinitive (to + the bare form)
Common Verbs that take ONLY the Command Subjunctive:
demand, dictate, insist, mandate, propose, recommend, request, stipulate, suggest
We demand THAT HE BE here.
Verbs that take ONLY the Infinitive: advise, allow, forbid, persuade, want
We Allow HIM TO BE here.
Verbs that take EITHER the Command Subjunctive OR the Infinitive: ask, beg, intend, order, prefer, urge, require (pay particular attention to require)
We require THAT HE BE here. OR We require HIM TO BE here.
OTHER CONSTRUCTIONS
Right: The agency PROHIBITED Gary FROM WORKING on weekends.
Used with nouns derived from Bossy Verbs, such as a demand or a request.
Right: His demand THAT he BE paid full severance was not met.
Avoid the use of the Command Subjunctive after whether.
Active & Passive Voice
Wrong: The pizza GOTEATENby the hungry students.
Wrong: The pizza must GET EATENtoday.
Use by only for the actual doers of the action. Use through or because of when you want to describeany instrument or means.
Right: THROUGH a quirk of fate, the pizza WAS accidentally EATEN.
Advanced (Ch13): Verbs
Helping Verbs
Better: I have never seen an aardvark, but my father HAS.
Right: I have never seen an aardvark, but last year my father saw one.
(diff tense, repeat all)
Tenses do not need to match: the exact verb form missing after the helping verb should be present elsewhere in the sentence.
Wrong: Our cars were designed to inspire envy, and they ARE.
Right: Our cars were designed to inspire envy, and they DO.
GMAT uses modal verbs (or their substitutes, such as have to for must) in a redundant or awkward manner.
Wrong: This plan ensures that action MUST be taken.
Right: This plan ensures that action WILL be taken.
Wrong: We ARE TO receive an invitation.
Right: We WILL receive an invitation. OR We SHOULD receive an invitation.
This inverted construction is considered awkward by the GMAT.
Awkward: SHOULD he PASS the test, he will graduate.
Right: IF he PASSESthe test, he will graduate.
Infinitives (Should postpone it, not as subjective)
Wrong: The building was demolished TO AVOID falling down accidentally. (typical error)
Awkward: TO ERR is human.
Right: IT is human TO ERR.
Gerunds
should not make a simple gerund and a complex gerund parallel to each other
Simple Gerund: EATING apples quickly. (more verb-like)
Complex Gerund: The quick EATING of apples. (more noun-like)
Remember that you. Also, do not create a complex gerund if an action noun already exists: the quick consumption of apples is better than the qUick eating of apples.
A noun preceding a gerund must be in the possessive case if the noun is the doer of the
action described by the gerund.
Wrong: Mike SWIMMING is the product of new coaching techniques.
Ing vs to do
Present Participle: Investors sold the stock rapidly, CAUSING panic
Infinitive: Investors sold the stock rapidly TO CAUSE panic
Here, the present participle expresses a result; the infinitive here expresses intention
If there is no deliberate intention, then you should generally prefer the participle -ing over the infinitive.
This is a rule of thumb: Watter droplets freeze to form snow is acceptable, although there is no intention.
The author probably intends to say that the plan is a means by which someone can conquer or will try to conquer the world. It is unlikely that the plan will conquer the world..
Unlikely: A plan CONQUERING /THAT WILL CONQUER the world is in his files.
Probable: A plan TO CONQUER the world is in his files.
Ch8 Comparison
I like to run through forests more than I enjoy walking through crowds .
parallel? No, because to run through forests does not have the same structure as walking through crowds.
Right: I like running through forests MORETHAN walking through crowds.
Omit units, verbs and even whole clauses from the second term, as long as there is no ambiguity.
Right: I walk as fast now as when I was younger.
Ambiguous: Ilike cheese more than Yvette. {Yvettecould be subject or object.}
Right: I like cheese more than Yvette DOES. (::::than Yvette likes cheese)
Right: I like cheese more than IDO Yvette. (= than I like Yvette)
Advanced (Ch13): Comparison
"like" cannot introduce examples, use “such as”
Ambiguity:
(1) I want to coach divers LIKEGreg Louganis.= divers WHO ARE LIKE Greg Louganis.
OR= I want to coach divers IN THE SAME WAY AS Greg Louganis does.
(2) I want to coach divers, LIKE Greg Louganis. (note the comma before like)= LIKE Greg Louganis. I want to coach divers. (he coaches divers; I want to doso.)
In any of these prepositional senses, As does not mean "similar to."
Right: I will jump up LIKE a clown. (= in a clownish manner)
Right: I will jump up AS a clown. (= in a clown suit)
Numbers in Comparisons
Right: The man is FIVE TIMES AS OLD AS his grandson.
Wrong: The man is FIVE TIMES OLDER THAN his grandson.
Use times without as or than to indicate direct multiplication.
Right: The cost of a ticket is $12, SIX TIMES the cost ten years ago.
In numerical comparisons, the words high and low, should onlybe used as adjectives.
Right: My bills are LOWER than they were last year.
Wrong: I spend LOWER than I did last year
(more, less can be used as adj & adv)
Ambiguity: We have even MORE efficient engines than before.
Right: We have even MORE engines that are efficient than before
Right: We have engines even MORE efficient than before
exceed or surpass, indicate comparison
Ch10 Odds & Ends
comma + coordinating conjunction(For And Nor But Or Yet So) :allows two main clauses to coexist peacefully as equals.
A subordinator: reducing one of the clauses to a subordinate clause. (Although Because Before After Since When If Unless)
Wrong: Earl walked to school, AND later ate his lunch.
Right: Earl walked to school AND later ate his lunch
Right: Earl walked to school, AND HE later ate his lunch
Right: I love listening to many kinds of music: namely, classical, rock, rap, and pop.
Quantity
Countable modifier: NUMEROUS hats
Uncontable: AMOUNT of patience, LESS THAN a certain AMOUNT, Greater patience
10 items or less: WRONG! Should be fewer
Right: The rare Montauk beaked griffin is not extinct; its NUMBERS are now suspected to be much GREATERthan before.Ch2. Grammer Meaning Concision
I. Choose your word
"cousin" words and expressions, with distinct meanings.
aggravate (worsen) vs. aggravating (irritating)
known as (named) vs. known to be (acknowledged as)
loss of(no longer in possession of) vs. loss in (decline in value)
mandate (command) vs. have a mandate (have authority from voters)
native of(person from) vs. native to (species that originated in)
range of(variety of) vs. ranging (varying)
rate of(speed or frequency of) vs. rates for (prices for)
rise (general increase) vs. raise (a bet or a salary increase)
try to do (seek to accomplish) vs. try doing (experiment with)
Absolutely Necessary: The court ruled that the plaintiff MUST pay full damages.(right)
Morally Obliged: The court ruled that the plaintiff SHOULD pay full damages.
Actual: If Chris and Jad met, they DISCUSSED mathematics.
Hypothetical: If Chris and Jad met, they WOULD DISCUSS mathematics.
The first sentence could be said by someone who is unsure whether Chris and Jad have actually met: "If this did indeed happen, then that is the consequence." The second sentence predicts the consequences of a hypothetical meeting of the two men: "If this were to happen, then that would be the consequence."
II. Place your word
If a word changes its position in the answer choices, you must consider whether the change has an impact on the meaning. Look out especially for short words (such as only and all) that quantify nouns or otherwise restrict meaning.
At a larger level, you need to pay attention to overall word order.
Ambiguity: The council granted the right to make legal petitions TO CITY OFFICIALS.
Correct: The council granted CITY OFFICIALS the right to make legal petitions.
OR The right to make legal petitions TO CITY OFFICIALS was granted by the council.
Concision: Avoid Redundancy
Wordy: The three prices SUM to a TOTAL of $11.56
Better: The three prices SUM to $11.56. Or: The three prices TOTAL $11.56.
Pay attention to expressions of time. Do not sneak two synonymous and redundant time expressions into an answer choice
Advanced (Ch11): Concision
1.V-A-N = Verb > Adjective (or Adverb) > Noun
2. V-A-N Pattern 2: Prefer a That-Clause (with Verbs) to a Series of Phrases (with Nouns)
Wordy: The hypothesis ABOUT the COMPOSITION OF the universe AS largely dark energy seems strange.
Better: The hypothesis THAT the universe IS largely COMPOSED OF dark energy seems strange.
"Idea" nouns, such as hypothesis, idea, suggestion, belief, discovery, evidence, indication, and report lend themselves particularly well to this pattern.
3. V-A-N Pattern 5: Prefer an Adverb to a Prepositional Phrase
Wordy: Oil prices have fallen, but prices at the gasoline pump have not fallen TO
A COMPARABLE EXTENT.
Better: Oil prices have fallen, but prices at the gasoline pump have not fallen
COMPARABLLY
4. Concision: Prefer an Adjective to an Adjective Clause with Be
Wordy: Marcos is a professor WHO IS ADMIRABLE.
Better: Marcos is an ADMIRABLE professor.
This principle works similarly with nouns that identify or describe other nouns:
Wordy: Joan, WHO IS a FIREFIGHTER, works in Yosemite Park.
Better: Joan, a FIREFIGHTER, works in Yosemite Park.
5. Concision Pattern 7: Remove IT IS... THAT. .. GMAT avoids such constructions in correct answers.
Wordy: IT IS without fear THAT children should play
Better: Children should play without fear.
None of these Concision patterns expresses a rule but rather a preference. Words or phrases such as being or the fact that do not automatically indicate that an answer choice is wrong.
6."Too Short" Pattern 1: Keep the Prepositional Phrase if You Need To (or, confusing)
Too Short: I talked to the BOSTON SOlDIER.
Better: I talked to the SOLDIER FROM BOSTON.
Notice that places or locations rarely work well as Noun-Adjectives, unless the prepositional of Right: A wall OF stone OR Stone Wall
Moreover, whenever you have a time period, quantity or other measurement as the first word, keep the prepositional phrase with of. Never modify a measurement using a Noun-Adjective. Avoid using a possessive (s or s') to modify a measurement.
Too Short Better
Memorial Day week OR Memorial Day's week Week of Memorial Day
the merger year the year OF the merger
the oxygen amount the amount OF oxygen
the honeybee population density the density OF the honeybee population
7. "Too Short" Pattern 2: Keep That Of or Those Of if You Need To
GMAT sometimes inserts an unnecessary that of or those of, which has to be removed.
Wordy: The fields I most enjoy studying are (THOSE OF) physics and chemistry
8. "Too Short" Pattern 3: Keep That after reporting words:
Agree Claim Contend Declare Find Indicate Reveal Rule Show, announce, assert, believe, confess, demonstrate, doubt, expect, hold, know, mention, observe, proclaim, reason, recognize, repeat, state, think, and warn,( be convinced, be certain, be assured)
“Say” is an exception
Ch3. Subject-Verb Agreement (P43 summary)
Use structure to decide
The tidal forces to which an object falling into a black hole is/are subjected is/are sufficient to tear the object apart.
And vs. Additive Phrases
Unlike and, additive phrases function as modifiers and therefore cannot change the number of the subject. along with , in addition to, accompanied by, together with, as well as, includIng
Mathematjcs. in addition to history and science, IS a required subject.
Note, incidentally, that Mathematics is singular, although it ends in an -s; the same other school subjects, as well as of some activities (e.g., aerobics) and diseases (e.g., diabetes).
Or, Either •••Or, &Neither •••Nor
Agree with noun nearest verb
Note that when the words either or neither are in a sentence alone (without or or nor), they are considered singular and take only singular verbs.
Collective Nouns: Almost Always Singular
People: agency, army, audience, class, committee, crowd, orchestra, team
Items: baggage, citrus (kind of orange), equipment, fleet (team of cars), fruit, furniture
Indefinite Pronouns: Usually Singular
all the pronouns that end in -one, -body, or -thing fall into this category.
Any, some, no, every +one, anybody, anything
Each, every (aspronouns) Whatever, whoever
Either, neither (may require a plural verb If paired with or/nor)
There are, however, 5 indefinite pronouns that can be either singular or plural
THE SANAM PRONOUNS: Some, Any, None, All, More/Most
Some of the money WAS stolen from my wallet. (money is singular)
Some of the documents WERE stolen from the bank. (documents is plural)
(Technically, none of + plural noun can take either a singular or a plural verb form. But not one is always singular: Not one of my friends IS here this weekend.)
Each and Every: Singular Sensations
Right: Every dog and cat HAS paws. Each of these shirts .IS. pretty. (pronoun)
They each ARE great tennis players. (here it is adj, not pronoun)
Quantity Words and Phrases
Treat quantity phrases in the same way as SANAM pronouns: singular or plural.
Half of the pie.IS. blueberry, and half of the SLICES AREalready gone.
majority, minority, and plurality
If you want to indicate the totality itself then use a singular verb form.
The majority of the stydents in this class ARE hard workers.
In the Senate, the majorjty HAS coalesced into a unified voting block.
Flip it!
Wrong: Near those buildings SIT a lonely house, inhabited by squatters.
Flip it! A lonely b.Qyg, inhabited by squatters, ~ near those buildings.
Right: Near those buildings SITS a lonely b.Qyg, inhabited by squatters.
in subordinate clauses:
Uncertain: Pong is a classic game from which have/has descended many current
computer pastimes.
Flip it! Pong is a classic game from which many current computer pastimes
HAVE descended.
Right: Pong is a classic game from which HAVE descended many current computer
pastimes.
Ch4. Parallelism
Rather than; from…to
They wanted TO increase awareness, spark interest, AND motivate purchases.
Ralph likes BOTH THOSE WHO are popular AND THOSE WHO are not.
List with And
If itmes: X, Y, and Z (more than 3, comma+and)
If clause: X, and Y
Right: She argues THAT the agency acts WITH reckless abandon AND WITH disregard for hyman life AND property. AND THAT it should therefore be shutdown.
Idioms with Built-In Parallel Structure
X Acts As Y, Distinguish X From Y, X is the Same As Y As X, So Y
Estimate X To Be Y X is good, and So Too is Y Between X And Y
X Instead Of Y X, Such As Y (example) Compared To X, Y
X is Known To Be Y Think Of X As Consider X Y
X is Less Than Y X is Thought To Be Y In Contrast To X, Y
Make X Y View X As Y Declare X Y
Mistake X For Y Whether X Or Y X-Develops Into Y
Not Only X But Also Y X Differs From Y Regard X As Y
Do not assume that all verbs and verbal forms in a sentence must be parallel.
Sal applied himself in his new job, arriving early every day, skipping lunch regularly, AND leaving late every night.
-Ing phrases provide additional information about how Sal applied himself
Watch Out for Linking Verbs
Other Linking Verbs: appear seem become smell feel sound grow stay look taste remain turn represent resemble
Wrong: The bouquet of flowers WAS a giving of love.
Right: The bouquet of flowers WAS a gift of love.
Wrong: Upon being nominated, this politician REPRESENTS a step forward in
urban-rural relations in this country.
Right: The nomination of this politician REPRESENTSa step forward in urbanrural
relations in this country.
Advanced (Ch11): Parallelism
To maintain logical parallelism, avoid making concrete nouns (flower) and action nouns (giving …) parallel.
Wrong: 'The bouquet of flowers WAS a giving of love.
Simple gerund phrases are NEVER PARALLEL to complex gerund phrases
Wrong: I enjoyed drinking the water(simple) AND the wine tasting (complex).
Only complex ones can be parallel to action nouns.
Right: reductions in overall troop levels, THE raising OF the rebel flag on holidays
Also, if an action noun for a particular verb already exists in English, avoid creating a complex gerund phrase.
Right: It is critical to suspend activities, notify investors AND say nothing.
Right: It is critical to suspend activities, to notify investors AND to say nothing.
Adjectives, Past Participles, and Present Participles (used as adjectives)
A mastodon carcass, thawed only once AND still fresh, is on display.
Ch5. Pronouns (so frequent that must check every time)
The antecedent to refer must exist in the seatence and be functioning as a noun. (not adj)
Right: Although the term "supercomputer" may sound fanciful or exaggerated,
IT simply REFERSTO an extreme
Wrong: Researchers claim to have developed new "nano-papers" incorporating tiny cellulose fibers, which THEY allege give THEM the strength of cast iron.
The Antecedent & Pronoun Must Agree in Number, Case
Nouns in the possessive case (with i or s') are often poor antecedents.
Wrong: The board is investigating several executives' compensation packages
in order to determine how much may have been improperly awarded
to THEM.
The Deadly Five: It, Its, They, Them, Their—whenever u c, check ascendants
If it can be omitted or not
The money spent by her parents is less than THAT spent by her children.
Note that the two pots of money are NOT the same. One pot of money is spent by the parents; another pot of money, spent by the children, is the New Copy.
any "New Copy" that or those agree in number with the previous version. If you must change number, repeat the noun.
Wrong: Her company is outperforming THOSE OF her competitors.
Right: Her company is outperforming THE COMPANIES OF her competitors.
do not use this or these, that or those in place of nouns (unless you modify that or those). Use it, they, or them instead.
Wrong: Her products are unusual; many consider THESE unique.
Right: Her products are unusual; many consider THEM unique.
Advanced (Ch12): Pronouns
There
Wrong: At current prices, Antarctic oil may be worth drilling for, if wells can be
dug THERE.
Right: At current prices, oil in Antarctica may be worth drilling for, if wells can
be dug THERE.
One another & themselves
Reciprocal Pronouns one another and each other are used to indicate interaction
between parties.
Wrong: The ~ at the party interacted with THEMSElVES.
Right: The ~ at the party interacted with ONE ANOTHER.
Do So versus Do It
So: entire action, including a verb, its objects, and its modifiers.
It: must refer to an actual noun antecedent.
IT in front: to postpone “to…”, clause
GMAT-like-to use a generic synonym for the antecedent than to repeat the noun exactly.. more general than the antecedent, refers to an example of the generic synonym.
Right: New "nano-papers" incorporate fibers that give THESE MATERIALS strength.
Ch6. Modifier
Two modifier for one noun: position depends on meaning
Right: James Joyce is Max's SUPPOSED Irish ancestor. (“Supposed” modifies ancestor, whether James is ancestor is the question)
Right: Max's grandmother is his SUPPOSEDLY Irish ancestor. (“Supposedly” modifies irish, where grandma is irish is the question)
Be sure not to miss this difference (-ly): corresponding, frequent; independent, rare, recent, seeming, separate, significant, supposed, and usual
Appositive. (empharsis)
Before noun: A LOVER of mice, my cat hunts night and day.
After noun: The cat, a TABBY raised on a farm, took a nap.
Right: TIRED from chasing mice. the cat took a nap.
Position of Noun Modifiers
A NOUN and its MODIFIER should TOUCH each other.
Wrong: Jim biked along an old dirt road to get to his house, which cut through
the woods.
Right: To get to his house, Jim biked along an old dirt road. which cut throygb the woods.
Also noun modifier n should touch:
Wrong: Using thg latest technology. the prpblem was identified.
Wrong: The problem was identified, using the latest tgchnplogy.
Verb modifier does not have to touch, must make sense
Avoid long sequences of modifiers that modify the same noun. Putting two long modifiers in a row before or after a noun can lead to awkward or incorrect phrasings.
Wrong: George Carlin, both shocking and entertaining audiences across the nation, who also struggled publicly with drug abuse, influenced and inspired a generation of comedians.
The misplaced modifier who also struggled publicly with drug abuse should be next to GeorgeCarlin, not nation.
Watch Out For Possessive
Wrong: Unskilled in complex math. Bill's ~. on the exam was poor.
Clauses led by that cannot modify people; whose can modify either people or things
Wrong: The scientists THAT made the discovery were rewarded.
Which or whom can follow prepositions: the canal through which water flows
That or whom can be dropped when modified noun is the object of the clause.
The movie THAT we watched last Friday was scary.
Where cannot modify condition, situation, case, circumstances, or arrangement. use in which. Where can be replace by in which sometimes.
Essential vs. Non -essential Noun Modifiers
Essential: The… that Non-essential: This… , which
Essential: The mansion PAINTED RED is owned by the lees.
Non Essential: This mansion, RECENTLY PAINTED RED, is owned by the lees.
E.g., when Which is used with a preposition (THAT can not be used): obey the comma rule: use commas with non-essential uses of Which, but not with essential uses of Which. Who can be used in both essential and non, but obey comma rule
Non-essential: This mansion, FOR WHICH I YEARN. is owned by the Lees.
Essential: The mansion FOR WHICH I YEARN is owned by the lees.
Verb Modifier (adv)
Adv because, although, if, unless, while, so that, etc. cannot stand alone as sentences, but
rather are attached to main clauses.
Some verb modifiers may apply to both the verb and the verb's subject. make sure the subject makes sense with the modifier.
Wrong:· The weight was lifted by concentrating. (I concentrate, not weight)
Wrong: The weight was lifted to free my leg.
Verb modifiers don’t have to touch the modified verb. Place a verb modifier so that it modifies the right verb, without ambiguity
Wrong: The symphony was at last performed, decades after it was composed, yesterday.
Right: The symphony was at last performed yesterday. decades after it was composed.
Which vs Ving
Wrong: Crime has recently decreased in our neighborhood, WHICH has led to a rise in property values.
Whenever you use which, you must be referring to a noun just before the which.
Use WHICH only to refer to the noun immediately preceding it-never to an entire clause.
The -Ing form can modify nouns directly (e.g., the changing seasons). It can modify verbs and their subjects (e.g., llifted the weight, whistling). It can even modify an entire clause, as long as the entire clause converted into a noun phrase could function as the subject of the verb that is now in -Ing form. we can also say “Crime has recently decreased... leading to a rise”. This use of the -Ing form express the result of the main clause.
Advanced (Ch12): Modifiers
Exceptions to the Touch Rule
the Touch Rule.
1) A "mission-critical" modifier falls between. This modifier is often an Of phrase that
defines the noun.
Right: He had a way OF DODGING OPPONENTS that impressed the scouts.
It helps that the relative pronoun that cannot refer to human opponents. Moreover, the reversed order is nonsensical:
Wrong: He had a way that impressed the scouts OF DODGING OPPONENTS.
Best: His way OF DODGING OPPONENTS impressed the scouts.
Right: An ice sheet covers 80 percent OF THE SURFACE OF GREENLAND, an area roughly the size of Alaska
2) A very short predicate falls between, shifting a very long modifier back.
Right: A new CEO has been hired who will transform the company by ….
3) A short non-essential phrase intervenes and is set off by commas.
Right: Our system of Presidential elections favors states. such as Delaware. that by population are over-represented in the Electoral College.
Possessive Nuances: xxx of yyy, not xxx of yyy’s, not the only rule, may exist in right answer
Subgroup Modifiers
Right: This model explains all known subatomic particles, SOME OF WHICH WERE only recently discovered./SOME OFTHEM only recently discovered.
Wrong: This model explains all known subatomic particles, OF WHICH SOME WERE only recently discovered.
(A) The rate of language extinction is accelerating, a tendency ultimately culminating in the survival of just a few languages. (WRONG! Ultimately means in the future, can’t use culminating)
(B) The rate of language extinction is accelerating, a tendency that will ultimately culminate in the survival of just a few languages.
Same as---Wrong: I SEE the man CLEANING the steps yesterday.
Absolute Phrases
composed of a noun plus a noun modifler. they modify the main clause. we can easily move the modifier to the end of the sentence; we cannot do so with normal noun modifiers.
Right: His head held high, Owen walked out of the store.
Right: Scientists have found high levels of iridium in certain geological formations around the world, results that suggest/suggesting the cataclvsmic impact of a meteor millions years ago.
Wrong: Scientists have found high levels of iridium in certain geological formations around the world, which suggests/and this suggests the cataclysmic impact ofa meteor millions of years ago.
(which only modify a noun, not clause; this should follow a noun to specify)
Ch7 Verb Tense, Mode&Voice
Do not use the be ving to indicate future actions. Use will.
Wrong: Quentin IS MEETING Harvey for lunch tomorrow.
Verbs that express general states. do not take progressive forms. Eg: know or signify.
Wrong: This inscription ISSIGNIFYING the emperor's birth.
Right: This inscription SIGNIFIESthe emperor's birth.
Can omit: will walk to …and run…
Can use the Past Progressive to describe a background event, while you use Simple Past to describe a more important event in the foreground.
Right: She WAS PLAYING with her friends when the babysitter ARRIVED.
In the previous example, the action was playing (in the Past Progressive) takes place in the
background. Arrived (in the Simple Past) is the interrupting foreground event.
Right: She PLAYED with her friends when the babysitter ARRIVED.
In this case, the action played took place after the babysitter arrived. Both actions are in the
Simple Past and express equal levels of importance.
Present Perfect: Still In Effect•••
Right: The child DREW a square in the sand, but the ocean ERASED it.
Right: The child DREW a square in the sand, but the ocean HAS ERASED it.
Awkward: The child HAS DRAWN a square in the sand, but the ocean HAS ERASED it.
Note that the act of erasing could be in either Simple Past or Present Perfect. In the first example above {with erased}, the current state of the sand is not known; in the second example (with has erased), the current state of the sand is square-free, since the Present Perfect has erased indicates that this action's effect is still true.
To summarize, the Present Perfect indicates either continued action or continued effect of a completed action.
Since, within (by): must use the Present Perfect to indicate continued action or effect
Finally, the idea of completed action can be used simply to place a Present Perfect action
earlier than another action in -Ing forms, infinitives or subordinate clauses.
Right: She WILL PAY you when you ASK her.
(the time of will pay = the time of [will) ask; note that the future will is often dropped in subordinate clauses)
Right: She WILL PAY you when you HAVE TAKEN out the garbage.
(the time of will pay is LATER than the future time of have taken)
Past Perfect: The Earlier Action: use only when need to emphasis the sequence things happened
Right: The band U2 WAS just one of many new groups on the rock music scene in the early 1980's, but less than ten years later, U2 HAD fully ECLIPSED its early rivals in the pantheon of popular music.
Subjunctive Mood(unreal conditions)
Hypothetical Subjunctive
Always use WERE.
Right: To overcome my fear of germs, I will think about disease as though it WERE harmless.
If ••• Then Constructions
Sentences that use the word if do not always use the Hypothetical Subjunctive.
Unlikely Case (in the future)
IF Sophie ATE pizza tomorrow, THEN she WOULD BECOME ill.
IF Hypothetical Subjunctive, THEN Conditional. Sophie is unlikely to eat pizza tomorrow. The Conditional Tense (would) shows the hypothetical result of an unlikely or untrue condition. In place of would, the form could can be used to indicate improbability as well.
Case that Never Happened (in the past)
IF Sophie HAD EATEN pizza yesterday, THEN she WOULD HAVE BECOME ill.
IF Past Perfect, THEN Conditional Perfect.
The helping verbs would and should should NEVER go in the if part of the sentence!
Command Subjunctive
The agency REQUIRED that Gary BE ready before noon.
We PROPOSE that the school board DISBAND.
Bossy Verb + THAT + subject + Command Subjunctive
Wrong: We PROPOSE the school board DISBAND. (That is not optional.)
Wrong: We PROPOSE THAT the school board DISBANDS.
Wrong: We PROPOSE THAT the school board IS TO DISBAND.
Wrong: We PROPOSE THAT the school board WILL DISBAND.
Wrong: We PROPOSE THAT the school board SHOULD DISBAND.
Bare Form of the verb: the infinitive (to be, to disband) without the to. The bare form is like the Simple Present, with two important exceptions: (1) there is no -S on the end for third person singular (that the school board DISBAND, not DISBANDS), and f2) the form of the verb to be is always just be, not is, are, or am.
Not every Bossy Verb uses the Command Subjunctive. with some of the most common Bossy Verbs, such as want, you cannot use the Command Subjunctive, but rather an infinitive (to + the bare form)
Common Verbs that take ONLY the Command Subjunctive:
demand, dictate, insist, mandate, propose, recommend, request, stipulate, suggest
We demand THAT HE BE here.
Verbs that take ONLY the Infinitive: advise, allow, forbid, persuade, want
We Allow HIM TO BE here.
Verbs that take EITHER the Command Subjunctive OR the Infinitive: ask, beg, intend, order, prefer, urge, require (pay particular attention to require)
We require THAT HE BE here. OR We require HIM TO BE here.
OTHER CONSTRUCTIONS
Right: The agency PROHIBITED Gary FROM WORKING on weekends.
Used with nouns derived from Bossy Verbs, such as a demand or a request.
Right: His demand THAT he BE paid full severance was not met.
Avoid the use of the Command Subjunctive after whether.
Active & Passive Voice
Wrong: The pizza GOTEATENby the hungry students.
Wrong: The pizza must GET EATENtoday.
Use by only for the actual doers of the action. Use through or because of when you want to describeany instrument or means.
Right: THROUGH a quirk of fate, the pizza WAS accidentally EATEN.
Advanced (Ch13): Verbs
Helping Verbs
Better: I have never seen an aardvark, but my father HAS.
Right: I have never seen an aardvark, but last year my father saw one.
(diff tense, repeat all)
Tenses do not need to match: the exact verb form missing after the helping verb should be present elsewhere in the sentence.
Wrong: Our cars were designed to inspire envy, and they ARE.
Right: Our cars were designed to inspire envy, and they DO.
GMAT uses modal verbs (or their substitutes, such as have to for must) in a redundant or awkward manner.
Wrong: This plan ensures that action MUST be taken.
Right: This plan ensures that action WILL be taken.
Wrong: We ARE TO receive an invitation.
Right: We WILL receive an invitation. OR We SHOULD receive an invitation.
This inverted construction is considered awkward by the GMAT.
Awkward: SHOULD he PASS the test, he will graduate.
Right: IF he PASSESthe test, he will graduate.
Infinitives (Should postpone it, not as subjective)
Wrong: The building was demolished TO AVOID falling down accidentally. (typical error)
Awkward: TO ERR is human.
Right: IT is human TO ERR.
Gerunds
should not make a simple gerund and a complex gerund parallel to each other
Simple Gerund: EATING apples quickly. (more verb-like)
Complex Gerund: The quick EATING of apples. (more noun-like)
Remember that you. Also, do not create a complex gerund if an action noun already exists: the quick consumption of apples is better than the qUick eating of apples.
A noun preceding a gerund must be in the possessive case if the noun is the doer of the
action described by the gerund.
Wrong: Mike SWIMMING is the product of new coaching techniques.
Ing vs to do
Present Participle: Investors sold the stock rapidly, CAUSING panic
Infinitive: Investors sold the stock rapidly TO CAUSE panic
Here, the present participle expresses a result; the infinitive here expresses intention
If there is no deliberate intention, then you should generally prefer the participle -ing over the infinitive.
This is a rule of thumb: Watter droplets freeze to form snow is acceptable, although there is no intention.
The author probably intends to say that the plan is a means by which someone can conquer or will try to conquer the world. It is unlikely that the plan will conquer the world..
Unlikely: A plan CONQUERING /THAT WILL CONQUER the world is in his files.
Probable: A plan TO CONQUER the world is in his files.
Ch8 Comparison
I like to run through forests more than I enjoy walking through crowds .
parallel? No, because to run through forests does not have the same structure as walking through crowds.
Right: I like running through forests MORETHAN walking through crowds.
Omit units, verbs and even whole clauses from the second term, as long as there is no ambiguity.
Right: I walk as fast now as when I was younger.
Ambiguous: Ilike cheese more than Yvette. {Yvettecould be subject or object.}
Right: I like cheese more than Yvette DOES. (::::than Yvette likes cheese)
Right: I like cheese more than IDO Yvette. (= than I like Yvette)
Advanced (Ch13): Comparison
"like" cannot introduce examples, use “such as”
Ambiguity:
(1) I want to coach divers LIKEGreg Louganis.= divers WHO ARE LIKE Greg Louganis.
OR= I want to coach divers IN THE SAME WAY AS Greg Louganis does.
(2) I want to coach divers, LIKE Greg Louganis. (note the comma before like)= LIKE Greg Louganis. I want to coach divers. (he coaches divers; I want to doso.)
In any of these prepositional senses, As does not mean "similar to."
Right: I will jump up LIKE a clown. (= in a clownish manner)
Right: I will jump up AS a clown. (= in a clown suit)
Numbers in Comparisons
Right: The man is FIVE TIMES AS OLD AS his grandson.
Wrong: The man is FIVE TIMES OLDER THAN his grandson.
Use times without as or than to indicate direct multiplication.
Right: The cost of a ticket is $12, SIX TIMES the cost ten years ago.
In numerical comparisons, the words high and low, should onlybe used as adjectives.
Right: My bills are LOWER than they were last year.
Wrong: I spend LOWER than I did last year
(more, less can be used as adj & adv)
Ambiguity: We have even MORE efficient engines than before.
Right: We have even MORE engines that are efficient than before
Right: We have engines even MORE efficient than before
exceed or surpass, indicate comparison
Ch10 Odds & Ends
comma + coordinating conjunction(For And Nor But Or Yet So) :allows two main clauses to coexist peacefully as equals.
A subordinator: reducing one of the clauses to a subordinate clause. (Although Because Before After Since When If Unless)
Wrong: Earl walked to school, AND later ate his lunch.
Right: Earl walked to school AND later ate his lunch
Right: Earl walked to school, AND HE later ate his lunch
Right: I love listening to many kinds of music: namely, classical, rock, rap, and pop.
Quantity
Countable modifier: NUMEROUS hats
Uncontable: AMOUNT of patience, LESS THAN a certain AMOUNT, Greater patience
10 items or less: WRONG! Should be fewer
Right: The rare Montauk beaked griffin is not extinct; its NUMBERS are now suspected to be much GREATERthan before. |
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