Common GMAT Idioms & Word Choices Flashcards
Singular or plural?
Some
Some is a dual purpose pronoun.
Subjective or objective?
It
It is both an objective and a subjective pronoun.
Singular or plural?
Few
Few is a plural pronoun.
Singular or plural?
Anything
Anything is a singular pronoun.
because ___
because of
Singular or plural?
Nothing
Nothing is a singular pronoun.
credit x ___
credit x with y
Singular or plural?
Anybody
Anybody is a singular pronoun.
Singular or plural?
Both
Both is a plural pronoun.
That vs Which - most often correct?
Usually “that”.
Singular or plural?
Someone
Someone is a singular pronoun.
to sacrifice x ___
to sacrifice x for y
Can a sentence have more than one subject/verb pair?
YES! A sentence can have more than one subject/verb pair.
Subjective or objective?
I
I is a subjective pronoun.
just as …… ____
just as …. so
as much ___
as much as
Subjective or objective?
You
You is both an objective and a subjective pronoun.
not so much x _____
not so much x as y
rather ____
rather than
agree ____
agree with
both ….. ____
both … and
either ….. ____
either …. or
more/most
more = binary
and
most = plural
Of the two brothers, Les is more interesting; he is the most interesting person in his family.
Subjective or objective?
We
We is a subjective pronoun.
credited ____
credited with
depends _____
depends on whether
Singular or plural?
One
One is a singular pronoun.
What are the plural pronouns?
The plural pronouns are:
both, few, many, several.
as great ___
as great as
a debate ___
a debate over
not only ….. _____
not only….. but also
Singular or plural?
Something
Something is a singular pronoun.
Singular or plural?
another
Another is a singular pronoun.
indifferent ______
indifferent towards
Singular or plural?
Somebody
Somebody is a singular pronoun.
defined ___
defined as
neither ….. ____
neither ….. nor
a responsibility ___
a responsibility to
Singular or plural?
Most
Most is a dual purpose pronoun.
being after regard?
Do not use being after regard as
He is regarded as the best player.
Singular or plural?
Everything
Everything is a singular pronoun.
Singular or plural?
Nobody
Nobody is a singular pronoun.
responsible ___
responsible for
both x ____
both x and y
appear ___
appear to
model ___
model after
to mistake x ___
to mistake x for y
Singular or plural?
Any
Any is a dual purpose pronoun.
the same to x ____
the same to x as to y
forbid x ____
forbid x to do y
Singular or plural?
All
All is a dual purpose pronoun.
conform ___
conform to
so x ____
so x as to be y
range _____
range from x to y
subject ___
subject to
Subjective or objective?
They
They is a subjective pronoun.
to result ___
to result in
What are all the singular pronouns?
The singular pronouns include:
another, anybody, anyone, anything,
each, either, everybody, everyone, everything,
neither, nobody, no one, nothing,
one,
somebody, someone, something,
whatever, whoever, whichever
attend _____
attend to (someone)
Subjective or objective?
He & She
He & She are subjective pronouns.
choose ____
choose from
Singular or plural?
Whatever
Whatever is a singular pronoun.
less/fewer
Use less for subjective (uncountable),
fewer for an objective number (countable).
This checkout is for 9 items or fewer.
This room has less appeal.
between/among
Among for three or more things.
Between for two things.
Divide her wealth among her five kids.
Meg stood between two trees.
depicted ___
depicted as
Singular or plural?
None
None is a dual purpose pronoun.
Subjective or objective?
Them
Them is an objective pronoun.
attribute x _____
attribute x to y
so (adjective) ___
so (adjective) that
Singular or plural?
Everyone
Everyone is a single pronoun.
Singular or plural?
Each
Each is a singular pronoun.
Subjective or objective?
Us
Us is an objective pronoun.
believe x ____
believe x to be y
prohibits x _____
prohibits x from (doing) y
Singular or plural?
No one
No one is a singular pronoun.
as good __
as good as
Singular or plural?
Whoever
Whoever is a singular pronoun.
Subjective or objective?
Him
Him is an objective pronoun.
Subjective or objective?
Me
Me is an objective pronoun.
Singular or plural?
Either
Either is a singular pronoun.
Singular or plural?
Anyone
Anyone is a singular pronoun.
regard ___
regard as
try ___
try to
Singular or plural?
Everybody
Everybody is a singular pronoun.
Passive/active voice
Passive construction occurs when the object of an action is made into the subject.
If two answer choices are grammatically correct but one uses a passive voice and the other uses an active voice, the active voice will be correct
different ____
different from
Singular or plural?
Neither
Neither is a singular pronoun.
What is a preposition?
This is a word governing, and usually preceding, a noun or pronoun and expressing a relation to another word or element in the clause, as in “the man on the platform,” “she arrived after dinner,” “what did you do it for?”.
affect/effect
We generally use affect as a verb
and
effect as a noun.
Ken’s mood affected everyone.
The disco ball has a cool effect.
Singular or plural?
Whichever
Whichever is a singular pronoun.
Singular or plural?
More
More is a dual purpose pronoun.
x is attributed ___
x is attributed to y
hopefully
Hopefully is an adverb meaning “with hope” and should never be used to mean I hope or it is hoped.
I hope it is sunny tomorrow. (Not: Hopefully, it will be sunny tomorrow.)
Singular or plural?
Many
Many is a plural pronoun.
Singular or plural?
Several
Several is a plural pronoun.
if/whether
Use if in a conditional,
and
use whether for binary situations.
I will help you if I can.
I don’t know whether I can attend
Correct: I don’t know whether it will rain tomorrow.
Subjective or objective?
Her
Her is an objective pronoun.
When there’s a sentence that switches from talking about a singular object to talking about it’s parts, are the verbs singular or plural?
The verbs should be singular where it talks about the group as a unit, and plural where it talks about the parts.
