Idioms

Question 1

Ability

Answer 1

Fähigkeit

RIGHT: I value my ABILITY TO SING.

WRONG:
I walue my ABILITY OF SINGING.
I value my ABILITY FOR SINGING
I walue the ABILITY FOR me TO SING.

Question 2

Allow

Answer 2

ermöglichen

RIGHT:
The holiday ALLOWS Maria TO WATCH the movie today: (permits an action)
Maria WAS ALLOWED TO WATCH the movie.
The demolition of the old building ALLOWS FOR new construction. (permits the existence of)

WRONG:
The holiday ALLOWED FOR Maria TO WATCH the movie.
The holiday ALLOWED Maria the WATCHING OF the movie.
The holiday ALLOWS THAT homework BE done (or CAN BE done).
Homewort is ALLOWED FOR DOING BY Maria.
The ALLOWING OF shopping TO DO (or TO BE DONE)

Question 3

And

Answer 3

RIGHT:
We are concerned about the forests AND the oceans.
We are concerned about the forests, the oceans, AND the mountains.
The company is profitable, AND the CEO is famous. (Note the comma before AND.)

SUSPECT:
We are concerned about the forests AND ALSO the oceans.

WRONG:
We are concerned about the forests, ALSO the oceans.

Question 4

AS

Answer 4

RIGHT:
AS I walked, I became more nervous. (during)
AS I had already paid, I was unconcerned. (because, since)
AS we did last year, we will win this year. (in the same way)
JUST AS we did last year, we will win this year. (in the same way)
AS the president of the company, she works hard. (in the role of)
AS a child, I delivered newspapers. (in the stage of being)
My first job was an apprenticeship AS a sketch artist. (in the role of)
AS PART OF the arrangement, he received severance.

SUSPECT:
AS A PART OF the arrangement, he received severance. (Don’t include the word A.)

WRONG:
My farst job was an apprenticeship OF a sketch artist.
The students worked AS a sketch artist. (The nouns must agree in number.)
WHILE BEING a child, I delivered newspapers.
AS BEING a child, I delivered newspapers.
WHILE IN childhood, I delivered newspapers.

Question 5

As… as

Answer 5

RIGHT:
Cheese is AS great AS people say.
Cheese is NOT AS great AS people say.
We have AS MANY apples AS need to be cooked.
We have THREE TIMES AS MANY pears AS you.
We have AT LEAST AS MANY apples AS you.
We have 10 apples, ABOUT AS MANY AS we picked yesterday.
His knowledge springs AS MUCH from experience AS from schooling.
His knowledge springs NOT SO MUCH from experience AS from schooling.
He wins frequently, AS MUCH because he plays SO hard AS because he cheats.

SUSPECT:
We have AS MANY apples AS OR MORE apples THAN you
We have AS MANY apples AS THERE need to be cooked.

WRONG:
Cheese is SO great AS people say.
Cheese is NOT SO great AS people say.
Cheese is SO great THAT people say.
Cheese is AS great THAT people say.
We have AS MANY apples THAN you.
We have SO MANY apples AS you.
We have AS MANY OR MORE apples THAN you.
We have THREE TIMES AS MANY MORE pears AS you.
We have 10 apples, ABOUT EQUIVALENT TO what we picked yesterday.
His knowledge springs NOT from experience AS from schooling.

Question 6

Because

Same for “for”

Answer 6

RIGHT:
BECAUSE the sun shines, plants grow.
Plants grow BECAUSE the sun shines.
BECAUSE OF the sun, plants grow.
BY SHINING, the sun makes plants grow.
Plants grow, FOR the sun shines. (grammatically correct but very formal)

SUSPECT:
Plants grow BECAUSE OF the sun, which shines.
Plants are amazing IN THAT they grow in the sun. (correct but wordy)
The growth of plants IS EXPLAINED BY THE FACT THAT the sun shines. (correct
but wordy)

WRONG:
Plants grow BECAUSE OF the sun SHINING.
Plants grow AS A RESULT OF the sun SHINING.
BECAUSE OF SHINING, the sun makes plants grow.
ON ACCOUNT OF SHINING or ITS SHINING, the sun makes plants grow.
BECAUSE the sun shines IS the REASON that plants grow.
The ABILITY OF plants TO grow IS BECAUSE the sun shines.
BEING THAT the sun shines, plants grow.
The growth of plants IS EXPLAINED BECAUSE OF the shining of the sun.
The growth of plants IS EXPLAINED BECAUSE the sun shimes.

Question 7

being

Answer 7

RIGHT:
BEING infected does not make you sick.
The judges saw the horses BEING led to the stables.

SUSPECT:
BEING an advocate of reform, I would like to make a different proposal.
Note: The word BEING is often wordy or awkward. However, having caught on to
the “BEING is wrong’ shortcut, the GMAT problem writers have created a few
problems that force you to choose BEING. It’s true that BEING appears in many
more wrong answers than right ones; however, the word can be used correctly as a
gerund or as a participle.

Question 8

Believe

Answer 8

RIGHT:
She BELIEVES THAT Gary IS right.
She BELIEVES Gary TO BE right.
IT IS BELIEVED THAT Gary IS right.
Gary IS BELIEVED TO BE right.

SUSPECT:
Gary IS BELIEVED BY her TO BE right.

Question 9

Both.. and

Answer 9

RIGHT:
She was interested BOTH in plants AND in animals.
She was interested in BOTH plants AND animals.

WRONG:
She was interested BOTH in plants AND animals.
She was interested BOTH in plants AS WELL AS in animals.
She was interested BOTH in plants BUT ALSO in animals.

Question 10

but

Answer 10

RIGHT:
I STUDY hard BUT TAKE breaks.
I STUDY hard, BUT I TAKE breaks.
ALTHOUGH I ‘TAKE frequent naps, I STUDY effectively.
DESPITE TAKING frequent naps, I STUDY effectively.
I TAKE frequent naps, YET I STUDY effectively.

SUSPECT:
DESPITE THE FACT THAT I TAKE frequent naps, I STUDY effectively.
ALTHOUGH a frequent napper, I STUDY effectively. (ALTHOUGH should generally
be followed by a clause.)

WRONG:
I STUDY effectively ALTHOUGH TAKING frequent naps.
ALTHOUGH I TAKE frequent maps, YET I STUDY effectively.
ALTHOUGH I TAKE frequent naps, AND I STUDY effectively.
DESPITE TAKING frequent naps, YET I STUDY effectively.

Question 11

can

Answer 11

RIGHT:
The manager CAN RUN the plant.
The plant CAN CAUSE damage.
The manager IS CAPABLE OF RUNNING the plant.

SUSPECT
It is POSSIBLE FOR the plant TO CAUSE damage.
The plant POSSIBLY CAUSES damage.

WRONG:
The manager HAS THE CAPABILITY OF RUNNING the plant.
The manager HAS THE ABILITY OF RUNNING the plant.
The plant HAS THE POSSIBILITY OF CAUSING damage.

Question 12

consider

Answer 12

RIGHT: I CONSIDER her a friend.
I CONSIDER her intelligent.
(Note: You can switch the order of the two objects; if one is long, place it second, as
in the next example.)
I CONSIDER illegal the law passed last week by the new regime.
The law IS CONSIDERED illegal.

SUSPECT:
The judge CONSIDERS the law TO BE illegal.

WRONG:
The judge CONSIDERS the law AS illegal (or AS BEING illegal).
The judge CONSIDERS the law SHOULD BE illegal.
The judge CONSIDERS the law AS IF IT WERE illegal.

Question 13

Either.. or

Answer 13

RIGHT:
I will take EITHER the subway OR the bus.

WRONG:
I will take EITHER the subway AND the bus.

Question 14

Expect

Answer 14

RIGHT:
We EXPECT the price TO FALL
The price IS EXPECTED TO FALL.
We EXPECT THAT the price WILL FALL
IT IS EXPECTED THAT the price WILL FALL.
Inflation rose more than we EXPECTED.
There IS an EXPECTATION THAT the price will fall.

SUSPECT:
There IS an expectation the price WILL FALL.
There IS an expectation OF the price FALLING.

WRONG:
The price IS EXPECTED FOR IT TO FALL.
IT IS EXPECTED THAT the price SHOULD FALL.

Question 15

From… to

Answer 15

RIGHT:
The price fell FROM 10 euros TO 3 euros.
The price fell TO 3 euros FROM 10 euros.

WRONG:
The price fell FROM 10 euros DOWN TO 3 euros.
The price rose FROM 3 euros UP TO 10 euros.

Question 16

in order to..

Answer 16

RIGHT:
She drank coffee IN ORDER TO STAY awake.
She drank coffee TO STAY awake. (Infinitive TO STAY indicates purpose.)

SUSPECT:
She drank coffee IN ORDER THAT (or SO THAT) she MIGHT STAY awake.
She drank coffee SO AS TO STAY awake.

WRONG:
She drank coffee FOR STAYING awake.
Coffee was drunk by her TO STAY awake (or IN ORDER TO STAY awake). (The
subject COFFEE is not trying TO STAY awake.)

Question 17

indicate

Answer 17

RIGHT:
A report INDICATES THAT unique bacteria LIVE on our skin.

SUSPECT:
A report IS INDICATIVE OF the presence of unique bacteria on our skin.

A report IS INDICATIVE OF the presence of unique bacteria on our skin.

Question 18

Instead of..

Answer 18

See rather than

Question 19

Like

Answer 19

See also “such as”

RIGHT:
SUCH AS.
LIKE his sister, Matt drives fast cars. (Both drive fast cars.)
Matt drives fast cars LIKE his sister’s.
(Both drive similar cars; or, less optimally, one of the cars he drives is his sister’s.)

WRONG:
Matt drives fast cars LIKE his sister does.
LIKE his sister, SO Matt drives fast cars.

Question 20

Not.. but

Answer 20

RIGHT:
She DID NOT EAT mangoes BUT ATE other kinds of fruit.
She DID NOT EAT mangoes BUT LIKED other kinds of fruit AND later BEGAN
to like kiwis, too.
A tomato is NOT a vegetable BUT a fruit.
A tomato is NOT a vegetable BUT RATHER a fruit.

WRONG:
She DID NOT EAT mangoes BUT other kinds of fruit.

Question 21

not only.. but also..

Answer 21

RIGHT:
We wore NOT ONLY boots BUT ALSO sandals.
We wore NOT ONLY boots, BUT ALSO sandals. (The comma is optional.)
We wore NOT JUST boots BUT ALSO sandals.
We wore NOT ONLY boots BUT sandals.

SUSPECT:
We wore NOT ONLY boots BUT sandals AS WELL.
We wore boots AND ALSO sandals.

WRONG:
We wore NOT ONLY boots AND ALSO sandals.
We wore NOT ONLY boots BUT, AS WELL, sandals.

Question 22

Rather than

Answer 22

RIGHT:
He wrote with pencils RATHER THAN with pens.

SUSPECT:
He wrote with pencils, BUT NOT pens.

WRONG:
He wrote with pencils INSTEAD OF with pens. (OF with is incorrect.)

Question 23

so… as to

Answer 23

SUSPECT:
The sauce was SO hot AS TO burn my mouth.
Note: The GMAT has an inconsistent position on this idiom. At least one official
explanation claims that this idiom is “incorrect” but provides no further explanation
as to why. However, at least one official problem uses this idiom in a correct answer
choice. Other authorities consider this idiom correct, and we agree. Nevertheless, you
should be wary of its use.

WRONG:
The sauce had SUCH heat AS TO burn my mouth.
The sauce had SO MUCH heat AS TO burn my mouth.

Question 24

so.. that

Answer 24

RIGHT:
The sauce had SUCH heat AS TO burn my mouth.
The sauce had SO MUCH heat AS TO burn my mouth.

SUSPECT:
The book was SO SHORT’ I could read it. (THAT is preferred.)
The book was OF SUCH SHORTNESS THAT I could read it.
SUCH was the SHORTNESS of the book THAT I could read it.

WRONG:
The book had SO MUCH SHORTNESS THAT I could read it.
The book was OF SUCH SHORTNESS, I could read it.
The book was SHORT TO SUCH A DEGREE AS TO ALLOW me to read it.

Question 25

so that

Answer 25

RIGHT:
She gave money SO THAT the school could offer scholarships. (purpose)

SUSPECT:
She gave money, SO the school was grateful. (result)

WRONG:
She gave money SO the school could offer scholarships.

Question 26

Such as

Answer 26

RIGHT:
Matt drives fast cars, SUCH AS Ferraris. (introducing examples)
Matt enjoys driving SUCH cars AS Ferraris.
Matt enjoys intense activities, SUCH AS DRIVING fast cars.

SUSPECT:
Matt drives fast cars LIKE Ferraris. (intended to be an example)
Note: The GMAT has backed off from claiming that like cannot introduce examples,
but it is probable that the GMAT’ will continue to avoid using like with examples,
because like typically means similar to.

WRONG:
Matt drives Ferraris AND THE LIKE.
Matt drives Ferraris AND OTHER cars SUCH AS THESE.
Matt trains in many ways SUCH AS BY DRIVING on racetracks.
Matt enjoys intense activities, SUCH AS TO DRIVE fast cars.

Question 27

Than..

Answer 27

RIGHT:
His books are MORE impressive THAN those of other writers.
This paper is LESS impressive THAN that one.
This paper is NO LESS impressive THAN that one.
This newspaper cost 50 cents MORE THAN that one.
MORE THAN 250 newspapers are published here.
Sales are HIGHER this year THAN last year.

WRONG:
His books are MORE impressive AS those of other writers.
This paper is MORE impressive RATHER THAN that one.
This paper is MORE impressive INSTEAD OF that one.
This paper is NO LESS impressive AS that one.
This paper is NONE THE LESS impressive THAN that one.
This newspaper cost 50 cents AS MUCH AS that one.
AS MANY AS OR MORE THAN 250 newspapers are published here.
Sales are HIGHER this year OVER last year.

Question 28

Unlike

Answer 28

RIGHT:
UNLIKE the spiny anteater, the aardvark is docile.

WRONG:
UNLIKE WITH the spiny anteater, the aardvark is docile.

Question 29

Whether

Answer 29

RIGHT:
I do not know WHETHER I will go.

SUSPECT:
I do not know WHETHER OR NOT I will go.

WRONG:
I do not know IF I will go. (IF requires a consequence.)

Question 30

Whether.. or

Answer 30

RIGHT:
I do not know IF I will go. (IF requires a consequence.)

WRONG:
WHETHER trash OR ALSO treasure, the recyclables must be picked up.
WHETHER THEY BE trash OR treasure, the recyclables must go.

Question 31

Yet

Answer 31

See BUT

Question 32

research

Answer 32

The verb research requires a direct object, not a preposition followed by its object

RIGHT:
to Research books..

WRONG:
to research on / about / into x

Question 33

despite

Answer 33

RIGHT:
in spite of

WRONG:
in despite of…

Question 34

orbit

Answer 34

RIGHT:
in the middle of the belt of asteroids THAT orbit the Sun

WRONG:
in the middle of the belt of asteroids TO orbit the Sun

Question 35

Find

Answer 35

RIGHT:
The scientist FOUND THAT the reaction WAS unusual..

SUSPECT:
The scientist FOUND the reaction TO BE unusual

WRONG:
The scientist FOUND the reaction WAS unusual. (THAT is required)
… has been FOUND AS..

Question 36

estimate

Answer 36

RIGHT:
She ESTIMATES the cost TO BE 10 dollars.
The cost IS ESTIMATED TO BE 10 dollars.
With a temperature ESTIMATED AT 100 degrees, boiling water can cause severe burns.
She ESTIMATES the cost TO BE 10 percent less than it was last year.

WRONG:
She ESTIMATES the cost AT 10 percent less than it was last year.

Question 37

even

Answer 37

RIGHT:
The company is EVEN MORE PROFITABLE THAN Apple.
I earn AS MUCH acclaim AS EVEN the most famous athlete.

WRONG:
The company is MORE PROFITABLE EVEN THAN Apple.
I earn EVEN AS MUCH acclaim AS the most famous athlete.

Question 38

capable

Answer 38

fähig
RIGHT:
capable of…

WRONG:
capable for…

Question 39

ask

Answer 39

RIGHT:
I ASKED FOR this AID
He ASKED her TO GO to the store
He ASKED THAT she go to the store (subjunctive)

WRONG:
He ASKED THAT she SHOULD GO to the store
He ASKED OF ..

Question 40

paws are to dogs …. feet are to people

Answer 40

paws are to dogs what feet are to people

Question 41

persuade

Answer 41

überreden
RIGHT:
persuade TO..

WRONG:
persuade THAT
persuade IN