Idioms Flashcards
Able
Able to + base verb; Correct usage: I am able to complete homework; Wrong usage: I am able in seeing the fireworks, I am able for seeing the fireworks, I am able of seeing the fireworks
Ability
Ability to + base verb; Correct usage: I have the ability to complete homework; Wrong usage: I have the ability of seeing the fireworks, I have the ability for seeing the fireworks, I have ability in seeing the fireworks
Accede
Accede to + noun; Correct usage: I have acceded to my mom’s request; Wrong usage: I have acceded to do mom’s request, I have acceded for mom’s request, I have acceded at mom’s request
Access
Access to + noun; Correct usage: I have access to the internet; Wrong usage: I have access in the internet, I have access of the internet, I have access for the internet
Acclaimed
Acclaimed as + noun; Correct usage: NTR is acclaimed as greatest actor of TFI; Wrong usage: NTR is acclaimed for being the greatest actor of TFI, NTR is acclaimed with having been the greatest of TFI
Accompanied
Accompanied by + noun; Correct usage: I am accompanied by my uncle to watch a movie; Wrong usage: I am accompanied with my uncle to watch a movie, I am accompanied along with my uncle to watch a movie, I am accompanied together with my uncle to watch a movie
According
According to + noun; Correct usage: According to IRS, one must pay taxes every year; Wrong usage: According of IRS, one must pay taxes every year, According for IRS, one must pay taxes every year
Account
Account for + noun; Correct usage: I account for my actions; Wrong usage: I account to my actions, I account as to my actions, I account as for my actions
on account
on account of + noun; Correct usage: The bank foreclosed on account of the owner’s upside-down mortgage; Wrong usage: The bank foreclosed by account of owner’s upside down mortgage
Accuse
accuse X of Y and accused of noun/ gerund; Correct usage: Dora was accused of petty theft; Wrong usage: Dora was accused with petty theft, Dora was accused for petty theft
Acquaint
acquaint with + noun and acquaint X with Y; Correct usage: I am better acquainted with my friends; Wrong usage: I am better acquainted for my friends, I am better acquainted of my friends
Acquiesce
acquiesce to + noun/gerund; Correct usage: After the workers went on strike, the company acquiesced to their demands. Wrong usage: After the workers went on strike, the company acquiesced at their demands, After the workers went on strike, the company acquiesced with their demands.
Adapt
Adapt to + noun/gerund, adapt X to Y; Correct usage: I got adapted to US’s dating life; Wrong usage: I got adapted about US’s dating life, I got adapted into US’s dating life
Adapted
Adapted for + noun/ gerund; Correct usage: the curriculum is adapted for students; Wrong usage: the curriculum is adapted at students, the curriculum is adapted around students
Affected
Affected by + noun; Correct usage: I was affected by combat scenes in the film; Wrong usage: I was affected about combat scenes in the film, I was affected from combat scenes in the film
Afraid
Afraid of + noun/gerund; Correct usage: I am afraid of ghosts; Wrong usage: I am afraid about ghosts, I am afraid over ghosts, I am afraid from the ghosts
Agree
Agree to + base verb; Agree to + noun; Correct usage: I agree to do study for at least 3 hours every day; Wrong usage: I agree over the terms, I agree of doing study for at least 3 hours
Afflicted
Afflicted with or by + noun/gerund; Correct usage: I was afflicted by covid; Wrong usage: I was afflicted from covid, I was afflicted of covid
Agree/ Disagree
agree/disagree with + noun/pronoun; I do not agree with his demands; I do not agree over his demands
Aid
aid in + noun/gerund; aid X in Y; The tutor aided the student in preparing for the test; The tutor aided the student to prepare for the test, The tutor aided the student at preparing for the test,
Allocate
allocate X to Y; The department allocated the government grant to enhanced training initiatives for the officers; The department allocated the government grant for enhanced training initiatives for the officers, The department allocated the government grant as enhanced training initiatives for the officers, The department allocated the government grant into enhanced training initiatives for the officers.
Allow for
allow X for Y; allow for X; A one-hour meeting doesn’t allow sufficient time for the board to discuss this quarter’s agenda, so we should allow for such discussion when scheduling the next meeting; A one-hour meeting doesn’t allow sufficient time to the board to discuss this quarter’s agenda, so we should allow more time to such discussion when scheduling the meeting.
Allow
allow X to Y;
allow to + base verb; Gina’s parents didn’t allow her to go out on Saturday night, but she was permitted to watch a movie; Gina’s parents didn’t allow on her going out on Saturday night, but she was permitted on watching a movie, Gina’s parents didn’t allow her for going out on Saturday night, but she was permitted for watching a movie.
Alternative
alternative to + noun/gerund; In Josh’s county, there was no alternative to his internet provider, so he couldn’t switch to a more reliable service; In Josh’s county, there was no alternative of his internet provider, so he couldn’t switch to a more reliable service, In Josh’s county, there was no alternative from his internet provider, so he couldn’t switch to a more reliable service.
Amount
amount to + noun; The savings amount to $100k; The savings amounted in $100k, The savings amounted as $100k
Analogous
analogous to + noun/gerund; Creating the sculpture was analogous to giving birth to a baby; Creating the sculpture was analogous as giving birth to a baby, Creating the sculpture was analogous for giving birth to a baby
Analogy
analogy to/with + noun/gerund; Explained a technical concept to a child by drawing an analogy to playing a game, Explained a technical concept to a child by drawing an analogy with playing a game
Angry
angry at + [person/entity]; I am angry at my friend; I am angry over my friend
Angry about
angry about + [situation/condition/event]; I am angry about not having power when I wanted to study; I am angry from not having power when I wanted to study
Appeal
Appeal to + [person + entity]; Chicken biryani does not appeal to westerners; Chicken biryani does not appeal at westerners
Appear
Appear to + base verb; I appear to have modifiers rules all together; I appeared at having modifiers rules all together
Approved or disapproved
approve/disapprove of + noun/gerund; I approved of her decision; I approved with her decision, I approved about the decision
Apply
Apple for + noun; I apply for a job; I apply about a job
Argue for
argue for/against + noun/gerund; I argue for him; I argue at him;
Argue with
Argue with + noun/pronoun; I argue with his principles; I argue at his principles
as … as
as X as Y; Television streaming services are not as popular nationally as cable services; Television streaming services are not so popular nationally as cable services
As of
as of + [time/date]; As of today, I stopped eating ice-creams; Jackson will begin his tenure as interim director as on next Monday.
Ask
ask of + noun; All I ask of a movie is that it make me laugh; All I ask from a movie is that it make me laugh, All I ask to a movie is that it make me laugh.
Ask for
ask for + noun, ask X for Y; I will ask for a refund; I will ask into a refund.
Ask whether
ask X whether Y, ask whether + noun clause; The English professor asked the class whether they preferred Updike or Cheever; The English professor asked the class if they preferred Updike or Cheever, The English professor asked the class regarding whether they, The English professor asked the class about whether they preferred Updike or Cheever.
Associate
associate with + noun/gerund; associate X with Y; I associated his weight loss with his diet; I associated his weight loss for his diet, I associated his weight of his diet
Assure
assure X that Y;
assure that + noun clause; I assure that I will get 700+ gmat score this time; I assure of getting 700+ gmat score; I assure to get 700+ gmat score.
Attend
Attend to + noun; I should attend to my friend’s marriage; I should attend on a friends marriage
Attended
attended by + noun; The wedding will be attended by my close friends; The wedding will be attended with my close friends
Attest
attest to + noun/gerund; I attested to my preparation; I attested about my preparation; I attested of my preparation
Attribute
attribute X to Y;
attribute to + noun/gerund; I attribute my success to my family; I attribute my success from my family, I attribute my success as my family
Averse
averse to + noun/gerund; I am not averse to my actions; I am averse about my actions
Based
based on + noun; Based on my experience, the game is easy; Based from my experience, the game is easy
Because
Because of + noun/ gerund; We couldn’t play soccer outdoors because of the rain, so we moved the game inside, We couldn’t play soccer outdoors because the rain, so we moved the game inside.
Belief/believe
belief/believe in + noun; I believe in ghosts; I believe about ghosts, I believe on ghosts
Believe that
believe that + clause; I believe that everyone likes sports; I believe in everyone likes sports
Believe to be
believe X to be Y; is believed to be + noun/gerund; Fire department officials believed faulty wiring to be the cause of the explosion; Fire department officials believed in faulty wiring to be the cause of the explosion, Fire department officials believed faulty wiring as being the cause of the explosion.
Benefit from
benefit from + noun/gerund; Many of her supporters would benefit from her plan; Many of her supporters would benefit resulting from her plan
Better
better than + noun/gerund; better X than Y; I am better than everyone; I am better as a everyone
Between
between X and Y; The couple couldn’t decide between a DJ and a band; The couple couldn’t decide between a DJ or a band
Born
Born of + noun; My success was born of hardwork; My success was born out of hardwork
Both
Both X and Y; Material from both the readings and the class discussion will be covered on the test; Material from both the readings as well as the class discussion will be covered on the test.
Capable
Capable of noun/gerund; I am capable of doing something great; I am capable about doing something great.
Center
center on + noun/gerund; My hardwork was centered on discipline; My hardwork was centered at/ around/ in discipline
Choice
choice of + noun; The prix fixe offered a choice of three main courses; The prix fixe offered a choice for three main courses
Choose from
choose from + noun; choose X from Y; The actor chose a brightly colored suit from the designer’s fall collection.
Choose to
choose to + base verb, choose X to Y; The actor chose to practice his lines without the aid of a teleprompter; The actor chose on practicing his lines without the aid of a teleprompter.
Collide
collide with + noun; The cars collided with each other in the intersection; The cars collided into each other in the intersection.
Comment
comment on + noun/gerund; The police commissioner refused to comment on an active investigation.; The police commissioner refused to comment into an active investigation.
Compare With
compare X with Y; they compared the new model with the old one; they compared between the new model and the old one,
Compare to
compare X to Y; The young artist is already being compared to Dali; The young artist is already being compared as being like Dali.
Combine
combine X with Y; X combines with Y; Olive oil combined with balsamic vinegar and fresh lemon makes a delicious salad dressing; Olive oil combined along with balsamic vinegar and fresh lemon makes a delicious salad dressing.
Common
X is common to Y; Political opponents must reach across the aisle to address the concerns that are common to all of us.; Political opponents must reach across the aisle to address the concerns that are common regarding all of us.
In common
X [has] Y in common with Z; Natasha had nothing in common with her coworkers, so she felt very uncomfortable at happy hour; Natasha had nothing in common to her coworkers, so she felt very uncomfortable at happy hour.
Compensate
compensate for + noun/gerund; The meeting ended a half-hour later than scheduled to compensate for the late start; The meeting ended a half-hour later than scheduled to compensate about the late start; The meeting ended a half-hour later than scheduled to compensate as to the late start.
Comply
comply with + noun; If you don’t comply with the officer’s instructions, you may be charged with resisting arrest; If you don’t comply to the officer’s instructions, you may be charged with resisting arrest; If you don’t comply about the officer’s instructions, you may be charged with resisting arrest.
Composed
composed of + noun; The city council was composed of residents of all ages and backgrounds; The city council was composed from residents of all ages and backgrounds.
Comprises
comprises + noun;
The metropolitan area comprises the city and five surrounding counties; The metropolitan area comprises on the city and five surrounding counties.
Concerned
concerned with + noun/gerund; The board was more concerned with passing a balanced budget than with anything else on the agenda; The board was more concerned on passing a balanced budget than on anything else on the agenda.
Conducive
conducive to + noun/gerund; Such harsh rhetoric is not conducive to productive debate and is unlikely to lead to compromise; Such harsh rhetoric is not conducive for productive debate and is unlikely to lead to compromise.
Conform
conform to/ with + noun; Avant-garde artists do not conform to social and cultural trends; Avant-garde artists do not conform into to social and cultural trends;
Consequence
consequence of + noun/gerund; Numerous mid-level employees were laid off as a consequence of the corporate restructuring; Numerous mid-level employees were laid off as a consequence from the corporate restructuring.
Consider
consider + noun/gerund + [characteristic/thing]; Pundits consider the referendum likely to pass with overwhelming support; Pundits consider the referendum to be likely to pass with overwhelming support.
Consist
consist of + noun/gerund; The reading list consisted of both novels and nonfiction works on the Soviet era; The reading list consisted about both novels and nonfiction works on the Soviet era.
Consistent
consistent with + noun/gerund; The shattered window was consistent with a break-in; The shattered window was consistent to a break-in.
Continue
continue to + base verb; The soldiers continued to advance through the wilderness as night fell; The soldiers continued in advancing through the wilderness as night fell.
Contrast
contrast X with Y; X contrasts with Y; If you contrast his findings with those of previous studies, you will see that further research is necessary; If you contrast his findings against those of previous studies, you will see that further research is necessary.
In contrast
in contrast to + noun; in contrast to X, Y; The executive order stands in stark contrast to the president’s campaign promise; The executive order stands in stark contrast against the president’s campaign promise.
Contribute
contribute to + noun/gerund; Gorbachev’s glasnost policy greatly contributed to the end of the Cold War;
Gorbachev’s glasnost policy greatly contributed for the end of the Cold War.
Contrary
contrary to + noun;
Contrary to popular belief, pearls do not typically form from grains of sand; Contrary from popular belief, pearls do not typically form from grains of sand.
Convert
convert X to Y; convert to + noun; The human body converts carbohydrates to glucose for energy; The human body converts carbohydrates over to glucose for energy.
Convince
convince [someone] that + noun clause; is convinced that + noun clause; Although Rashida likes her workout routine, she isn’t convinced that she will be able to stick with it; Although Rashida likes her workout routine, she isn’t convincing that she will be able to stick with it.
Convince
convince [someone] to + base verb; Andrei’s best friend convinced him to join the organization; Andrei’s best friend convinced him into joining the organization.
Correspond
correspond to + noun; The number of ballots counted did not correspond to the number of signatures on the voter roll, so a recount was done; The number of ballots counted did not correspond given the number of signatures on the voter roll, so a recount was done.
Cost
cost of/to + noun/gerund; As the cost of college continued to rise, the cost to families became untenable; As the cost for college continued to rise, the cost from families became untenable.
Credit
credit X with Y;
credit with + noun/gerund; Although Alexander Graham Bell is credited with inventing the telephone, Antonio Meucci developed a design for the telephone several years before Bell filed his patent; Although Alexander Graham Bell is credited in inventing the telephone, Antonio Meucci developed a design for the telephone several years before Bell filed his patent.
Credit
verb + credit for + noun/gerund; Sandy took credit for the creation of the algorithm, but it was actually a group effort; Sandy took credit for the creation of the algorithm, but it was actually a group effort.
A credit
a credit to + noun; Dan, who has handled the situation quite well, is a credit to the organization; Dan, who has handled the situation quite well, is a credit with the organization.
Date
date [thing] + at [age]; The fossil was dated at 350 million years old; The fossil was dated as being 350 million years old.
Date
[thing] + dates from + [time]; Archaeologists have determined that the vase dates from the 5th century; Archaeologists have determined that the vase dates in the 5th century.
Deal
deal with + noun/gerund; Aid workers spent months dealing with the aftermath of the hurricane; Aid workers spent months dealing from the aftermath of the hurricane.
Debate
debate on/over + [issue]; The debate over how to allocate the revenue lasted well into the night; The debate of how to allocate the revenue lasted well into the night.
Defend
defend against X; defend X against Y; His publicist defended him against the media onslaught during his contentious divorce; His publicist defended him away from the media onslaught during his contentious divorce.
